Spending on one's own family is the best charity

 

Spending on one’s family is the best charity

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah and Hadhrat Hakeem bin Hazaam (May Allah be well pleased with them), they both say that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The best charity is which is given from surplus wealth (that even after the charity, wealth remains for the needs of the family) and start spending with those who are under your care.

 

This has been related by Bukhari and Muslim relates this only on the authority of Hakeem bin Hazaam (May Allah be well pleased with him).

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he asked:  O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  Which charity is the best (with regard to divine reward)?  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: The best charity is that of a poor person (who earns with much hard work) and spends in charity as much as his (or her) resources permit and start spending with those who are under your care.

 

This has been related by Abu Dawood.

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Thaubaan (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: The best money is that which a person spends on his own relatives and that money is also the best which a man spends in striving in the path of Allah Most High and (similarly) that money is also the best which a man spends on his friends who strive in the path of Allah Most High. 

 

This has been related by Muslim.

 

Spending on one’s relatives and dependents with the intention of divine reward is also a virtue

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Mustadarak ‘Alas Sahihain’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  When a Muslim spends on his family with the intention of divine reward, he gets the reward of charity.

 

This has been related by both Bukhari and Muslim.

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  A human being spends his (or her) wealth in many ways.  One is the money which you spend in the path of Allah Most High (like in Hajj, acquiring knowledge, striving in the path of Allah, etc.), one is that money which you spend in freeing slaves, one is that money which you spend on the poor and one is that money which you spend on your own relatives and dependents.

 

(Although you get reward for all the aforementioned, but) The money which you spend on your own relatives and dependents is the most excellent in terms of divine reward.

 

The reward of spending on one’s children

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Umme Salma (May Allah be well pleased with her), she says:  I asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam):  O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  If I spend on the children of Abu Salma (May Allah be well pleased with him) who are through me, will I get any reward?  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  You keep spending on them.  Whatever you spend on them, you will surely get the reward for it.

 

This has been related by Bukhari and Muslim.

 

[Excerpted from Noor Ul Masabeeh, Vol. 4]