Virtues of spending

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Asalam-u-Alaikum

VIRTUES OF SPENDING FOR THE CAUSE OF ALLAH
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Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said, "If I possessed gold to the extent of mount Uhud, I would not like to keep any of it with me for more than three days, except what I put aside for paying a debt".

Note: Mount Uhud is well known as the biggest mountain near Madinah. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has said that, if he had as much gold as the mountain of Uhud, he would like to give it away within three days and would not keep any portion of it with himself.

This is simply meant to convey that it will take at least three days to distribute that huge amount of gold. Of course, if there was debt to be paid and the creditor was not present, some portion of gold could be retained till the debt could be paid. This shows that payment of a debt is more important than Sadaqah. It was the noble habit of Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam not to hoard anything. Anas Radhiallaho anho who was the special attendant of Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam says that he never kept anything for the next day.

Once somebody presented three birds to Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, one of which he gave to his own attendant. The attendant brought back that bird the following day to Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam who said to him "Have I not told you not to keep anything for the next day? Allah Jalla Shanohu Himself will provide food for the next day." Samurah Radhiallaho anho has quoted Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam as saying that he checked the store cabinet frequently to make sure that nothing was left in it, lest he should die with something left behind.

Abu Zarr Ghifari Radhiallaho anho, a famous and extremely pious Sahabi had particular aversion to wealth, about which several incidents have been reported, one of which has been related under the Ayat. He says, "I was once accompanying Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam when he looked at Mount Uhud and said, "If this mountain were to turn into gold and be given to me, I would not like to keep a single Dinaar of it with me for more than three days except that which I put aside to pay a debt". He added, "Many of those who have much property shall gain scanty rewards, except for those who say, "Take this and this, before them, behind them, on their right and on their left". (The narrator made a gesture indicating that they spend profusely with both their hands, distributing money to people around them). (Bukhari)

In Mishkaat, another incident has been related about Abu Zarr Radhiallaho anho. Abu Zarr Radhiallaho anho was once sitting with Uthman Radhiallaho anho during the period of the latters Caliphate when he told Kab Radhiallaho anho that Abdur Rahman Radhiallaho anho had died leaving behind some property and asked him what he thought about it. Kab replied that there was no harm in leaving such property if he had given what was due on it to Allah Taala.

Hearing this, Abu Zarr raised the stick he was carrying, struck Kab and said that he had heard Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam saying, "If I possessed gold equal in quantity to this mountain, which I could spend and which were accepted from me, I would not like to leave behind even six Auqias (a small weight) of it". Abu Zarr Radhiallaho anho then turned to Uthman Radhiallaho anho and adjured him three times to tell him if he had not heard Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam saying these words. Uthman said that he had.

Imaam Bukhari Rahmathullah alaihe has related still another story about Abu Zarr Radhiallaho anho, on the authority of Ahnaf Ibne Qais Rahmathullah alaihe, who says, "I was once sitting with a group of the Quraish in Madinah Munawwarah when a man came there.

He had stiff, dry and disheveled hair, was dressed in coarse cloth and looked an ordinary man. He stopped by their side, greeted them saying, Assalam-o-Alaikum and then addressing the people, said "Give those who hoard up treasures, tidings of a rock heated in the fire of Jahannam, which will be placed on their breasts; its heat will cause their flesh to melt and to boil over their shoulders. The rock will then be put on their shoulders causing it to flow from their breasts". Saying this, he went into the Masjid and sat down beside a pillar.

I did not know who this Divine was; so, I followed him, sat near him and said, "The people gathered there did not pay heed to what you said; they rather seemed to dislike your saying so". The divine replied, "They are fools who lack proper understanding, my most loved friend once told me". When I asked him who was his most loved friend, he replied, "Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam was my most loved friend who once said to me, Abu Zarr, do you see Mount Uhud over there? I said that I did" (thinking that he wanted to send me on an errand and was telling me how much time remained before sunset.) He then said, "If I had gold to the extent of that mountain I would love to spend all of it except for three Dinaars".

Other versions of the Hadith explain why he would like to keep three Dinaars. After this Abu Zarr Radhiallaho anho said, "These people have no sense; they go on hoarding wealth. By Allah, I neither expect them to give me any money, nor need to ask them anything about my religion! Then, why should I feel afraid or hesitate to tell them exactly what I believe to be true?" (Fatah)

 

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VIRTUES OF SPENDING FOR THE CAUSE OF ALLAH​

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Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said, "Two angels come down (from the heavens) every morning; one prays, ‘O Allah, grant a return to him who spends’, while the other prays, ‘O Allah, destroy the wealth of him who withholds it".

Note: This Hadith is corroborated by the Ayat, which says, "And whatever you spend (for good), He replaces it".

Abu Darda Radhiallaho anho has quoted Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam as saying, "At sunrise, two angels, one on each side of the sun, make a proclamation, which is heard by everybody except Jinns and mankind, calling, ‘O people, turn to your Lord! The little which suffices for you is better than the abundance which make you neglectful towards Allah!’ Similarly, (the Hadith continues) At the time of sunset, two angels pray loudly from both sides of the sun, saying, ‘O Allah, grant an early return to him who spends (for a good cause) and ruin the wealth of him who hoards it". (Ahmad)

A Hadith says, "When the sun rises, two angels, one on each side of the sun, pray to Allah, calling, ‘O Allah, grant an early return to him who spends; O Allah, ruin the property of him who withholds it!" Another Hadith says that there are two angels in the heavens above, who have no other function but to keep on praying; one says, ‘O Allah, grant a return to him who spends (for a good cause), the other says, ‘O Allah, destroy the property of him who holds it back." (Kanz)

It appears that the mornings and evenings are not the special hours appointed for the angels to make such invocations; they go on making these supplications all the time. The versions quoted earlier mean that they are particularly engaged in such supplications in the mornings and evenings (though they never cease to do so).

Known examples and experiences of life confirm the truth of these Ahadith; very often, those who amass wealth fall a prey to calamities that ruin their property; some get involved in litigation, others enter upon a life of wasteful expenses, still others have the thieves chasing them.

Hafiz Ibne Hajar Rahmathullah alaihe says, "When the property is hoarded, it brings ruin in its wake: very often the property is ruined; sometimes the owner himself passes away, leaving behind everything, or he is ruined through leading a vicious life. On the contrary, those who spend (for a good cause) are blessed with increase in their property". According to a Hadith, "Whoever gives much as Sadaqah, Allah Himself looks after his property after his death". (Ihya).

That is to say, the heirs of such persons do not waste away the property they have left behind and do not indulge in useless pursuits; unlike the sons of the rich feudal lords who squander away the wealth inherited from their parents. Imaam Nawavi Rahmathullah alaihe writes: Only that expenditure is commendable which is incurred for good causes, i.e. spending to provide for one’s family, for entertaining one’s guests or for other devotional deeds."

Qurtabi Rahmathullah alaihe says, "Devotional deeds include both obligatory (Fardh) and supererogatory (Nafl) devotions. However, he who does not give away (Nafl) Sadaqaat is not affected by the curses of the angels, unless he is overpowered by an innate miserliness which causes him to pay ‘Fardh Sadaqaat’ with a heavy heart".

 

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VIRTUES OF SPENDING FOR THE CAUSE OF ALLAH
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Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has said, "O son of Adam, it is better for you to give away what you can spare, and to withhold it is worse for you; but you will not be blamed if you keep back what may barely suffice you, and spend first on those who are dependent on you."

Note: Haq Ta’ala Shanohu Himself has said, "Whatever is over and above your needs, spend it." That Hadith was also mentioned in that place. Here it is repeated for the sake of emphasis and clarification.

The truth is that anything in excess of the proper needs is not to be held back at all. The best use for it is to have it deposited in Allah’s Treasury, which never suffers a loss, nor is subject to any mishap. It will be readily available at the time of extreme adversity and pressing needs, unknown in this life. And there will be no source of income at that time, except the wealth spent as Sadaqah available as deposits in the storehouse of Allah.

Another fact mentioned in this Hadith is that there will be no blame for keeping things that are needed urgently. These cover the bare necessities without which life becomes difficult, such as needs of one’s family or some dependent people or even the animals which are owned by a person and whose care is his responsibility. Any harm to those due to lack of provisions, will be a sin and a cause of Divine punishment. In the Hadith of Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam it is said that it will be enough to get one condemned, if one whose livelihood is one’s responsibility, perishes or dies. (Mishkaat).

Abdullah Ibne Saamit Rahmathullah alaihe says that he was with Abu Zarr Radhiallaho anho when he received his share from Baitul Maal and purchased his requirements from the bazaar, after which he was left with seven Dinaars (gold coins) and he instructed his slave girl to get them changed into small coins (for distribution). The narrator advised Abu Zarr Radhiallaho anho to keep the gold coins for a future need, such as entertainment of guests, etc.

Abu Zarr Radhiallaho anho said that his friend Sallallaho alaihe wasallam had settled the issue once for all saying that if gold and silver are hoarded they would become sparks of the Fire for their owner, unless he spends them for the cause of Allah. As a matter of fact, so many are the exhortations given by Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam to spend for the cause of Allah whatever exceeds one’s needs that some Sahabah thought that no one had any right to keep with them anything exceeding his rightful needs.

Abu Saeed Khudri Radhiallaho anho narrates that once he was among those who were accompanying Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam on a journey. One of the companions kept moving up and down the caravan with his she-camel. At this, Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said that if someone had a spare animal for riding he should give it away to the one who had none, and whoever had extra provision should give these to them who were in need. The Sahabah surmised from this that no one had any right to his provisions beyond his actual needs. (Abu Dawood). As regards the Sahabi with the she-camel, if he was proudly showing off his animal, the injunction of Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam was addressed to him and it meant that no one should make a show of his extra provisions; he should rather give them to others.

But, if he was moving up and down with the animal to show its miserable condition, it means that he was indirectly asking others to give him a mount. In that case, the injunction of Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam was addressed to other people, exhorting them to help him.


Asalam-u-Alaikum

 

[kashif10]

Jazak Allah for sharing, such inspiring fazail e sadqaat.