‘A’isha said she asked God's Messenger what the thing was which it was unlawful to refuse and he replied that it was water, salt and fire. She said, “Messenger of God, we know about water, but what is the significance of salt and fire?” He replied, “Little rosy one, he who gives fire is as though he had given <i>sadaqa</i> of all that that fire cooked ; he who gives salt is as though he had given <i>sadaqa</i> of all that that salt freshened ; he who gives a Muslim a drink of water where water is found is as though he had set free a slave; and he who gives a Muslim a drink of water where water is not found is as though he had given him life.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

عَن عَائِشَة أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا الشَّيْءُ الَّذِي لَا يَحِلُّ مَنْعُهُ؟ قَالَ: «الْمَاءُ وَالْمِلْحُ وَالنَّار» قَالَت: قلت: يَا رَسُول الله هَذَا الْمَاءُ قَدْ عَرَفْنَاهُ فَمَا بَالُ الْمِلْحِ وَالنَّارِ؟ قَالَ: «يَا حميراء أَمن أَعْطَى نَارًا فَكَأَنَّمَا تَصَدَّقَ بِجَمِيعِ مَا أَنْضَجَتْ تِلْكَ النَّارُ وَمَنْ أَعْطَى مِلْحًا فَكَأَنَّمَا تَصَدَّقَ بِجَمِيعِ مَا طَيَّبَتْ تِلْكَ الْمِلْحُ وَمَنْ سَقَى مُسْلِمًا شَرْبَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ حَيْثُ يُوجَدُ الْمَاءُ فَكَأَنَّمَا أَعْتَقَ رَقَبَةً وَمَنْ سَقَى مُسْلِمًا شَرْبَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ حَيْثُ لَا يُوجَدُ الْمَاءُ فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَاهَا» . رَوَاهُ ابْنُ مَاجَهْ