Maneeha is a Good Deed of Charity 

Sources:

•  Saheeh al-Bukhaari, the Book of Gifts
• Fat-h al-Baari by Ibn Hajar
• Riyadus-Saliheen by Darus-Salaam
• Tafseer Ibn Katheer, Tafseer al-Qurtubi
• Tafseer Juz’ 30 by Ibn ‘Uthaimeen
• Tayseer al-Kareem by Shaikh as-Sa’dee
• Al-Adab al-Mufrad by al-Bukhaari with commentary of Shaikh al-Albaani and other Shaikhs.

‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “There are forty good qualities (virtuous deeds) and the best of them is the Maneeha of a she-goat, and anyone who does one of these virtuous deeds hoping for Allaah’s reward with firm confidence that he will get it, then Allaah will make him enter Paradise because of it.” [Al-Bukhaari]

Hassan ibn ‘Atiyyah (the narrator of the Hadeeth from Abu Kabshah) said: “We counted the matters (good acts) which are less than the Maneeha of a she-goat, such as: answering the greetings, invoking Allaah’s mercy for someone who sneezes, removing harmful objects from the road, and the like, but we could not count even fifteen qualities.” [Fat-h al-Baari]

Commentary:  

1- Maneeha is basically lending something to someone for temporary benefit, without losing the right of its ownership. This is a meritorious act. The Maneeha could be a sort of gift in the form of a she-camel or she-goat which is given to someone temporarily so that he may benefit from its milk. Then the animal is returned to its owner.

Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “What a good Maneeha (the she-camel which has recently given birth and which gives milk profusely) is, and (what a good Maneeha) [the sheep which gives milk profusely, (giving) a bowl in the morning and another in the evening] is!” Maalik narrated: “Maneeha is a good deed of charity.” [Al-Bukhaari]

2- Ibn Battal said: “The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) urges the believers to numerous gates of good and righteousness. It is known that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has known the forty good qualities, but he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did not mention them all for a wisdom behind which there is a benefit for us. Also, he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did not specify these qualities because he feared that it would cause negligence of other gates of righteousness. Some tried to find out these qualities and found them to be more than forty, such as: giving a ride to someone, feeding the hungry, quenching someone’s thirst, helping the worker, concealing a Muslim, defending his honor, bringing joy to the heart of a Muslim, making space for others in assemblies, guiding to good, speaking a good word, cultivating the land, interceding on someone’s behalf, visiting the sick, shaking hands, loving for the Sake of Allaah, and hating for the Sake of Allaah, sitting together for the Sake of Allaah, visiting each other, giving advice, reconciling people, etc. These are all quoted in authentic traditions.” [Fat-h al-Baari]

This indicates that the good deeds are many; whoever does them sincerely hoping for the reward from Allaah will enter Paradise.

3- Another example for Maneeha which the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) urged the Companions with, is to give lands to others for cultivation. Jabir (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that some men had excess land (more than they could cultivate themselves) and they said that they would give it to others to cultivate on the condition that they would get one-third or one-fourth or half of its yield. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever has land should cultivate it himself or give it free to his brother for cultivation, but if his brother refuses, then he should keep it uncultivated.”[Al-Bukhaari]

4- Allaah (Ta’ala) dispraised and chastised those who withhold al-Ma’oon in Surat al-Ma’oon (107:1-7). They do not even lend that which others may benefit from (be helped by), even though the object will remain intact and be returned to them. These people are even stingier when it comes to giving Zakaat and different types of charity that bring one closer to Allaah.

Al-Mas’udi narrated from Sulaiman ibn Kuhayl who reported from Abu al-‘Ubaydin that he asked Ibn Mas’oud (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) about al-Ma’oon and he said: ”It is what the people give to each other: like an axe, a pot, a bucket and similar items.” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]

Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) said:  “Withholding al-Ma’oon is of two kinds: the first kind is in regards to the person who would be considered a sinner and the second kind is in regards to the person who would not be considered a sinner, but he would be missing the good virtue. Whatever is obligatory upon one to spend, he will become a sinner if he withholds it; and whatever is not obligatory upon the person to spend he will not be considered a sinner by withholding it, but he will miss the good. For example, a distressed man comes to someone and says: ‘Give me water to drink; if I do not drink I may die.’ Here, giving him the water vessel is obligatory and the person will be considered a sinner if he does not give it to him. Some scholars even said: ‘If this man does die, then the other person should pay the Diyyah (blood-money) because he contributed to the cause of his death.’ It is obligatory upon a person to look at himself; whether he is one of those who are attributed with these (blameworthy) attributes (characteristics) or not? If he is one of those who neglect their prayer, (practice showing off) and prevent the good from others, then let him return to Allaah in repentance; otherwise he will be of those who are threatened with Wayl (woe).” [Tafseer Ibn ‘Uthaimeen]

Shaikh as-Sa’dee (Rahimahullaah) said: “Surat al-Ma’oon also encourages performing righteous acts and helping others with minor kindnesses, like lending a pot, a pail, a book, and similar items. Indeed, Allaah chastises those who do not practice this good behavior.” [Tayseer al-Kareem]

5- An example of Maneeha nowadays could be lending one’s car to someone with a full tank of fuel, or a printer along with hefty ink supply or a computer, etc. All these can be lent with a condition to be returned to its owner after an appointed period.

6- Another example of Maneeha which is reported by at-Tirmidhi and others: Al-Baraa’ ibn Aazib (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) narrated that he heard Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say: “Whoever gives a Maneeha of milk (i.e. a she-goat or cow and so forth which gives milk), or a Maneeha of silver [i.e. gives silver to make a business with it (to trade in) then returns the bases to the owner after an appointed period decided by the two], or guides (a person) to the right way, that is equivalent to the manumission of a slave. And whoever says: ‘La ilaaha illa Allaah, Wahdahu laa Sharika Lahu, Lahul-Mulku wa Lahul-Hamdu, wa Huwa ‘ala Kulli Shay’in Qadeer,’ it will be for him as if he manumitted a slave.” [Authenticated by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Targheeb no.1535 and graded Saheeh]

Accordingly, the Sunnah of Maneeha is a very high (noble) Sunnah which the religion of Islam exhorts the believers to adopt and spread in their communities.

Al-Baraa’ ibn Aazib (Radia-Allaahu ’anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever lends something to someone to use and he benefits from it, or whoever guides down a lane – or he said ‘a path’ – that (his reward) is equivalent to his freeing a slave.” [Authenticated by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Adab al-Mufrad no. 683 and graded Saheeh]

Commentary:

Allaah’s favors on His servants are limitless; just guiding somebody to a place is rewarded with the equivalent of the reward of the one who frees a slave! The Hadeeth also encourages giving gifts and helping people to locate their destination. Conversely, it prohibits misleading people.