My brother left a portion of his wealth to me as a bequest. I met Abu al-Darda and said, "My brother has left me a portion of his wealth as a bequest. Where do you think I should place it, among the poor, the needy, or those striving in the path of Allah?"He replied, "As for me, I would not consider anything equal to those striving in the path of Allah. I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, 'The example of one who frees a slave at the time of death is like the one who gives a gift only after he has eaten his fill.'"
أوصى إلي أخي بطائفة من ماله فلقيت أبا الدرداء، فقلت: إن أخي أوصى إلي بطائفة من ماله، فأين ترى لي وضعه: في الفقراء، أو المساكين، أو المجاهدين في سبيل الله؟ فقال: أما أنا فلو كنت لم أعدل بالمجاهدين. سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول: مثل الذي يعتق عند الموت كمثل الذي يهدي إذا شبع.
This was narrated by Abu Dawud (3968), Tirmidhi (2123), Nasai (6/238), and Ahmad (21718, 21719). Ibn Hibban (3336), Hakim (2/213), and Bayhaqi (10/273) all graded it sahih, all of them narrating through various routes from Abu Ishaq, from Abu Habibah Tai, who related it. Some of them abridged it without the story.Tirmidhi said, "Hasan sahih."Hakim said, "Sahih in its isnad."Ibn Hajar also graded it hasan in Fath al-Bari (5/374).I say, its isnad is hasan because of Abu Habibah Tai, given that there are sahih foundations for his hadith on the merit of charity given in a state of good health.