Priorities in Spending according to Islam
(Najamuddin Ghanghro, Karachi(original from Larkana))
[Sahih Muslim: Book 5 Kitab Al-Zakat,
Number 2180]
Thauban (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam)
as saying: The most excellent dinar is one that a person spends on his family,
and the dinar which he spends on his animal in Allah's path, and the dinar he
spends on his companions in Allah's path. Abu Qilaba (one of the narrators)
said: He (the narrator) started with family.
And then Abu Qilaba said: Who is the person with greater reward than a person
who spends on young members of his family (and thus) preserves (saves them from
want) (and by virtue of which) Allah brings profit for them and makes them rich.
[Sahih Muslim: Book 5 Kitab Al-Zakat, Number 2181]
Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam)
as saying: Of the dinar you spend as a contribution in Allah's path, or to set
free a slave, or as a sadaqa given to a needy, or to support your family, the
one yielding the greatest reward is that which you spent on your family.
[Sahih Muslim: Book 5 Kitab Al-Zakat, Number 2182]
Khaithama (Radi Allah Anhu) reported: While we were sitting in the company of
'Abdullah b. 'Umar there came in his steward. He (Ibn 'Umar (Radi Allah Anhu))
said: Have you supplied the provision to the slaves? He said: No. Upon this he
said: Go and give (the provision) to them, for the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam)
has said: This sin is enough for a man that he withholds the subsistence from
one whose master he is.