Hadith Research Libraryمكتبة الحديث والرجال

Chapter 32.0

The upper hand is better than the lower hand, and the upper hand is the one that gives and the lower hand is the one that receives

باب بَيَانِ أَنَّ الْيَدَ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنْ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَأَنَّ الْيَدَ الْعُلْيَا هِيَ الْمُنْفِقَةُ وَأَنَّ السُّفْلَى هِيَ الْآخِذَةُ

4 hadiths

Sahih Muslim, 1033sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

4 transmitters

Narrated by Qutayba bin Sa'id bin JamilfromImam MaalikfromNafie'fromibn Umar

Hadith text · Matn

‏ الْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا الْمُنْفِقَةُ وَالسُّفْلَى السَّائِلَةُ ‏

‏ ‏.‏

English translation

Abdullah b. Umar reported that as Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was sitting on the pulpit and talking about Sadaqa and abstention from begging, he said:

The upper hand is better than the lower one, the upper being the one which bestows and the lower one which begs.

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، فِيمَا قُرِئَ عَلَيْهِ عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ، اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ وَهُوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ وَهُوَ يَذْكُرُ الصَّدَقَةَ وَالتَّعَفُّفَ عَنِ الْمَسْأَلَةِ ‏

Sahih Muslim, 1034sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

9 transmitters

Narrated by Muhammad bin Bashar BindarfromMuhammad bin Hatm bin SulaimanfromAhmed bin 'Ubda bin MusafromYahya bin Sa'id bin Farroukh al-QatanfromMuhammad bin Bashar BindarfromYahya bin Sa'id bin Farroukh al-Qatanfrom'Amr bin 'UthmanfromMusa ibn TalhafromHakim ibn Hizam

Hadith text · Matn

‏ أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ - أَوْ خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ - عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ ‏

‏‏.‏

English translation

Hakim b. Hizam reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) having said this:

The most excellent Sadaqa or the best of Sadaqa is that after giving which the (giver) remains rich and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and begin from the members of your household.

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدَةَ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ يَحْيَى الْقَطَّانِ، - قَالَ ابْنُ بَشَّارٍ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، - حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُوسَى بْنَ طَلْحَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ حَكِيمَ بْنَ حِزَامٍ، حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏

Sahih Muslim, 1035sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

7 transmitters

Narrated by Abu Bakr bin Abi Shaybafrom'Amr bin Muhammad bin Bukayr (al-Naqid)fromSufyan bin 'Uyaynahfromal-Zuhrifrom'Urwa ibn al-ZubayrfromSa'id bin Abi Sa'id (Kaysan)fromHakim ibn Hizam

Hadith text · Matn

‏ إِنَّ هَذَا الْمَالَ خَضِرَةٌ حُلْوَةٌ فَمَنْ أَخَذَهُ بِطِيبِ نَفْسٍ بُورِكَ لَهُ فِيهِ وَمَنْ أَخَذَهُ بِإِشْرَافِ نَفْسٍ لَمْ يُبَارَكْ لَهُ فِيهِ وَكَانَ كَالَّذِي يَأْكُلُ وَلاَ يَشْبَعُ وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى ‏

‏ ‏.‏

English translation

Hakim b. Hizam reported:

I begged the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he gave me. I again begged, he again gave me. I again begged, he again gave me, and then said: This property is green and sweet; he who receives it with a cheerful heart is blessed in it, and he who receives it with an avaricious mind would not be blessed in it, he being like one who eats without being satished, and the upper hand is better thad the lower hand.

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، وَسَعِيدٍ، عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حِزَامٍ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَعْطَانِي ثُمَّ سَأَلْتُهُ فَأَعْطَانِي ثُمَّ سَأَلْتُهُ فَأَعْطَانِي ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏

Sahih Muslim, 1036sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

6 transmitters

Narrated by Nasr bin 'Ali bin Nasr bin 'Ali (young)fromZuhayr bin Harbfrom'Abd bin Hameed bin Nasrfrom'Umar bin Yonus bin al-Qasimfrom'Ikrama bin 'AmmarfromAbu Umama al-Bahili

Hadith text · Matn

‏ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ إِنَّكَ أَنْ تَبْذُلَ الْفَضْلَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ وَأَنْ تُمْسِكَهُ شَرٌّ لَكَ وَلاَ تُلاَمُ عَلَى كَفَافٍ وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى ‏

‏.

English translation

Abu Umama reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

O son of Adam, it is better for you if you spend your surplus (wealth), but if you withhold it, it is evil for you. There is (however) no reproach for you (if you withhold means necessary) for a living. And begin (charity) with your dependents; and the upper hand is better than the lower hand.

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْجَهْضَمِيُّ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شَدَّادٌ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا أُمَامَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏