1111 - أفضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ

1111. THE BEST FORM OF CHARITY

3532.رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله - لَمّا سُئلَ عن أفضَلِ الصَّدَقةِ - : أن تَصَدَّقَ وأنتَ صَحيحٌ شَحيحٌ، تَأمُلُ البَقاءَ وتَخافُ الفَقرَ، ولا تُمَهِّلْ حتّى‏ إذا بَلَغَتِ الحُلقومَ قُلتَ : لِفُلانٍ كذا ولفُلانٍ كذا، ألَا وقَد كانَ لِفُلانٍ .¹

3532.The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The best form of charity is that you give away when you are healthy and covetous, when you have high hopes of having a lasting life and fear poverty and the you do not wait until you are breathing your last, saying: ‘this is for x and this is for y, while that finally will belong to z.’²

3533.رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أفضَلُ الناسِ رَجُلٌ يُعطِي جُهدَهُ .³

3533.The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The best of people is he who gives away his hard-earned money [in charity].’⁴

3534.رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أفضَلُ الصَّدَقةِ سِرٌّ إلى‏ فَقيرٍ وجُهدٌ مِن مُقِلٍّ .⁵

3534.The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The best form of charity is that which is secretly given to the poor by one who himself has little to offer.’⁶

3535.رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : إنَّ أفضَلَ الصَّدَقةِ صَدَقةُ اللِّسانِ، تَحقُنُ بهِ الدِّماءَ، وتَدفَعُ بهِ الكَريهَةَ، وتَجُرُّ المَنفَعةَ إلى‏ أخيكَ المُسلِمِ .⁷

3535.The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The best form of charity is charity with one’s tongue through which lives are spared, adversities repelled, and benefits attracted towards one’s Muslim brother.’⁸

3536.رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أفضَلُ الصَّدَقةِ أن يَتَعَلَّمَ المَرءُ المُسلمُ عِلماً ثُمّ يُعَلِّمَهُ أخاهُ المُسلِمَ .⁹

3536.The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The best form of charity is for the Muslim to gain knowledge and then teach it to his fellow Muslim brother.’¹⁰

3537.رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله - لَمّا سُئلَ عن أفضَلِ الصَّدَقةِ - : على‏ ذِي الرَّحِمِ الكاشِحِ .¹¹

3537. The Prophet (SAWA) when asked about the best act of charity, replied, ‘[It is the act of charity] towards a kin who harbours secret enmity.’¹²

3538.رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أفضَلُ الصَّدَقةِ ظِلُّ فُسطاطٍ في سَبيلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّوجلَّ .¹³

3538.The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The best form of charity is to shade someone under one’s tent for the sake of Allah.’¹⁴

3539.رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أفضَلُ الصَّدَقةِ في رَمَضانَ .¹⁵

3539.The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The best act of charity is carried out in the month of Ramadan.’¹⁶

3540.الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : أفضَلُ الصَّدَقةِ إبرادُ الكَبِدِ الحَرّى‏ .¹⁷

3540.Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘The best form of charity is to cool down someone’s internal heat [by quenching their thirst].’¹⁸

3541.الإمامُ الكاظمُ عليه السلام : عَونُكَ لِلضَّعيفِ مِن أفضَلِ الصَّدَقةِ .¹⁹

3541.Imam al-Kazim (AS) said, ‘Your assistance of the weak is one of the best forms of charity.’²⁰