Sayyiduna Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was delivering a sermon, and he sat down. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "Have you sought refuge from the evil of the devils among the jinn and mankind?" I said: "O Messenger of Allah! Who was the first of the prophets?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Sayyiduna Adam (peace be upon him)." I asked: "Was he a prophet?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: "Yes, Allah spoke to him." I asked: "Then who (was the next prophet)?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Sayyiduna Nuh (peace be upon him), and between the two of them there were ten generations." I said: "O Messenger of Allah! Tell me about prayer." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is a good that has been made obligatory; whoever wishes may do more of it." I said: "And charity?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "(Its reward) is multiplied many times over." I said: "And fasting?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Fasting is a shield. Allah Almighty has said: 'Fasting is for Me, and I shall give the reward for it.'" (The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:) "By the One in whose Hand is my soul, the smell of the fasting person's mouth is purer in the sight of Allah Almighty than the fragrance of musk." (Sayyiduna Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:) I asked: "Which charity is most excellent?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The effort of a person of little means (in giving charity), or (giving charity) secretly to a poor person." I said: "Which slave (to be freed) is most excellent?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The one whose price is highest."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat. (Allamah al-Haythami says:) I say: It has already passed in the chapter on asking in order to benefit that Ahmad and al-Bazzar also recorded this narration; its chain contains a narrator, Ibn Lahi'ah, and he is da'if (weak).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب العلم / 954
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ ضعیف
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه الامام الطبراني فى معجم الاوسط 4721 ، أخرجه مسند أحمد برقم: 21785، وأخرجه المعجم الكبير للطبراني برقم: 7871»