In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said, “Two angels descend every morning, and one says: ‘O Allah, give him who spends something, in place of what he spends.’ The other one says: ‘O Allah, give destruction to him who withholds”.(Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said, “The upper hand is better than the lower one (i.e., the spending hand is better than the receiving hand); and begin (charity) with those who are under your care; and the best charity is that which given out of surplus; and he who asks (Allah) to help him abstain from the unlawful and the forbidden, Allah will fulfill his wish; and he who seeks self-sufficiency will be made self-sufficient by Allah”. (Al-Bukhari).
Commentary: The first Hadith provides justification to pray for virtuous people to get better than what they have spent, and to destroy the wealth of the niggardly who refuse to spend in the way of Allah.
The second Hadith mentions the importance of spending in the way of Allah, preference of one’s family and children over others, and chasteness and contentment. It also tells us that Allah helps one in getting what one prays for.
Riyad as-Salihin (The gardens of the virtous)
of the Imam Mohieddine Annawawi 631 – 676
Translation and commentary by Dr Salaheddine Keshrid (Tunisia)
Editor: Dar Al-Gharb Al-Islami
Hadith 1: Chapter 36, Page 99, No 295
Hadith 2: Chapter 36, Page 99, No 296