Mu'jam Kabir Tabarani 3061 — We have not heard of anyone in Madinah

Abu Hazim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: We have not heard of anyone in Madinah who surpassed Hakim bin Hizam in providing mounts in the way of Allah. He said: Two Bedouins came to Madinah asking who provides mounts in the way of Allah, and they were directed to Hakim bin Hizam. They came to his house; Hakim asked them what they wanted, and they told him. Hakim said to them: "Do not be in a hurry; I will come out to you." The narrator said: Hakim bin Hizam used to wear clothes brought from Egypt, thin like netting, costing four dirhams. He would take a stick in his hand and bring one of his slaves out with him, and whenever he passed by a rubbish heap or refuse and saw in it a rag that could be of use in the gear of the camels that carry loads in the way of Allah, he would lift it with the tip of his stick and shake it off, then say to his slaves: "Keep hold of this; it will be of use for your gear." Meanwhile, as he was doing this, the two Bedouins began speaking to each other; one said to his companion: Woe to you! Let us get away from here; by Allah, this man has nothing but the picking of rags. His companion said to him: Woe to you! Do not be in a hurry; let us see. So he took them along until he reached the market, where he saw two fat, sturdy, pregnant she-camels. He bought them and bought their gear as well, then said to his slaves: "Make whatever repairs their gear needs with these rags." Then he loaded them with food, wheat and fat, gave the two men money for their expenses, and then gave them the two she-camels. The narrator said: One of them said to his companion: By Allah! I have never seen a better outcome from a rag-picker than today.