Ibn Majah

Benefits and Issues:
➊ Giving the best wealth in the way of Allah is superior; likewise, freeing a valuable slave or slave-girl is more virtuous.

➋ By “best” is meant that, due to its qualities, the owner values it highly in his heart—one does not feel inclined to free such a slave who, for example, is skilled, well-mannered, and obedient. By “valuable” is meant one whose apparent qualities (such as good appearance, strength, and health, etc.) make it likely to fetch a higher price.

➌ If someone gives an animal as charity, then in this case as well, the reward for giving a superior and valuable animal will be greater.

� Lexical Explanation:
«أَغْلَاهَا» The most precious among them.
«أَنْفَسُهَا» The finest among them.
«أَخْرَقَ» One who does not know any skill.

Hadith Commentary:
A valuable slave, one who is good, excellent, and a skilled craftsman—no matter which beneficial craft he is an expert in—such a slave is beloved in the eyes of his master because he earns a good income every day.
To free such a slave is a great act of reward, or to help a person who is distressed due to being unskilled is also highly virtuous:
Allahumma ayyid al-Islam wa al-Muslimin.
Ameen. In the hadith, the word "sani'" means craftsman; it refers to anyone engaged in a lawful profession.
Some have narrated the word as "daai'an" with a dotted "dad" (ضاد معجمہ), in which case the meaning would be someone who is ruined, i.e., one who is perishing and destroyed due to poverty and deprivation.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
In one narration of Sahih Muslim, instead of the word "daai'a" (lost), the word "saani'a" (craftsman) is used (Sahih Muslim, Al-Iman, Hadith: 250 (84)), which means a skilled and professional person. Regarding this, the commentator of Bukhari, Ibn Munir, states that helping a skilled but needy person is superior to helping an unskilled person, because everyone helps the unskilled, but no one is ready to help the skilled, as his reputation may cause people to neglect assisting him. Therefore, extending a helping hand to a skilled person is akin to supporting someone who is dignified and self-respecting.
(2)
From this hadith, it is understood that the true rank of a believer is that he refrains from causing harm.
(Fath al-Bari: 5/186)
If you do not have the strength to do good, then do not do evil either; that is, if you cannot do good or kindness to someone, then at least do not do harm.

Takhrij:
«أخرجه البخاري، العتق، باب أي الرقاب أفضل، حديث:2518، ومسلم، الإيمان، باب بيان كون الإيمان بالله تعالي أفضل الأعمال، حديث:84.»©Explanation:
➊ Regarding the question about the most virtuous deed, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam gave different answers to different people, which apparently gives the impression of contradiction in the hadiths. In reality, this is not a contradiction; rather, all the answers are correct and valid in their own context, because each answer was given according to the condition and situation of the questioner.
➋ Spending something precious, desirable, valuable, and pleasing to the heart in the way of Allah is also among the most virtuous deeds.

Benefit:
In various hadiths, different actions have been declared as the most virtuous; a person should always be in search of the most virtuous deeds, for in return Allah’s mercy is also greater. In this hadith, some important principles for living life have been stated; may Allah grant us the ability to act upon them. If, after fulfilling the obligatory duties (fara’id), a person is unable to do anything else but simply keeps others safe from his harm, then this too is a good deed and charity—Subhan Allah. “Taking care of the rights of Allah (huquq Allah) and the rights of people (huquq al-‘ibad)” is the summary of the complete religion.