Al-Birr is Spending from the Best of One's Wealth
Allah says,
لَن تَنَالُواْ الْبِرَّ حَتَّى تُنفِقُواْ مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِن شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ
By no means shall you attain Al-Birr, unless you spend of that which you love; and whatever of good you spend, Allah knows it well.
In his Tafsir, Waki reported, that `Amr bin Maymun said that
لَن تَنَالُواْ الْبِرَّ
(By no means shall you attain Al-Birr),
is in reference to attaining Paradise.
Imam Ahmad reported that Anas bin Malik said,
"Abu Talhah had more property than any other among the Ansar in Al-Madinah, and the most beloved of his property to him was Bayruha' garden, which was in front of the (Messenger's) Masjid. Sometimes, Allah's Messenger used to go to the garden and drink its fresh water." Anas added, "When these verses were revealed,
لَن تَنَالُواْ الْبِرَّ حَتَّى تُنفِقُواْ مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ
(By no means shall you attain Al-Birr unless You spend of that which you love), Abu Talhah said,
`O Allah's Messenger! Allah says,
لَن تَنَالُواْ الْبِرَّ حَتَّى تُنفِقُواْ مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ
(By no means shall you attain Al-Birr, unless you spend of that which you love). No doubt, Bayruha' garden is the most beloved of all my property to me. So I want to give it in charity in Allah's cause, and I expect its reward and compensation from Allah. O Allah's Messenger! Spend it where Allah makes you think is feasible.'
On that, Allah's Messenger said,
بَخٍ بَخٍ ذَاكَ مَالٌ رَابِحٌ ذَاكَ مَالٌ رَابِحٌ وَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ وَأَنَا أَرَى أَنْ تَجْعَلَهَا فِي الاَْقْرَبِين
Well-done! It is profitable property, it is profitable property. I have heard what you have said, and I think it would be proper if you gave it to your kith and kin.
Abu Talhah said, `I will do so, O Allah's Messenger.'
Then Abu Talhah distributed that garden among his relatives and cousins."
This Hadith was recorded in the Two Sahihs.
They also recorded that Umar said,
"O Messenger of Allah! I never gained possession of a piece of property more precious to me than my share in Khyber. Therefore, what do you command me to do with it"
The Prophet said,
حَبِّسِ الاَْصْلَ وَسَبِّلِ الثَّمَرَة
Retain the land to give its fruits in Allah's cause.