Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 4732

Sayyidah Aishah Siddiqah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that she said: "O Messenger of Allah! What is the thing that it is not permissible to withhold?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Water, salt and fire." Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "Water is understandable, but what about salt and fire?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever gives salt, it is as if he gave in charity all that is prepared (that is, cooked) with salt; and whoever gives fire, it is as if he gave in charity all that the fire has cooked. Whoever gives a Muslim a drink of water in a place where water is available, it is as if he freed a slave; and whoever gives a Muslim a drink of water in a place where water is not available, it is as if he gave him life."
(Allamah al-Haythami says:) I say: Ibn Majah recorded this report in abridged form. Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat. Its chain contains a narrator, Zuhayr bin Marzuq. Imam al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) says: He is majhul (unknown) and munkar al-hadith (his narrations are rejected).