Explanation of the words of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding what he quoted: "
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The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) stated, in what he quoted from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), This hadith was presented by the author (may Allah have mercy on him) in the chapter on hastening to do good deeds and not hesitating to do them when one turns to them. Indeed, this man asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) which charity is the best. He did not mean which charity is best in its type or in its quantity, but rather he wanted to know at what time charity is better than at other times. So he said to him, Sahih Muslim 1032a meaning healthy in body and stingy in spirit, because when a person is healthy, he is stingy with his money because he hopes to remain alive and fears poverty. But if he is sick, then this world becomes cheap in his eyes and is worth nothing, so giving charity becomes easy for him. He said, Sunan Ibn Majah 2706Sahih (Darussalam) and in another narration, but the first narration is better. Meaning, you hope for continued life, meaning that because you are healthy, you hope for continued life and a long lifespan, because a healthy person considers death unlikely, even though death may strike a person suddenly, unlike a sick person, for whom death is near.
And his saying, means because of your long life, for a person fears poverty if his life is prolonged, because what he has will run out. So the best thing is that you give charity while you are healthy and stingy.
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) stated, in what he quoted from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him),
That the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked by a man, who said, “Which charity is the best?” So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “That you give charity while you are healthy, stingy, hoping for continued life, and fearing poverty, and that you do not delay until the soul reaches the throat, and you say, ‘So much for so-and-so, and so much for so-and-so,’ while it was already bequeathed to so-and-so.”
أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم سأله رجل فقال أي الصدقة أفضل فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أن تصدق وأنت صحيح شحيح تأمل البقاء وتخشى الفقر ولا تمهل حتى إذا بلغت الحلقوم قلت لفلان كذا ولفلان كذا وقد كان لفلانThat you should give charity (in a state when you are) healthy and close-fisted
أن تصدق وأنت صحيح شحيحYou should give in charity when you are still healthy and greedy for wealth, hoping for a long life and fearing poverty
أن تصدق وأنت صحيح شحيح تأمل البقاء وتخشى الفقرFearing poverty and feeling secure from wealth
تخشى الفقر وتأمن الغنىAnd his saying,