her husband and the orphaned sons of a brother of hers? He replied: "Yes, she has two rewards: the reward for kinship and the reward for charity." Reported by al-Nasa'i (19). Charity is also recommended for those whose need is severe, according to the words of Allah the Almighty: {Or a poor person in the dust} [Quran 90:16].

Section: It is preferable to give charity from what exceeds one's own sufficiency and the sufficiency of those one supports on an ongoing basis, according to the words of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): "The best of charity is that which leaves one independent of means, and begin with those you support." Muttafaq 'alayh (agreed upon) (21). If one gives in charity that which diminishes the sufficiency of those whose maintenance is obligatory upon him, and he has no means of earning, he commits a sin, according to the words of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): "It is sufficient sin for a man that he neglects those he feeds" (23). This is because the maintenance of those one supports is obligatory, while voluntary charity is supererogatory, and prioritizing the supererogatory over the obligatory is not permissible. If a man is alone, or if those he supports have their sufficiency, and he wishes to give all his wealth in charity, and he has a means of earning, or is confident in himself—capable of trusting in Allah (tawakkul), patient in poverty, and abstaining from asking others—then it is good; because the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was asked about the best charity and replied: "The effort of one with little, given to a poor person in secret" (26). It was reported from...