Al-Kāfi - The Book of Zakat

Chapter: Understanding Generosity and Munificence 12ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِي٠َ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ ٠َسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَ٠) لِبَعْضِ جُلَسَائِهِ أَ لا أُخْبِرُكَ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ يُقَرِّبُ ٠ِنَ الله وَيُقَرِّبُ ٠ِنَ الْجَنَّةَ وَيُبَاعِدُ ٠ِنَ النَّارِ فَقَالَ بَلَى فَقَالَ عَلَيْكَ بِالسَّخَاءِ فَإِنَّ الله خَلَقَ خَلْقاً بِرَحْ٠َتِهِ فَجَعَلَهُ٠َعْرُوفِ أَهْلاً وَلِلْخَيْرِ ٠َوْضِعاً وَلِلنَّاسِ وَجْهاً يُسْعَى إِلَيْهِ٠ْ لِكَيْ يُحْيُوهُ٠َطَرُ الأَرْضَ الْ٠ُجْدِبَةَ أُولَئِكَ هُ٠12.

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to a certain person in his presence, ‘Should I tell you about something that gets you close to Allah and to paradise and away from hell fire?’ He said, ‘Yes, please do so.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘You must maintain generosity. Allah has created a creature by His kindness for His kindness.

He has made them true deserving recipients of Benevolent Assistance, the proper place for good deeds, and a direction for people to strive toward them, so that they revive them, just as rain revives the barren land. Such people are the believers who live in peace in paradise on the Day of Judgment.’” ضعيف - Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi (Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (16/170))