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.  

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  

[Machine] A man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while he was present and asked him, "O Prophet of Allah, which deeds are the best?" He replied, "Faith in Allah and striving in His cause." The man asked, "What if I am unable to do that?" He replied, "The greatest reward is freeing a slave, or giving oneself up for martyrdom." The man asked again, "What if I am unable to do that?" He replied, "Assist the weak, or do good to others." The man asked once more, "What if I am unable to do that?" He replied, "Refrain from doing evil, for it is a good deed by which you benefit yourself."  

أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ عِنْدَهُ فَسَأَلَهُ فَقَالَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ الْإِيمَانُ بِاللهِ وَالْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ قَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ ذَاكَ؟ قَالَ فَأَيُّ الرِّقَابِ أَعْظَمُ أَجْرًا؟ قَالَ أَغْلَاهَا ثَمَنًا وَأَنْفَسُهَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِهَا قَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ؟ قَالَ قَوِّمْ ضَائِعًا أَوِ اصْنَعْ لِأَخْرَقَ قَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ ذَاكَ؟ قَالَ فَاحْبِسْ نَفْسَكَ عَنِ الشَّرِّ فَإِنَّه صَدَقَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ تَصَدَّقْ بِهَا عَلَى نَفْسِكَ  

[Machine] A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked, "O Messenger of Allah, which deeds are the best?" The Prophet replied, "Believing in Allah and striving in the cause of Allah." The man asked again, "What if I am not able to do that?" The Prophet said, "Then help the needy or do good for a person with a disability." The man asked again, "And if I am not able to do that?" The Prophet said, "Then restrain yourself from doing evil, for that is a charitable act that you do to yourself."  

أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ الْإِيمَانُ بِاللهِ وَالْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ قَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ تُعِينُ ضَائِعًا أَوْ تَصْنَعُ لِأَخْرَقَ قَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ احْبِسْ نَفْسَكَ عَنِ الشَّرِّ فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ تَصَدَّقُ بِهَا عَلَى نَفْسِكَ  

[Machine] He informed him that he said, "O Messenger of Allah, which action is the best?" He said, "Faith in Allah and striving in His cause." He said, "Which type of slavery is the best?" He said, "Freeing a slave who is most valuable and most beloved to his family." He said, "What if I am unable to do so?" He said, "Assist the one who is in need or do good for the disabled." He said, "What if I am weak?" He said, "Refrain from doing evil, for it is a charity that you do upon yourself."  

أخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ إِيمَانٌ بِاللهِ وَجِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِهِ قَالَ فَأَيُّ الرِّقَابِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ أَغْلَاهَا ثَمَنًا وَأَنْفَسُهَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِهَا قَالَ أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ؟ قَالَ تُعِينُ صَانِعًا أَوْ تَصْنَعُ لِأَخْرَقَ قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ ضَعُفْتُ؟ قَالَ تُمْسِكُ عَنِ الشَّرِّ فَإِنَّهُ صَدَقَةٌ تَصَّدَّقُ بِهَا عَلَى نَفْسِكَ  

[Machine] I asked, "O Messenger of Allah, which action is the best?" He replied, "Belief in Allah and striving in His cause." I then asked, "O Messenger of Allah, which slaves are the best?" He said, "Those whose lives are most valuable and whose ransom is the highest." I asked, "And if I cannot find any?" He said, "Then help a worker who is in need, or work yourself so you can provide for the destitute." I asked, "And if I am not able to do that?" He said, "Refrain from causing harm to others, as this is a charity you give on behalf of yourself."  

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ إِيمَانٌ بِاللهِ وَجِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِهِ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فَأَيُّ الرِّقَابِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ أَنْفَسُهَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِهَا وَأَغْلَاهَا ثَمَنًا قَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَجِدْ؟ قَالَ تُعِينُ صَانِعًا أَوْ تَصْنَعُ لِأَخْرَقَ وَقَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ؟ قَالَ كُفَّ أَذَاكَ عَنِ النَّاسِ فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ تَصَدَّقُ بِهَا عَنْ نَفْسِكَ  

[Machine] A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked him, "O Messenger of Allah, which deeds are the best?" The Prophet replied, "Believing in Allah and striving in His cause." The man then asked, "Which form of charity is the best?" The Prophet said, "To give of what you have earned through your own efforts." The man asked, "And what if I cannot do that?" The Prophet replied, "Then assist a worker or do some work for a handicapped person." The man asked, "And if I am unable to do even that?" The Prophet said, "Then refrain from harming others, for that is a charitable act you can do for yourself."  

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَسَأَلَهُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ إِيمَانٌ بِاللهِ وَجِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ فَقَالَ أَيُّ الْعَتَاقَةِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ أَنْفَسُهَا قَالَ أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ لَمْ أَجِدْ؟ قَالَ فَتُعِينُ الصَّانِعَ أَوْ تَصْنَعُ لِأَخْرَقَ قَالَ أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ لَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ؟ قَالَ فَدَعِ النَّاسَ مِنْ شَرِّكَ فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ تَصَّدَّقُ بِهَا عَنْ نَفْسِكَ  

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. (Using translation from Muslim 84a)  

قُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ «الْإِيمَانُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِهِ» قَالَ قُلْتُ أَيُّ الرِّقَابِ أَفْضَلُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ «أَنْفَسُهَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِهَا وَأَكْثَرُهَا ثَمَنًا» قَالَ قُلْتُ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ قَالَ «تُعِينُ ضَعِيفًا أَوْ تَصْنَعُ لِأَخْرَقَ» قَالَ قُلْتُ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ ضَعُفْتُ قَالَ «تَكُفُّ شَرَّكَ عَنِ النَّاسِ فَإِنَّهُ صَدَقَةٌ مِنْكَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ»  

[Machine] I said, "O Messenger of Allah, which action is best?" He said, "Faith in Allah and striving in His cause." I asked, "Which slaves are better?" He said, "The ones who are most valuable to their masters and have the highest prices." I said, "But if I am not able to do so?" He said, "Then help a worker or make something for someone lame." I said, "And if I am weak in that?" He said, "Then refrain from evil, for it is a charity that you give to yourself."  

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ «إِيمَانٌ بِاللَّهِ وَجِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِهِ» قَالَ قُلْتُ فَأَيُّ الرِّقَابِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ «أَنْفَسُهَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِهَا وَأَغْلَاهَا ثَمَنًا» قَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ قَالَ «تُعِينُ صَانِعًا أَوْ تَصْنَعُ لِأَخْرَقَ» قُلْتُ فَإِنْ ضَعُفْتُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ «فَدَعِ الشَّرَّ فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ تَصَدَّقُ بِهَا عَلَى نَفْسِكَ»  

[Machine] He informed him that he said: "O Messenger of Allah, which deed is best?" He said: "Belief in Allah and Jihad in His cause." He said: "Which slaves are best?" He said: "The most expensive and valuable among them to their owners."  

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ «إِيمَانٌ بِاللهِ وَجِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِهِ» قَالَ فَأَيُّ الرِّقَابِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ «أَغْلَاهَا ثَمَنًا وَأَنْفَسُهَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِهَا»  

I asked the Prophet, "What is the best deed?" He replied, "To believe in Allah and to fight for His Cause." I then asked, "What is the best kind of manumission (of slaves)?" He replied, "The manumission of the most expensive slave and the most beloved by his master." I said, "If I cannot afford to do that?" He said, "Help the weak or do good for a person who cannot work for himself." I said, "If I cannot do that?" He said, "Refrain from harming others for this will be regarded as a charitable deed for your own good." (Using translation from Bukhārī 2518)   

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أِيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ إِيمَانٌ بِاللهِ وَجِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِهِ قَالَ فَأِيُّ الرِّقَابِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ أَغْلَاهَا ثَمَنًا وَأَنْفَسُهَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِهَا قَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ؟ قَالَ تُعِينُ ضَعِيفًا أَوْ تَصْنَعُ لِأَخْرَقَ قَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ؟ قَالَ تَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنْ شَرِّكَ؛ فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ تَصَدَّقُ بِهَا عَلَى نَفْسِكَ  

[Machine] A man came to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and asked him, "O Messenger of Allah, which deeds are the best?" The Prophet replied, "Believing in Allah and striving in His cause." The man then asked, "Which form of charity is the best?" The Prophet replied, "To give of one's self." The man asked further, "What if I am unable?" The Prophet replied, "Then you should assist the laborer and engage in good deeds." The man asked again, "What if I am not capable?" The Prophet replied, "Then you should refrain from harming others, for that would be a charity by which you benefit yourself."  

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَسَأَلَهُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أِيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ إِيمَانٌ بِاللهِ وَجِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ قَالَ فَأِيُّ الْعَتَاقَةِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ أَنْفَسُهَا قَالَ أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ لَمْ أَجِدْ؟ قَالَ فَتُعِينُ الصَّانِعَ وَتَصْنَعُ لِأَخْرَقَ قَالَ أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ لَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ؟ قَالَ تَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنْ شَرِّكَ؛ فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ تَصَدَّقُ بِهَا عَلَى نَفْسِكَ  

I asked the Prophet, "What is the best deed?" He replied, "To believe in Allah and to fight for His Cause." I then asked, "What is the best kind of manumission (of slaves)?" He replied, "The manumission of the most expensive slave and the most beloved by his master." I said, "If I cannot afford to do that?" He said, "Help the weak or do good for a person who cannot work for himself." I said, "If I cannot do that?" He said, "Refrain from harming others for this will be regarded as a charitable deed for your own good." (Using translation from Bukhārī 2518)   

سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أِيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ إِيمَانٌ بِاللهِ وَجِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِهِ قُلْتُ أِيُّ الرِّقَابِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ أَغْلَاهَا ثَمَنًا وَأَنْفَسُهَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِهَا قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ؟ قَالَ تُعِينُ صَانِعًا أَوْ تَصْنَعُ لِأَخْرَقَ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ؟ قَالَ تَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ تَصَّدَّقُ بِهَا عَلَى نَفْسِكَ  

I asked the Prophet, "What is the best deed?" He replied, "To believe in Allah and to fight for His Cause." I then asked, "What is the best kind of manumission (of slaves)?" He replied, "The manumission of the most expensive slave and the most beloved by his master." I said, "If I cannot afford to do that?" He said, "Help the weak or do good for a person who cannot work for himself." I said, "If I cannot do that?" He said, "Refrain from harming others for this will be regarded as a charitable deed for your own good." (Using translation from Bukhārī 2518)   

سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أِيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ إِيمَانٌ بِاللهِ وَجِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ قُلْتُ أِيُّ الرِّقَابِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ أَغْلَاهَا ثَمَنًا وَأَنْفَسُهَا عِندَ أَهْلِهَا قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ؟ قَالَ تُعِينُ صَانِعًا أَوْ تَصْنَعُ لِأَخْرَقَ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ؟ قَالَ تَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ تَصَدَّقُ بِهَا عَلَى نَفْسِكَ  

I asked the Prophet, "What is the best deed?" He replied, "To believe in Allah and to fight for His Cause." I then asked, "What is the best kind of manumission (of slaves)?" He replied, "The manumission of the most expensive slave and the most beloved by his master." I said, "If I cannot afford to do that?" He said, "Help the weak or do good for a person who cannot work for himself." I said, "If I cannot do that?" He said, "Refrain from harming others for this will be regarded as a charitable deed for your own good." (Using translation from Bukhārī 2518)   

"أفْضَلُ الْعَمَل: إيمانٌ بالله وجهادٌ في سبيلِ الله، قيل: فأيُّ الرقاب أفْضَلُ؟ قال: أنفَسُهَا عنْدَ أَهْلِها، وأغلاها ثمنًا، قيل: فإِنْ لم أَجِدْ؟ قال: تُعينُ صانِعًا، أو تَصْنَعُ لأخْرَقَ قال: فإِن لم أَستطع؟ قال: كُفَّ أذَاكَ عن الناسِ؛ فإِنَّها صدقةٌ تَصَدَّقُ بها على نَفْسِكَ".