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.
tabarani:3091al-Ḥusayn b. Isḥāq al-Tustarī > ʿUthmān b. Abū Shaybah > ʿAbdah b. Sulaymān > Hishām b. ʿUrwah from his father > Ḥakīm b. Ḥizām

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The upper hand is better than the lower hand, and one should start with those who are dependent on him. The best charity is that which is given while one is self-sufficient, and whoever seeks chastity, Allah will assist him with it, and whoever seeks self-sufficiency, Allah will make him self-sufficient."  

الطبراني:٣٠٩١حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ التُّسْتَرِيُّ ثنا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ ثنا عَبْدَةُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «الْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَلْيَبْدَأْ أَحَدُكُمْ بِمَنْ يَعُولُ خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَمَنْ يَسْتَعْفِفْ يُعِفَّهُ اللهُ وَمَنْ يَسْتَغْنِ يُغْنِهِ اللهُ ﷻ»  


See similar narrations below:

Collected by Bukhārī, Nasāʾī, Aḥmad, Dārimī, Ibn Ḥibbān, Ṭabarānī, Suyūṭī
bukhari:1427Mūsá b. Ismāʿīl > Wuhayb > Hishām from his father > 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."  

البخاري:١٤٢٧حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ ؓ

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ الْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ وَخَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَمَنْ يَسْتَعْفِفْ يُعِفَّهُ اللَّهُ وَمَنْ يَسْتَغْنِ يُغْنِهِ اللَّهُ وَعَنْ وُهَيْبٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامٌ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ بِهَذَا  

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  

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:15326Wakīʿ > Hishām b. ʿUrwah from his father > Ḥakīm b. Ḥizām

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those who are under your responsibility. Whoever asks Allah for sufficiency, Allah will make him self-sufficient, and whoever seeks refuge with Allah, Allah will grant him refuge."  

أحمد:١٥٣٢٦حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ هِشَامَ بْنَ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ الْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ مَنْ يَسْتَغْنِ يُغْنِهِ اللهُ وَمَنْ يَسْتَعْفَّ يُعِفَّهُ اللهُ  

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:15578Ibn Numayr > Hishām b. ʿUrwah from his father > Ḥakīm b. Ḥizām

[Machine] I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, "The upper hand is better than the lower hand, and let one of you start with those he is responsible for. The best charity is that which is given when one is still self-sufficient. Whoever seeks self-sufficiency, Allah will enrich him, and whoever seeks chastity, Allah will keep him chaste." So I said, "And who is it from you, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "From me." I said, "May my hand never be beneath the hand of an Arab man."  

أحمد:١٥٥٧٨حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ قَالَ

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ الْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَلْيَبْدَأْ أَحَدُكُمْ بِمَنْ يَعُولُ وَخَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَمَنْ يَسْتَغْنِ يُغْنِهِ اللهُ وَمَنْ يَسْتَعْفِفْ يُعِفَّهُ اللهُ فَقُلْتُ وَمِنْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ؟ قَالَ وَمِنِّي قَالَ حَكِيمٌ قُلْتُ لَا تَكُونُ يَدِي تَحْتَ يَدِ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ أَبَدًا  

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: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 الْبَيَانِ بِأَنَّ الْيَدَ الْمُعْطِيَةَ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الْيَدِ السَّائِلَةِ

ibnhibban:3363Zakariyyā b. Yaḥyá b. ʿAbd al-Raḥman al-Sājī Bi-al-Baṣrah > ʿAbd al-Wāḥid b. Ghiyāth > Ḥammād b. Salamah > ʿĀṣim b. Bahdalah > Abū Ṣāliḥ > Abū Hurayrah

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best charity is what is given while one is self-sufficient, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand. Let one of you start with those who depend on him. His wife will say, 'Spend on me,' and his mother will say, 'To whom will you entrust me?' And his servant will say, 'Feed me and give me employment.'"  

ابن حبّان:٣٣٦٣أَخْبَرَنَا زَكَرِيَّا بْنُ يَحْيَى بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السَّاجِيُّ بِالْبَصْرَةِ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ بْنُ غِيَاثٍ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ بَهْدَلَةَ عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ «خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَلْيَبْدَأْ أَحَدُكُمْ بِمَنْ يَعُولُ تَقُولُ امْرَأَتُهُ أَنْفِقْ عَلَيَّ وَتَقُولُ أُمُّ وَلَدِهِ إِلَى مَنْ تَكِلُنِي؟ وَيَقُولُ لَهُ عَبْدُهُ أَطْعِمْنِي وَاسْتَعْمِلْنِي»  

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»  

أَبُو صَالِحٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ

tabarani:12726ʿAbdullāh b. Nājiyah > al-Mundhir b. al-Walīd al-a neighborūdī from my father > al-Ḥasan b. Abū Jaʿfar > Muḥammad b. Juḥādah > Abū Ṣāliḥ > Ibn ʿAbbās

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best charity is that which leaves one self-sufficient, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those who are under your care."  

الطبراني:١٢٧٢٦حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ نَاجِيَةَ ثنا الْمُنْذِرُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ الْجَارُودِيُّ ثنا أَبِي ثنا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُحَادَةَ عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ

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

tabarani:3092Zakariyyā b. Yaḥyá al-Sājy > Aḥmad b. Saʿīd al-Hamdānī > Ibn Wahb > Saʿīd b. ʿAbd al-Raḥman al-Jumaḥī Wayaḥyá b. ʿAbdullāh b. Sālim > Hishām b. ʿUrwah from his father > Ḥakīm b. Ḥizām

[Machine] He heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, "The upper hand is better than the lower hand, and let one of you begin with the person he provides for. The best charity is that which is given in a state of wealth, and whoever refrains, Allah will make him abstain, and whoever seeks sufficiency, Allah will make him self-sufficient."  

الطبراني:٣٠٩٢حَدَّثَنَا زَكَرِيَّا بْنُ يَحْيَى السَّاجيُّ ثنا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ ثنا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ أَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْجُمَحِيُّ وَيَحْيَى بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «الْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَلْيَبْدَأْ أَحَدُكُمْ بِمَنْ يَعُولُ وَخَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَمَنْ يَسْتَعْفِفْ يُعِفَّهُ اللهُ وَمَنْ يَسْتَغْنِ يُغْنِهِ اللهُ ﷻ»  

tabarani:3093Ismāʿīl b. al-Ḥasan al-Khaffāf al-Miṣrī > Aḥmad b. Ṣāliḥ > Anas b. ʿIyāḍ > Hishām b. ʿUrwah from his father > Ḥakīm b. Ḥizām b. Khūwaylid

[Machine] He heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, "The upper hand is better than the lower hand, and one of you should start with those who depend on him. The best charity is giving from what is sufficient, and the person who refrains from asking, Allah will make him self-sufficient, and the one who is self-sufficient, Allah will make him rich."  

الطبراني:٣٠٩٣حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ الْخَفَّافُ الْمِصْرِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى أَنَسِ بْنِ عِيَاضٍ حَدَّثَنِي هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامِ بْنِ خُوَيْلِدٍ

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «الْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَلْيَبْدَأْ أَحَدُكُمْ بِمَنْ يَعُولُ وَخَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَمَنْ يَسْتَعْفِفْ يُعِفَّهُ اللهُ وَمَنِ اسْتَغْنَى أَغْنَاهُ اللهُ»  

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»  

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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
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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
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السيوطي:٢٣٥٣١a

"مَنْ يَسْتَغْنِ يُغْنِهِ اللهُ، وَمَنْ يَسْتَعِفَّ يُعِفَّهُ اللهُ، وَالْيَدُ الْعُليَا خير مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفلَى، وَلا يَفْتَحُ أَحَدٌ بَابَ مَسْأَلَةٍ إِلا فَتَحَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ بَابَ فَقْرٍ".  

ابن سعد عن أبي سعيد
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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
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السيوطي:٧٨٣٦a

"إِنَّه مَنْ يَسْأَلُ النَّاسَ فيُعْطَى يكُون كالذى يأْكلُ ولا ينفعُه ما أَكَلَ، اليدُ العُليَا خيرٌ مِنَ اليدِ السُّفْلى، وخَيْرُ الصَّدقِة ما كان عن ظَهْرِ غِنًى وابدأ بمن تَعُولُ ".  

[طب] الطبرانى في الكبير عن حكيم بن حزام