عن حَكيمِ بن حِزامٍ رضي اللهُ عنه: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم قالَ: «اليدُ العُليَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ اليَدِ السُّفْلى، وابْدَأ بمنْ تَعُولُ، وَخَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ عنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى، ومَنْ يَسْتعْفِفْ يُعِفّهُ اللهُ، ومَنْ يَسْتغْنِ يُغْنِهِ اللهُ» متفقٌ عليه.
Hakim ibn Hizam (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The upper hand is better than the lower hand. Begin with those whom you are responsible to support. The best charity is that given out of an abundance beyond need. Whoever seeks to abstain from begging, Allah will keep him chaste, and whoever seeks to be independent, Allah will make him independent." [Agreed upon]
الشرح · explanation
اليد العليا: هي اليد المنفقة. بمن تعول: من زوجة أو أهل أو نحو ذلك، وعال أهله: إذا قام بما يحتاجون إليه من قوت أو كسوة. خير: أفضل. ظهر غنى: غير محتاج إليه. يستعفف: يكف عن سؤال الناس. يعفه الله: أي يُصيِّرهُ الله تعالى بعونه وتوفيقه عفيفًا. ومن يستغن: يقنع ويظهر الغنى. يغنه الله: يجعل الله في نفسه القناعة والرضا.
The upper hand: it is the hand that spends. Those whom you are responsible to support: such as a wife, family, and the like; "to support one's family" means to provide for what they need of food and clothing. Better: more excellent. Out of an abundance beyond need: that which one is not in need of. Seeks to abstain from begging: refrains from begging people. Allah will keep him chaste: that is, Allah the Exalted, by His help and enabling, will make him abstinent. Whoever seeks to be independent: is content and shows self-sufficiency. Allah will make him independent: Allah places contentment and satisfaction in his soul.
الدروس · lessons
الحثّ على الإنفاق في وجوه الخير. كراهة التصدق بما يحتاجه أو بكل ما يملك حتَّى لا يضطر إلى سؤال الناس. مَن استعان بالله تعالى على حصول شيء مع بذل أسبابه أُعِين عليه. أن العفّة والقناعة من أهم صفات المؤمن الصالح. أفضل الصدقات ما أخرجه الإنسان من ماله بعدما يستبقي منه قدر الكفاية لنفسه وعياله. فضل الإنفاق على العيال على غيره من النفقات. العفة عن السؤال والاستغناء بالله مجلبة للرزق الحسن وطريق لعزة النفس والكرامة.
Encouragement to spend in avenues of good. The dislike of giving in charity what one needs, or all that one possesses, so that one is not driven to begging people. Whoever seeks the help of Allah the Exalted in attaining something, while expending the means for it, will be helped to attain it. Chastity and contentment are among the most important qualities of the righteous believer. The best of charities is what a person gives from his wealth after retaining for himself and his dependents the measure of their sufficiency. The superiority of spending on one's dependents over other forms of spending. Abstaining from begging and seeking independence through Allah draws good provision and is a path to dignity of the soul and honor.