نَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ ، نَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي مَسَرَّةَ ، نَا أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْمُقْرِئُ ، نَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ ، نَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَجْلانَ ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، قَالَ : " خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى ، وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى ، وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ، قَالَ : وَمَنْ أَعُولُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ؟ ، قَالَ : امْرَأَتُكَ تَقُولُ : أَطْعِمْنِي وَإِلا فَارِقْنِي ، خَادِمُكَ يَقُولُ : أَطْعِمْنِي وَاسْتَعْمِلْنِي ، وَلَدُكَ يَقُولُ : إِلَى مَنْ تَتْرُكُنِي ؟ " .
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best charity is that which is given when one is in a state of prosperity (i.e., after giving charity, a person does not become destitute), and the upper hand is better than the lower hand. (When spending in the way of Allah), begin with those who are under your care." The narrator states: I asked, "O Messenger of Allah! Who is under my care?" The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Your wife, who will say: Give me food, otherwise separate from me; your slave, who will say: First give me food, then take work from me; and your children, who will say: In whose care are you leaving me and going?"