English Translation

Yazid told us: al-Jurayri told us, from Abu al-Salil, who said: A man stopped by us in our gathering at al-Baqi' and said: My father or my uncle told me that he saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) at al-Baqi' saying: "Who will give charity, that I may bear witness for him with it on the Day of Resurrection?" He said: So I untied a fold or two from my turban, intending to give them in charity, but then what befalls the children of Adam befell me [i.e., hesitation], so I retied my turban. Then a man came - and I had not seen at al-Baqi' a man darker or more sallow than him, riding a she-camel, and I had not seen at al-Baqi' a she-camel more beautiful than her - and he said: "O Messenger of Allah, is this charity?" He said: "Yes." He said: "Then take this she-camel." He said: So a man clung to him and said: "This one is giving this away in charity, but by Allah, she is better than him!" He said: So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) heard it and said: "You lie - rather he is better than you and better than her" - three times. Then he said: "Woe to the owners of the hundreds of camels" - three times. They said: "Except who, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Except one who does with wealth like this and like this" - and he joined his palms together, [scattering] to his right and to his left. Then he said: "The one content with little who strives has succeeded" - three times - "the one content with little in living, who strives in worship."