Sunan Ibn Majah 2198

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Hisham ibn Ammar narrated to us; Isa ibn Yunus narrated to us; al-Akhdar ibn Ajlan narrated to us; Abu Bakr al-Hanafi narrated to us, from Anas ibn Malik, that a man from the Ansar came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asking for help. He said to him, “Do you have anything in your house?” The man replied, “Yes: a rough blanket, part of which we wear and part of which we spread out, and a drinking cup from which we drink water.” He said, “Bring them to me.” The man brought them, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) took them in his hand and said, “Who will buy these two?” A man said, “I will take them for one dirham.” He said, “Who will offer more than one dirham?” He repeated this twice or three times. A man said, “I will take them for two dirhams.” He gave the two items to him and took the two dirhams, then gave them to the Ansari and said, “Buy food with one of them and take it to your family, and buy an adze with the other and bring it to me.”

The man did so. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) took the adze and fitted a handle to it with his own hand, then said, “Go and gather firewood. I do not expect to see you for fifteen days.” The man went out gathering and selling firewood. He returned having earned ten dirhams. The Prophet said, “Buy food with some of it and clothing with some.” Then he said, “This is better for you than coming with begging as a mark on your face on the Day of Resurrection. Begging is fitting only for someone in grinding poverty, crushing debt, or burdened by a blood claim.”