Starting with oneself when giving charity

11-4-2017 | IslamWeb

Question:

The Prophet said: "Start with your own self and give charity to it, and then if there is something left over from it, give it to your own family, and then if there is anything left over from your family, give it to your relatives, and if there is something left after giving to your relatives, give it to such and such, saying 'to whoever is in front of you, to whoever is to your right hand side, and to whoever is to your left hand side." [An-Nasaa’i] What does this hadith mean? What does it mean that you start with yourself before everyone?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The hadeeth means that one should start with himself before others in this regard. This is evidenced by the following hadeeth: Abu Hurayrah said, "A man came to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, I have a dinar.' He said, 'Spend it on yourself.' The man said, 'I have another (dinar).' He said, 'Spend it on your child.' The man said, 'I have another.' He said, 'Spend it on your wife/family.' The man said, 'I have another.' He said, 'Spend it on your servant.' The man said, 'I have another.' He said, 'You know better where to spend it.'" [Al-Bayhaqi and Abu Ya‘la - Al-Albaani graded it hasan (good)]

Allah knows best.