Part of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) practice—an aspect of his generosity and noble character—was that he never turned away anyone who asked him for something. Whenever he was asked for anything for the sake of Islam, he granted it. Then he said to Ḥakīm, “This wealth is green and sweet”—green, pleasing to the eye; sweet, delightful to the taste—so the soul naturally seeks it and longs for it.

“Whoever takes it with a contented heart will find blessing in it, but whoever takes it with a covetous heart will find no blessing in it.” How much farther from blessing, then, is the one who acquires it by begging! For this reason the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb, “Whatever of this wealth reaches you while you neither anticipated it nor asked for it, accept it; and what does not, do not let your soul chase after it.” In other words: whatever comes to you because of expectation, longing, and pursuit—do not accept it; and whatever comes to you by asking—do not accept it.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) then said to Ḥakīm ibn Ḥizām, “The upper hand is better than the lower hand.” The upper hand is the giver’s hand, and the lower hand is the receiver’s; the giver’s hand is better because the giver is above the recipient—his hand is the upper one, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) affirmed.

Ḥakīm ibn Ḥizām (may Allah be pleased with him) thereupon swore by the One who sent the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with the truth that he would never again ask anyone for anything, saying, “O Messenger of Allah, by Him who sent you with the truth, I shall not ask anyone after you for anything until I depart this world.”