Hadith #24

Arabic Text

English Translation

It was narrated from Abu Hurayra (رضي الله عنه) — via Muhammad ibn Fudayl, from 'Umara, from Abu Zur'a — that a man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, which charity earns the greatest reward?' He said: 'By your father, you will certainly be told. [The greatest] is that you give charity while you are healthy yet miserly [with your wealth], fearing poverty and hoping to live long. And do not wait until [the soul reaches the throat] and then say: "Give so-and-so such-and-such, and give so-and-so such-and-such" — for it has already [effectively] become the property of so-and-so [i.e., your heirs have already inherited it].'