A man receives a salary of ten thousand riyals. Is it better for him to work and take half of this salary and send it to six or seven people, or to give up this salary and go live with them on the charity of benefactors?

The questioner : This is a question about what is better, since we are talking about what is better. For example, this man receives a salary of ten thousand riyals, or perhaps seven thousand riyals. Is it better for him to work and take half of this salary and send it to six or seven people, or to give up this salary and go live with them on the charity of benefactors? We are asking about what is better.

The Shaykh : There is no doubt that the best is the struggle against the self.

The questioner : Before wealth? Is wealth before the self?

The Shaykh : No, the self comes before wealth. The self, then wealth, then the tongue.

The questioner : Guard your wealth and your selves.

The Shaykh : No, we are speaking from the perspective of importance, not the Quranic order. If the Quranic order had used "then," it would indicate preference. But here it is merely for conjunction, do you understand? However, the greatest struggle is the struggle against the self, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said.

The questioner : Yes, yes.

The Shaykh : Yes, allow me. There is a weak hadith, and you have now forced me to recall it, but I want to state the authentic hadith now: So, a person’s struggle against his own self and exposing it to the risk of death is stronger than giving hundreds of thousands from his pocket. There is no doubt that the self is stronger. Therefore, the hadith that is mentioned on many occasions, "We have returned from the greater jihad to the lesser jihad, the jihad of the self," is not correct.

The questioner : We have returned from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad.

The Shaykh : Yes, we have returned from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad. You are correct, it is the jihad of the self. I avoided mentioning that hadith because it is weak, but I brought its alternative, which is an authentic hadith, and it is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): In one narration: There is no doubt that if we assume a strong, wealthy man, his desire is to remain in his home, working in his trade and spending from his wealth. This is more beloved to him than going to actual jihad, because this jihad involves exposing his self to the possibility of dying as a martyr. Therefore, in terms of strength and preference, the jihad of the self is undoubtedly better than the jihad of wealth. After them comes the jihad of the tongue. Therefore, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So, the point regarding the question you asked is that there is absolutely no doubt or hesitation that the jihad of the self and exposing it to death as a martyr in the cause of Allah is better than the jihad of wealth. For this reason, some scholars in the past were asked by one of the Caliphs about the expiation for an oath. It was permissible for him to rule that he should feed poor people, as mentioned in the Noble Quran, but he did not do that. Instead, he obligated him to fast for three days, even though in the Quran it says: He did not order him to give wealth because he was wealthy and could reach into his treasury and give countless charities. That does not train his self. But if he told him to fast, there is some hardship in it for him. And regarding jihad, he preferred to order him to fast rather than give charity, because fasting is more disciplined for this wealthy man and a stronger training for his self than paying the expiation for his oath from the abundant wealth he has. So, the point is that the jihad of the self is undoubtedly the foundation, and then the jihad of wealth comes after it.

The questioner : Some scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) say that the jihad of the self is that you struggle your self against its desires and against sins.

The Shaykh : Do not forget that I mentioned the hadith to you. You are saying "scholars." You must follow me, may Allah bless you. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) says: And I said in one narration: But I asked you, which of the two jihads is greater for the general people: is it that the rich man gives wealth, or that he gives his self in the cause of Allah?

The questioner : himself.

The Shaykh : That is it. Therefore, it should be that the matter does not require a long discussion.