Sayyiduna Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "The giving hand is better than the lower hand."
Ahmad, al-Bazzar and al-Tabarani in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat and al-Mu'jam al-Kabir recorded it; however, they recorded these words: Sayyiduna Atiyyah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: "He came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with the delegation of his people. When they came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Has anyone other than you come with you?' The people said: 'Yes, a young man whom we left behind with our mounts.' The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Send for him and call him.' When I was brought to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), my companions were with him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) received me and said: 'The muntiyah (that is, giving) hand is the upper one, and the asking hand is the lower one. As long as you are free of need, do not ask, for the wealth of Allah Almighty is asked for and is given.' The narrator says: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke with me in my own dialect." The narrators of Ahmad are thiqat (trustworthy).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب الزكاة / 4534
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ صحیح
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه الطبراني فى المعجم الكبير (167، 166/17) اخرجه الامام احمد فى المسند (226/4) اخرجه الامام البزار فى المسند (916) ، أخرجه مسند أحمد برقم: 17522، 6366، وأخرجه المعجم الأوسط للطبراني برقم: 3016»