525 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Give in charity.” A man asked, “O Messenger of Allah, I have one dinar—what should I do with it?” He replied, “Spend it on yourself.” The man said, “I have another.” He said, “Spend it on your child.” The man said, “I have another.” He said, “Spend it on your servant.” The man said, “I have another.” He said, “You know best what to do with it.” Reported by Abu Dawud and al-Nasa’i, and authenticated by Ibn Hibban and al-Hakim ⦗1⦘.

Hadith grading:
This report is ḥasan (fair).
In al-Talkhīs it is stated: “It was narrated by al-Shafiʿi and Ahmad (9705), al-Nasa’i, Abu Dawud, Ibn Hibban, and al-Hakim through the chain of Abu Hurayrah.”
Ibn Hibban and al-Hakim declared it ṣaḥīḥ (sound). Al-Hakim added, “This hadith meets the criteria of Muslim,” a judgment endorsed by al-Dhahabi.
Al-Albani remarked: “Its attribution to Muslim’s conditions is debatable, for the chain contains Muhammad b. ʿAjlan, whose reports are ḥasan.”

Glossary of key phrases:
• “Spend it on yourself” – that is, use it for your own needs; the wording “give charity” is employed to show that spending on those who have a rightful claim upon you carries the same reward as voluntary charity.
• “You know best what to do with it” – meaning you are the most informed about your circumstances and how the dinar should be used.