524 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “It was asked, ‘Messenger of Allah, which form of charity is best?’ He replied, ‘The exertion made by one who has little. Begin with those you are responsible for.’” Recorded by Ahmad and Abu Dawud; declared authentic by Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban, and al-Hakim. (1)

• Grading of the hadith:
The hadith is ṣaḥīḥ; authenticated by Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban, and al-Hakim, and adh-Dhahabi agreed with them.

• Vocabulary:
– ay: an interrogative particle used to ask for specification, as in: “Which charity is best?”
– juhd (with dammah on the jīm and sukūn on the hāʾ): energy and capacity—one’s utmost ability. When the jīm is fathah it means hardship.
– al-muqill (with dammah on the mīm, kasrah on the qāf, and a final lām): a person of modest means, one who possesses little wealth.

• Lessons drawn from the two hadiths:
1 – The “upper hand” is the one that gives, while the “lower hand” is the one that receives. The upper hand is better because it shows kindness, it spends, and it confers good, whereas the lower hand merely receives.
2 – The narration encourages the wealthy to show benevolence, give to the needy, and support their poor brothers out of the surplus of their wealth by meeting their needs and relieving their poverty.