Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 4724

Iyad bin Marthad, or Marthad bin Iyad, reports from one of their people that he asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), saying: "O Messenger of Allah! Tell me of a deed that will admit me into Paradise." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "Is either of your parents alive?" until the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had asked him this several times, and he said: "No." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Then give water to drink." He said: "How should I give water to drink?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When people are present at the water, suffice them with the implement (the bucket) (that is, draw the water out for them), and when they are not present, carry the water to them." In one narration the wording is: "When people are present at the water, suffice them with the implement, and when they are far away, carry it to them."
Ahmad recorded it, and al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir. Al-Husayni considered the narrator Iyad bin Marthad or Marthad bin Iyad unknown. Al-Tabarani recorded it from him, that he asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The narrator is thiqah (trustworthy) and one of the narrators of the Sahih, so in this respect his being unknown is removed.