Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.
ahmad:10223Muḥammad b. Jaʿfar > Shuʿbah > Sulaymān > Dhakwān > Abū Hurayrah

[Machine] "From the Prophet ﷺ , he said: The best charity is that which is given while one is still wealthy, and begin with those who depend on you. The upper hand is better than the lower hand."  

أحمد:١٠٢٢٣حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ذَكْوَانَ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا تَرَكَ غِنًى أَنْ تَتَصَدَّقَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى  


See similar narrations below:

Collected by Muslim, Nasāʾī, Abū Dāwūd, Aḥmad, Dārimī, Ibn Ḥibbān, Ṭabarānī, Nasāʾī's Kubrá, Suyūṭī
muslim:1034Muḥammad b. Bashhār And Muḥammad b. Ḥātim And Aḥmad b. ʿAbdah > Yaḥyá al-Qaṭṭān > Ibn Bashhār > Yaḥyá > ʿAmr b. ʿUthmān > Mūsá b. Ṭalḥah > Ḥakīm b. Ḥizām

The most excellent Sadaqa or the best of Sadaqa is that after giving which the (giver) remains rich and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and begin from the members of your household.  

مسلم:١٠٣٤حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدَةَ جَمِيعًا عَنْ يَحْيَى الْقَطَّانِ قَالَ ابْنُ بَشَّارٍ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُوسَى بْنَ طَلْحَةَ يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ حَكِيمَ بْنَ حِزَامٍ حَدَّثَهُ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ أَوْ خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ  

nasai:2534Qutaybah > Bakr > Ibn ʿAjlān from his father > Abū Hurayrah

"The best of charity is that which is given when you are self-sufficient, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those for whom you are responsible."  

النسائي:٢٥٣٤أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بَكْرٌ عَنِ ابْنِ عَجْلاَنَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ  

nasai:2543ʿAmr b. ʿAlī > Yaḥyá > ʿAmr b. ʿUthmān > Mūsá b. Ṭalḥah > Ḥakīm b. Ḥizām

"The Messenger of Allah said: "The best kind of charity is that which is given when you are rich, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those for whom you are responsible."'  

النسائي:٢٥٤٣أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُوسَى بْنَ طَلْحَةَ أَنَّ حَكِيمَ بْنَ حِزَامٍ حَدَّثَهُ

قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ  

abudawud:1676ʿUthmān b. Abū Shaybah > Jarīr > al-Aʿmash > Abū Ṣāliḥ > Abū Hurayrah

Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying The best sadaqah is that which leaves a competence ; and begin with those for whom you are responsible.  

أبو داود:١٦٧٦حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ خَيْرَ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا تَرَكَ غِنًى أَوْ تُصُدِّقَ بِهِ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ  

ahmad:15317Muḥammad b. ʿUbayd > ʿAmr b. ʿUthmān > Mūsá b. Ṭalḥah > Ḥakīm b. Ḥizām

"The best of charity is that which is given when you are self-sufficient, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those for whom you are responsible." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2534)   

أحمد:١٥٣١٧حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ طَلْحَةَ عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِنَّ خَيْرَالصَّدَقَةِ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ  

ahmad:14531Rawḥ > Ibn Jurayj > Abū al-Zubayr > Jābir b. ʿAbdullāh

"The best of charity is that which is given when you are self-sufficient, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those for whom you are responsible." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2534)   

أحمد:١٤٥٣١حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحٌ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللهِ يَقُولُ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى  

ahmad:14728Mūsá > Ibn Lahīʿah > Abū al-Zubayr > Jābir

[Machine] I heard the Prophet ﷺ saying, "The best charity is the one given out of surplus wealth, and start with those whom you are responsible for. And the upper hand is better than the lower hand."  

أحمد:١٤٧٢٨حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ لَهِيعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ

سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ صَدَقَةٌ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِالسُّفْلَى  

ahmad:9613Yaḥyá > ʿAbd al-Malik > ʿAṭāʾ > Abū Hurayrah

[Machine] The Prophet ﷺ said, "The best charitable act is that done when one is wealthy, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand. Start with those who are dependent on you." Yahya once said, "There is no charity except from one's surplus wealth."  

أحمد:٩٦١٣حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَطَاءٌ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ وَقَالَ يَحْيَى مَرَّةً لَا صَدَقَةَ إِلَّا مِنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى  

ahmad:9122Abū Aḥmad > Maʿqil / Ibn ʿUbaydullāh > ʿAṭāʾ > Abū Hurayrah

"The best of charity is that which is given when you are self-sufficient, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those for whom you are responsible." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2534)   

أحمد:٩١٢٢حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أَحْمَدَ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْقِلٌ يَعْنِي ابْنَ عُبَيْدِ اللهِ عَنْ عَطَاءٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ الصَّدَقَةُ عَنْ ظَهْرِغِنًى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى  

ahmad:7155Yaʿlá b. ʿUbayd > ʿAbd al-Malik > ʿAṭāʾ > Abū Hurayrah

"The best of charity is that which is given when you are self-sufficient, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those for whom you are responsible." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2534)   

أحمد:٧١٥٥حَدَّثَنَا يَعْلَى بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ عَنْ عَطَاءٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لَا صَدَقَةَ إِلَّا عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ  

ahmad:7741ʿAbd al-Razzāq > Maʿmar > Ayyūb > Ibn Sīrīn > Abū Hurayrah

"The best of charity is that which is given when you are self-sufficient, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those for whom you are responsible." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2534)  

أحمد:٧٧٤١حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ عَنِ ابْنِ سِيرِينَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى  

ahmad:10511Yazīd > Muḥammad > Abū Salamah > Abū Hurayrah

"The best of charity is that which is given when you are self-sufficient, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those for whom you are responsible." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2534)   

أحمد:١٠٥١١حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَةُ عَنْظَهْرِ غِنًى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ  

ahmad:10172Wakīʿ > al-Aʿmash > Abū Ṣāliḥʿan Abū Hurayrah

"The best of charity is that which is given when you are self-sufficient, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those for whom you are responsible." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2534)  

أحمد:١٠١٧٢حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ حَدَّثَنَا الْأَعْمَشُ عَنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ  

darimi:1693Abū Nuʿaym > ʿAmr b. ʿUthmān > Mūsá b. Ṭalḥah > Ḥakīm b. Ḥizām

The Prophet ﷺ said, "The upper hand is better than the lower hand (i.e. he who gives in charity is better than him who takes it). One should start giving first to his dependents. And the best object of charity is that which is given by a wealthy person (from the money which is left after his expenses). And whoever abstains from asking others for some financial help, Allah will give him and save him from asking others, Allah will make him self-sufficient." (Using translation from Bukhārī 1427)  

الدارمي:١٦٩٣حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُوسَى بْنَ طَلْحَةَ يَذْكُرُ عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ»  

ذِكْرُ الْخَبَرِ الدَّالِّ عَلَى أَنَّ نَفَقَةَ الْمَرْءِ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ نَفَقَتِهِ عَلَى أَقْرِبَائِهِ

ibnhibban:4243Ibn al-Junayd Bibust > Qutaybah > Bakr b. Muḍar > Ibn ʿAjlān from his father > Abū Hurayrah

"The best of charity is that which is given when you are self-sufficient, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those for whom you are responsible." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2534)  

ابن حبّان:٤٢٤٣أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ الْجُنَيْدِ بِبُسْتَ حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ حَدَّثَنَا بَكْرُ بْنُ مُضَرَ عَنِ ابْنِ عَجْلَانَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ «خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ»  

مُوسَى بْنُ طَلْحَةَ عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ

tabarani:3120ʿAlī b. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz > Abū Nuʿaym > ʿAmr b. ʿUthmān b. Mawhab > Mūsá b. Ṭalḥah > Ḥakīm b. Ḥizām

The Prophet ﷺ said, "The upper hand is better than the lower hand (i.e. he who gives in charity is better than him who takes it). One should start giving first to his dependents. And the best object of charity is that which is given by a wealthy person (from the money which is left after his expenses). And whoever abstains from asking others for some financial help, Allah will give him and save him from asking others, Allah will make him self-sufficient." (Using translation from Bukhārī 1427)  

الطبراني:٣١٢٠حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ ثنا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ ثنا عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ مَوْهَبٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُوسَى بْنَ طَلْحَةَ يَذْكُرُ عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ»  

nasai-kubra:2326Ḥibbān > ʿAbdullāh > ʿAbd al-Malik b. Abū Sulaymān > ʿAṭāʾ > Abū Hurayrah

The most excellent Sadaqa or the best of Sadaqa is that after giving which the (giver) remains rich and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and begin from the members of your household. (Using translation from Muslim 1034)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٢٣٢٦وأَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمِ بْنِ نُعَيْمٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حِبَّانُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَبِي سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ عَطَاءٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ «لَا صَدَقَةَ إِلَّا عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ»  

nasai-kubra:2335ʿAmr b. ʿAlī > Yaḥyá / Ibn Saʿīd al-Qaṭṭān > ʿAmr b. ʿUthmān > Mūsá b. Ṭalḥah > Ḥakīm b. Ḥizām

"The Messenger of Allah said: "The best kind of charity is that which is given when you are rich, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those for whom you are responsible."' (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2543)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٢٣٣٥أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى وَهُوَ ابْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْقَطَّانُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُوسَى بْنُ طَلْحَةَ أَنَّ حَكِيمَ بْنَ حِزَامٍ حَدَّثَهُ

قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ»  

suyuti:13907a
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السيوطي:١٣٩٠٧a

"خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَة مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْر غنًى، وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ، وَالْيَدُ العُليَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ اليَدِ السُّفْلَى".  

[عب] عبد الرازق عن أَبى هريرة
suyuti:13978a
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السيوطي:١٣٩٧٨a

"خَيْرُ الصدقة ما كان عن ظهر غنًى، واليد العليا خَيْرٌ من اليد السُّفلى، وابدأ بمن تعول".  

[حب] ابن حبّان والعسكرى في الأَمثال: عن أَبى هريرة، وابن جرير في تهذيبه عن حكيم بن حِزَامٍ
suyuti:3764a

The most excellent Sadaqa or the best of Sadaqa is that after giving which the (giver) remains rich and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and begin from the members of your household. (Using translation from Muslim 1034)   

السيوطي:٣٧٦٤a

"أفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَة: ما كان عن ظهرِ غنىً، واليدُ العُليَا خير من اليدِ السُّفْلى، وابْدَأ بمن تَعُولَ" .  

[حم] أحمد [م] مسلم والدارمي، [ن] النسائي حكيم بن حزام
suyuti:12167a
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السيوطي:١٢١٦٧a

"اليدُ العُليَا خَيرٌ مِنَ اليَدِ السُّفْلَى، وابْدَأ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ، وَخَيرُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنىً، وَمن يَسْتَغْنِ يُغْنِه اللهُ".  

[حم] أحمد [خ] البخاري وابن جرير في تهذيبه عن حكيم بن حزام
suyuti:12175a
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السيوطي:١٢١٧٥a

"اليَدُ العُليَا خَيرٌ مِنَ اليَدِ السُّفْلَى، وابْدَأ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ، وَخَيرُ الصَّدَقَةِ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنىً".  

ابن خزيمة في تهذيبه عن جابر
suyuti:165-171bJābir
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السيوطي:١٦٥-١٧١b

"عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رسولُ الله ﷺ : اليَدُ العُليَا خَيْرٌ مِن اليَدِ السُّفْلَى، وَابْدَأ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ، وَخَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنىً".  

ابن جرير في تهذيبه
suyuti:25543a
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السيوطي:٢٥٥٤٣a

"لاَ صَدَقَةَ إِلاَّ مِنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى، وَالْيَدُ الْعُليَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَد السُّفْلَى، وَابْدَأ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ".  

[حم] أحمد عن أبى هريرة