Hadith: If you wish, I will give you, but there is no share in it for the rich, nor for the strong and capable of earning

عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَدِيِّ بْنِ الخِيَارِ قَالَ:
أَخْبَرَنِي رَجُلَانِ أَنَّهُمَا أَتَيَا النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي حَجَّةِ الوَدَاعِ وَهُوَ يُقَسِّمُ الصَّدَقَةَ، فَسَأَلَاهُ مِنْهَا، فَرَفَّعَ فِينَا البَصَرَ وَخَفَّضَهُ، فَرَآنَا جَلْدَيْنِ، فَقَالَ: «إِنَّ شِئْتُمَا أَعْطَيْتُكُمَا، وَلَا حَظَّ فِيهَا لِغَنِيٍّ، وَلَا لِقَوِيٍّ مُكْتَسِبٍ».
[صحيح] - [رواه أبو داود والنسائي] - [سنن أبي داود: 1633]

‘Ubaydullah ibn ‘Adiyy ibn al-Khiyār reported:
Two men informed me that they came to the Prophet (ﷺ) during the Farewell Pilgrimage while he was distributing charity. They asked him for some of it. He raised his gaze and lowered it, observing that we were two strong men. He said: "If you wish, I will give you, but there is no share in it for the rich, nor for the strong and capable of earning."
[Authentic hadith] - [رواه أبو داود والنسائي] - [Sunan Abu Daoud - 1633]

Explanation

Two men came to the Prophet (ﷺ) during the Farewell Pilgrimage while he was distributing charity, and they asked him to give them some of it. The Prophet (ﷺ) repeatedly looked at them to assess their situation and determine whether they were eligible for charity or not. He saw that they were two strong men and said: If you wish, I will give you from the charity, but there is no share in it for one who possesses sufficient wealth, nor for those who are capable of striving and earning money, even if they do not currently possess wealth that would classify them as rich.

Benefits from the Hadith

1. It is prohibited for a wealthy person or a capable earner to ask for charity.
2. The basic rule regarding someone whose financial status is unknown is that he is considered poor and eligible for charity.
3. Mere physical strength does not automatically preclude eligibility for charity; rather, it must be coupled with the actual ability to earn a livelihood.
4. One who is capable of earning enough to suffice himself is not permitted to take from the obligatory charity (Zakah), because he is self-sufficient through his earnings, just as the wealthy person is self-sufficient through his wealth.
5. The great Prophetic education of the Muslim personality is in self-respect, and in giving—not in taking, begging, and laziness.