ذِكْرُ الْبَيَانِ بِأَنَّ خَيْرَ الرِّقَابِ وَأَفْضَلَهَا مَا كَانَ ثَمَنُهَا أَعْلَا
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»