"أَنْ تَصَّدقَ وأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ، تَخْشَى الفَقْر وَتَأمَلُ البَقَاءَ، وَلَا تُمْهلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الحُلقُومَ: قُلتَ لِفُلَانٍ كَذَا، ولِفُلَانٍ كَذَا، أَلَا وَقَدْ كَانَ لفُلَان".
See similar narrations below:
Collected by Bukhārī, Muslim, Nasāʾī, Abū Dāwūd, Aḥmad, Ibn Ḥibbān, Nasāʾī's Kubrá, Bayhaqī, SuyūṭīA man came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Which charity is the most superior in reward?" He replied, "The charity which you practice while you are healthy, niggardly and afraid of poverty and wish to become wealthy. Do not delay it to the time of approaching death and then say, 'Give so much to such and such, and so much to such and such.' And it has already belonged to such and such (as it is too late)."
جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَعْظَمُ أَجْرًا قَالَ أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَتَأْمُلُ الْغِنَى وَلاَ تُمْهِلُ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا وَلِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلاَنٍ
A man asked the Prophet, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! What kind of charity is the best?" He replied. "To give in charity when you are healthy and greedy hoping to be wealthy and afraid of becoming poor. Don't delay giving in charity till the time when you are on the death bed when you say, 'Give so much to soand- so and so much to so-and so,' and at that time the property is not yours but it belongs to so-and-so (i.e. your inheritors).
رَجُلٌ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ حَرِيصٌ تَأْمُلُ الْغِنَى وَتَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَلاَ تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا وَلِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلاَنٍ
Messenger of Allah, which charity is the best? Upon this he said: That you should give charity (in a state when you are) healthy and close-fisted, one haunted by the fear of poverty, hoping to become rich (charity in such a state of health and mind is the best). And you must not defer (charity to such a length) that you are about to die and would he saying: This is for so and so, and this is for so and so. Lo, it has already come into (the possession of so and so).
أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَعْظَمُ فَقَالَ أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَتَأْمُلُ الْغِنَى وَلاَ تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا وَلِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا أَلاَ وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلاَنٍ
Messenger of Allah, which charity is the greatest in reward? (The Prophet said): By your father, beware, you should give charity (in a state when you are) healthy and close-fisted, haunted by the fear of poverty, and still hoping to live (as rich). And you must not defer charity (to the time) when you are about to die, and would then say:" This is for so and so, and this for so and so." It has already become the possession of so and so.
جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَعْظَمُ أَجْرًا فَقَالَ أَمَا وَأَبِيكَ لَتُنَبَّأَنَّهُ أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَتَأْمُلُ الْبَقَاءَ وَلاَ تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا وَلِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلاَنٍ
"A man came to the Prophet and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what kind of charity brings the greatest reward?' He said: 'To give in charity when you are healthy and feeling miserly, and fearing poverty and hoping for a long life. Do not wait until the (death rattle) reaches the throat and then say: "This is for so and so," and it nearly became the property of so and so (the heirs).'"
جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَعْظَمُ أَجْرًا قَالَ أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَتَأْمُلُ الْبَقَاءَ وَلاَ تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلاَنٍ
A man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: Messenger of Allah, which sadaqah (charity) is the best ? He replied: (The best sadaqah is) that you give something as sadaqah (charity) when you are healthy, greedy, expect survival and fear poverty, and not that you postpone it until your death. and then you say: For so-and-so is such-and-such, and for so-and-so is such-and-such, while it was already for so-and-so.
رَجُلٌ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ حَرِيصٌ تَأْمُلُ الْبَقَاءَ وَتَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَلاَ تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا وَلِفُلاَنٍ كَذَا وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلاَنٍ
A man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: Messenger of Allah, which sadaqah (charity) is the best ? He replied: (The best sadaqah is) that you give something as sadaqah (charity) when you are healthy, greedy, expect survival and fear poverty, and not that you postpone it until your death. and then you say: For so-and-so is such-and-such, and for so-and-so is such-and-such, while it was already for so-and-so. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2865)
رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ شَحِيحٌ أَوْ صَحِيحٌ تَأْمُلُ الْعَيْشَوَتَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَلَا تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَتْ بِالْحُلْقُومِ قُلْتَ لِفُلَانٍ كَذَا وَلِفُلَانٍ كَذَا وَقَدْ كَانَ
"A man came to the Prophet and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what kind of charity brings the greatest reward?' He said: 'To give in charity when you are healthy and feeling miserly, and fearing poverty and hoping for a long life. Do not wait until the (death rattle) reaches the throat and then say: "This is for so and so," and it nearly became the property of so and so (the heirs).'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 3611)
جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَعْظَمُ؟ قَالَ أَنْ تَتَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَتَأْمُلُ الْبَقَاءَ وَلَا تَمَهَّلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلَانٍ كَذَا وَلِفُلَانٍ كَذَا وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلَانٍ
A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Which charity is the most superior in reward?" He replied, "The charity which you practice while you are healthy, niggardly and afraid of poverty and wish to become wealthy. Do not delay it to the time of approaching death and then say, 'Give so much to such and such, and so much to such and such.' And it has already belonged to such and such (as it is too late)." (Using translation from Bukhārī 1419)
جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَعْظَمُ أَجْرًا؟ قَالَ أَمَا وَأَبِيكَ لَتُنَبَّأَنَّهُ أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَتَأْمُلُ الْبَقَاءَ وَلَا تَمَهَّلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلَانٍ كَذَا وَلِفُلَانٍ كَذَا وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلَانٍ
A man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: Messenger of Allah, which sadaqah (charity) is the best ? He replied: (The best sadaqah is) that you give something as sadaqah (charity) when you are healthy, greedy, expect survival and fear poverty, and not that you postpone it until your death. and then you say: For so-and-so is such-and-such, and for so-and-so is such-and-such, while it was already for so-and-so. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2865)
سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ لَتُنَبَّأَنَّ أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَأْمُلُالْبَقَاءَ وَتَخَافُ الْفَقْرَ وَلَا تَمَهَّلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلَانٍ كَذَا وَلِفُلَانٍ كَذَا أَلَا وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلَانٍ
ذِكْرُ الْبَيَانِ بِأَنَّ صَدَقَةَ الصَّحِيحِ الشَّحِيحِ الْخَائِفِ الْفَقْرَ الْمُؤَمِّلِ طُولَ الْعُمُرِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صَدَقَةِ مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ كَذَلِكَ
A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Which charity is the most superior in reward?" He replied, "The charity which you practice while you are healthy, niggardly and afraid of poverty and wish to become wealthy. Do not delay it to the time of approaching death and then say, 'Give so much to such and such, and so much to such and such.' And it has already belonged to such and such (as it is too late)." (Using translation from Bukhārī 1419)
أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَعْظَمُ؟ قَالَ «أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَتَأْمَلُ الْغِنَى وَلَا تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلَانٍ كَذَا وَلِفُلَانٍ كَذَا أَلَا وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلَانٍ»
ذِكْرُ الْإِخْبَارِ بِأَنَّ صَدَقَةَ الْمَرْءِ مَالَهُ فِي حَالِ صِحَّتِهِ تَكُونُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ صَدَقَتِهِ عِنْدَ نُزُولِ الْمَنِيَّةِ بِهِ
A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Which charity is the most superior in reward?" He replied, "The charity which you practice while you are healthy, niggardly and afraid of poverty and wish to become wealthy. Do not delay it to the time of approaching death and then say, 'Give so much to such and such, and so much to such and such.' And it has already belonged to such and such (as it is too late)." (Using translation from Bukhārī 1419)
أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَعْظَمُ قَالَ «أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَتَأْمَلُ الْغِنَى وَلَا تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلَانٍ كَذَا وَلِفُلَانٍ كَذَا أَلَا وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلَانٍ»
A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Which charity is the most superior in reward?" He replied, "The charity which you practice while you are healthy, niggardly and afraid of poverty and wish to become wealthy. Do not delay it to the time of approaching death and then say, 'Give so much to such and such, and so much to such and such.' And it has already belonged to such and such (as it is too late)." (Using translation from Bukhārī 1419)
جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَيُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَعْظَمُ أَجْرًا قَالَ «تَصَدَّقْ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ وَتَأْمُلُ الْبَقَاءَ وَلَا تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ» قُلْتَ لِفُلَانٍ كَذَا وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلَانٍ
[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked, "Which charity is better?" He replied, "You should be informed that it is better to give charity while you are healthy and stingy, considering the eternal life and fearing poverty, without delaying it. However, when it reaches your throat, you say to so-and-so and so-and-so, except for so-and-so, even though it was for so-and-so."
سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أِيُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ لَتُنَبَّأَنَّ أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَأْمُلُ الْبَقَاءَ وَتَخَافُ الْفَقْرَ وَلَا تُمْهِلُ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ قُلْتَ لِفُلَانٍ كَذَا وَلِفُلَانٍ كَذَا إِلَّا وَقَدْ كَانَ لِفُلَانٍ
A man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: Messenger of Allah, which sadaqah (charity) is the best ? He replied: (The best sadaqah is) that you give something as sadaqah (charity) when you are healthy, greedy, expect survival and fear poverty, and not that you postpone it until your death. and then you say: For so-and-so is such-and-such, and for so-and-so is such-and-such, while it was already for so-and-so. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2865)
"أفْضَلُ الصدقةِ: أن تصَّدَّقَ وأَنت صحيحٌ شحيحٌ، تَأمُلُ العيشَ، وتخشى الفَقرَ ولا تُمهِلْ حتى إذا بَلَغَت الحلقومَ قلت: لفلانٍ كذا، ولفلانٍ كذا، وقد كان لفلان".
A man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: Messenger of Allah, which sadaqah (charity) is the best ? He replied: (The best sadaqah is) that you give something as sadaqah (charity) when you are healthy, greedy, expect survival and fear poverty, and not that you postpone it until your death. and then you say: For so-and-so is such-and-such, and for so-and-so is such-and-such, while it was already for so-and-so. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2865)
"أعْظَمُ الصَّدَقَة أَنْ تَصَّدَّقَ وأنتَ صحيحٌ شحيحٌ، تَخْشَى الفقرَ، وتَأمُلُ الغِنى، ولا تُمْهِلْ، حتَّى إذا بلغتَ الحُلْقُومَ قُلتَ: لفلانٍ كذا، ولفلانٍ كذا، ألا وَقَد كانَ لفلانٍ".