ONE HADITH A DAY

O Messenger of Allah, ’Umm Sa‘d died. Which charity is the best?" He said: 'Water.' He said: So, he dug a well and said: "This is for ’Umm Sa‘d

Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, An-Nasā’i, and Ibn Mājah · Hasan (good) based on its overall chains of transmission

عن سعد بن عبادة رضي الله عنه أنه قال: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّ أُمَّ سَعْدٍ مَاتَتْ، فَأَيُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَفْضَلُ؟، قَالَ: «الْمَاءُ»، قَالَ: فَحَفَرَ بِئْرًا، وَقَالَ: هَذِهِ لِأُمِّ سَعْدٍ.

“Sa‘d ibn ‘Ubādah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he said: "O Messenger of Allah, ’Umm Sa‘d died. Which charity is the best?" He said: 'Water.' He said: So, he dug a well and said: "This is for ’Umm Sa‘d."”

Explanation

The mother of Sa‘d ibn ‘Ubādah (may Allah be pleased with him) passed away, and he asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) about the best types of charity to give on behalf of his mother. He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) told him that the best charity is water. So, he dug a well and made it a charity on behalf of his mother.

Benefits

• The Hadīth points out that water is one of the best types of charity.
• The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) directed Sa‘d to the charity of water, as it is more beneficial in religious and worldly matters, and because of the intense heat, the bad need for water, and the scarcity of water.
• It indicates that the rewards for charity reach the deceased.
• It demonstrates the kindness of Sa‘d ibn ‘Ubādah (may Allah be pleased with him) toward his mother (may Allah be pleased with her).

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