Hadith 1088
1088 - حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ قَالَ: ثنا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ: ثنا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الْأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَأَنْ يَأْخُذَ أَحَدُكُمْ حَبْلَهُ، فَيَحْتَطِبَ عَلَي ظَهْرِهِ فَيَبِيعَهُ، فَيَأْكُلَهُ وَيَتَصَدَّقَ بِهِ، خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ رَجُلًا قَدْ أَغْنَاهُ اللَّهُ فَسَأَلَهُ أَعْطَاهُ، أَوْ مَنَعَهُ ذَلِكَ، فَإِنَّ الْيَدَ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَي»
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “For a person to take a rope, gather firewood, carry it on his back, and sell it, then eat from it or give it in charity, is better for him than going to someone whom Allah has made wealthy and asking him for something, whether that person gives him something or not. Indeed, the upper hand is better than the lower hand.”
