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adab:220 –

Abu Dharr reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked, "What action is best?" He replied, "Belief in Allah and jihad in His way." He was asked, "Which slaves are best?" He replied, "The highest in price and most precious to their people." He said, "What do you think I should do if I am unable to fight?" He replied, "Help someone in trouble or work for someone who does not work." He asked, "What do you think that I should do if I am too weak (to act accordingly)?" He replied, "Spare people your evil. That is a sadaqa which you bestow on yourself."

الأدب المفرد:٢٢٠ – حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أُوَيْسٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِي مُرَاوِحٍ عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قِيلَ أَيُّ الأَعْمَالِ خَيْرٌ؟ قَالَ إِيمَانٌ بِاللَّهِ وَجِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِهِ قِيلَ فَأَيُّ الرِّقَابِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ أَغْلاَهَا ثَمَنًا وَأَنْفَسُهَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِهَا قَالَ أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ لَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ بَعْضَ الْعَمَلِ؟ قَالَ فَتُعِينُ ضَائِعًا أَوْ تَصْنَعُ لأَخْرَقَ قَالَ أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ ضَعُفْتُ؟ قَالَ تَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ تَصَدَّقُ بِهَا عَلَى نَفْسِكَ

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Collected by Bukhārī, Muslim

The least you can do to help someone is keep them safe from your harm

bukhari:2518 – ʿUbaydullāh b. Mūsá > Hishām b. ʿUrwah from his father > Abū Murāwiḥ > Abū Dhar

I asked the Prophet ﷺ, “Which deed is best?” He said, “Belief in Allah and striving in His cause.” I said, “Then which slave is best to free?” He said, “The one with the highest price and the most valued by his people.” I said, “And if I cannot do that?” He said, “Help a craftsman, or do something for one who has poor judgement or is incompetent.” I said, “And if I cannot do that?” He said, “Keep people safe from your harm, for that is a charity you give on your own behalf.”

البخاري:٢٥١٨ – حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُوسَى عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي مُرَاوِحٍ عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ ؓ قَالَ

سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ: «إِيمَانٌ بِاللَّهِ، وَجِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِهِ» قُلْتُ: فَأَىُّ الرِّقَابِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ: «أَغْلاَهَا ثَمَنًا وَأَنْفَسُهَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِهَا» قُلْتُ: فَإِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ؟ قَالَ: «تُعِينُ صَانِعًا أَوْ تَصْنَعُ لِأَخْرَقَ» قَالَ: فَإِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ؟ قَالَ: «تَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ تَصَدَّقُ بِهَا عَلَى نَفْسِكَ»

muslim:84a – [Chain 1] Abū al-Rabīʿ al-Zahrānī > Ḥammād b. Zayd > Hishām b. ʿUrwah [Chain 2] Khalaf b. Hishām > Ḥammād b. Zayd > Hishām b. ʿUrwah from his father > Abū Murāwiḥ al-Laythī > Abū Dhar

I said: Messenger of Allah, which of the deeds is the best? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Belief in Allah and Jihad in His cause. I again asked: Who is the slave whose emancipation is the best? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: One who is valuable for his master and whose price is high. I said: If I can't afford to do it? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Help an artisan or make anything for the unskilled (labourer). I (Abu Dharr) said: Messenger of Allah, you see that I am helpless in doing some of these deeds. He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Desist from doing mischief to the people. That is the charity of your person on your behalf.

مسلم:٨٤a – حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ الزَّهْرَانِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا خَلَفُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي مُرَاوِحٍ اللَّيْثِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ قَالَ

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ الإِيمَانُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَىُّ الرِّقَابِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ أَنْفَسُهَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِهَا وَأَكْثَرُهَا ثَمَنًا قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ قَالَ تُعِينُ صَانِعًا أَوْ تَصْنَعُ لأَخْرَقَ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ ضَعُفْتُ عَنْ بَعْضِ الْعَمَلِ قَالَ تَكُفُّ شَرَّكَ عَنِ النَّاسِ فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ مِنْكَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ