Hadithcore
Sahih al-Bukhari, 1523
sahih

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

The people of Yemen used to come for Hajj and used not to bring enough provisions with them and used to say that they depend on Allah. On their arrival in Medina they used to beg the people, and so Allah revealed, "And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is the fear of Allah." (2:197).

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بِشْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شَبَابَةُ، عَنْ وَرْقَاءَ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ كَانَ أَهْلُ الْيَمَنِ يَحُجُّونَ وَلاَ يَتَزَوَّدُونَ وَيَقُولُونَ نَحْنُ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ، فَإِذَا قَدِمُوا مَكَّةَ سَأَلُوا النَّاسَ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى ‏{‏وَتَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى‏}‏‏.‏ رَوَاهُ ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ عَنْ عَمْرٍو عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ مُرْسَلاً‏.‏

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 25, Hadith 11
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Vol. 2, Book 26, Hadith 598 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
Islam teaches and orders the Muslim to rely upon Allah and to attach his heart to Him alone because everything that takes place on earth or in the heavens is subject to His will and decree. However, reliance upon Allah does not contradict taking the means to achieve the desired end. In fact, it is incumbent upon each and every Muslim to look for the means through which they can achieve their objective. In this hadeeth, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports the reason behind the revelation of the ayah: {And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is the fear of Allah.} – that is being: the people of Yemen used to travel to Makkah to perform Hajj without taking with them enough provisions and supplies, justifying that by saying they are fully relying upon Allah. However, after their arrival to Makkah, they would ask people for food and drink, which proves that they were not fully relying upon Allah rather relying on what people would offer them. This is because reliance upon Allah means detachment from all causes while taking the means leading to the desired end. Thereupon, Allah, Most High, revealed the ayah: {And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is the fear of Allah.} i.e., take enough supplies from food and drink to help perform Hajj and know that the best thing you can rely upon in all your affairs is piety and fearing Him. This hadeeth teaches us that refraining from asking people for help is from piety, and that reliance upon Allah cannot be true when a person asks others for help. This is because reliance upon Allah means to never ask help from anyone except Him. It admonishes begging and asking people and encourages us to refrain from begging and asking others..
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