Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 4603

Sayyiduna Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) relates: I said: O Messenger of Allah! What do you say about prayer? He said: It is the completion of deeds. I said: O Messenger of Allah! I ask you about the virtue of charity. He said: Charity is a wonderful thing. I said: O Messenger of Allah! You have left out the deed that, in my view, is the most excellent and the best. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: Which one is it? I said: Fasting. He said: It is good, but that is not what is meant. He said: O Messenger of Allah! Which charity is most excellent? After this the narrator mentioned a word. I said: What if I am not able to do it? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Give your surplus in charity. I said: What if I cannot do even that? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Give half a date. I said: What if I cannot do even that? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Say a good word. I said: What if I cannot do even that? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Keep people safe from your evil, for that too will be a charity that you give to yourself. I said: What if I cannot do even that? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Do you want to leave no good at all in yourself?
(Allamah al-Haythami says:) I say: Imam al-Nasa'i (may Allah have mercy on him) has recorded part of this narration.
Al-Bazzar recorded it. Its chain contains a narrator, al-Awwam bin Juwayriyah, and he is da'if (weak).