Forty hadiths on the virtue of charity.
On the authority of Sa'd Ibn 'Ubadah, may Allah be pleased with him,
that his mother passed away.
He said,
"O Messenger of Allah,
my mother has died;
may I give charity on her behalf?"
He replied, "Yes."
He asked,
"Which charity is best?"
He replied,
"Providing water."
He said,
"That became the water-provision of the family of Sa'd in Medina."
In another narration,
he came to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
and said,
"Which charity is most pleasing to you?"
He replied,
"Water."
Recorded by Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah,
and classified as hasan by al-Albani.