Wealth & charityFrom the masjid's own video, Aug 1, 2026.
Charity begins with those in your care
“Upper hand is better than the lower one.”
In one sentence
The giving hand is better than the receiving hand: a Muslim gains Allah's help and provision by having taqwa, good intention, striving, and beginning charity with one's own dependents.
The khutbah in 8 steps
- Opening salawat and introduction: final hadith in the chapter on spending on dependents
- Cites the hadith of Abu Hurayrah from Sahih al-Bukhari: the upper hand is better than the lower hand, begin charity with those in your care
- Explains that Allah grants self-sufficiency and a way out to whoever fears Him, quoting Surah At-Talaq
- Tells the parable of the stingy man in the hole who refused 'give us your hand' but accepted 'take my hand'
- A Muslim loves to help; if you cannot help materially, give a smile, nice words, or dua
- Iman brings out the positive qualities humans are created with and curbs the negative ones
- Neglect of duties and family support is a deficiency of iman; iman must be raised through prayer, Quran, patience, and giving
- Closing dua for forgiveness of sins and well-being in religion, this world, and the hereafter
Try this week
Begin your charity with the people under your own care and support your family
Be the upper hand: help others when asked, and if you cannot help materially, respond with kind words, a smile, or dua
Strive and intend well, trusting Allah to aid you rather than expecting help without effort
Raise your iman through prayer, reciting Quran, patience, and giving
Sources the khateeb cited
Sahih al-BukhariCore text of the khutbah, used to argue that giving is superior to receiving and charity begins with one's dependents
Quran 65:2-3Quoted to show that whoever has taqwa of Allah is granted a way out and provision from unexpected sources
Quran 4:28Used to argue that humans are born with negative qualities that iman must overcome
Quran 21:37Used to argue that humans are born with negative qualities that iman must overcome
Quran 70:19Used to argue that humans are born with negative qualities that iman must overcome
Quotes
In the khateeb's words
“upper hand is better than the lower one i.e. the spending hand is better than the receiving hand”
“and begin charity with those who are under your care”
“when you walk to Him He will run to you when you be sincerely connecting yourself with Him He will open doors for you”
“if you couldn't help just say nice words if you can help give a smile give a dua”
Talk about it at home
For the dinner table
The khutbah focused on a hadith about 'the upper hand', the hand that gives, being better than the hand that always receives. The khateeb taught that giving starts at home, with the family and people we are responsible for. He also reminded us that faith and character go together; when someone neglects duties or mistreats others, it shows a weakness in their iman. Even small acts like a smile, a kind word, or a sincere dua can put us in the position of the 'upper hand.' The message is that Allah helps those who sincerely try to do right, and our everyday choices can build both our character and our faith.
- What's one way you can be the 'upper hand' by helping someone this week?
- Who in our family can we serve with a smile, a kind word, or a special dua?
- How is doing our chores and keeping our promises part of having strong iman?
Keep listening
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