the Messenger of Allah saying: "For one of you to go out early to gather firewood and carry it on his back so that he can give charity from it and be free of need from the people, is better for him than to ask a man who may give that to him or refuse. Indeed the upper hand (giving) is more virtuous than the lower hand (receiving), and begin with (those who are) your dependants."  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ لأَنْ يَغْدُوَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَيَحْتَطِبَ عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ فَيَتَصَدَّقَ مِنْهُ فَيَسْتَغْنِيَ بِهِ عَنِ النَّاسِ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ رَجُلاً أَعْطَاهُ أَوْ مَنَعَهُ ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّ الْيَدَ الْعُلْيَا أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ وَأَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ وَالزُّبَيْرِ بْنِ الْعَوَّامِ وَعَطِيَّةَ السَّعْدِيِّ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَمَسْعُودِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَثَوْبَانَ وَزِيَادِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ الصُّدَائِيِّ وَأَنَسٍ وَحُبْشِيِّ بْنِ جُنَادَةَ وَقَبِيصَةَ بْنِ مُخَارِقٍ وَسَمُرَةَ وَابْنِ عُمَرَ