Mishkat al-Masabih 3384

Al-Bara ibn Azib reported: A Bedouin came to the Prophet and said, ‘Teach me a deed that will admit me to Paradise.’ He said, ‘Though you have asked briefly, you have posed a far-reaching question: emancipate a person and free a captive.’ The man said, ‘Are these not the same?’ He said, ‘No. Emancipating a person is to free them yourself; freeing a captive is to contribute toward their price. And grant a milch animal to someone, and be kind to a relative who does wrong. If you cannot do that, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong. If you cannot do that, restrain your tongue except for good.’ Al-Bayhaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-Iman.