The Iron Cloak (Hadith No. 1222)
Bismillah.
Volume 2, Book 24, Number 523:
Narrated Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu):
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “The example of a miser and an alms-giver is like the example of two persons wearing iron cloaks.” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) also said, “The example of an alms-giver and a miser is like the example of two persons who have two iron cloaks on them from their breasts to their collar bones, and when the alms-giver wants to give in charity, the cloak becomes capacious till it covers his whole body to such an extent that it hides his fingertips and covers his footprints (obliterates his tracks). And when the miser wants to spend, it (the iron cloak) sticks and every ring gets stuck to its place and he tries to widen it, but it did not become wide.
May Allah make me understand the meaning of this example in depth. But the basic implication is that the generous person, when he spends, gets barakah in his wealth and reward. Even a little suffices him. And he spends even more in Allah’s way. As for the miser, his wealth only gets lesser and lesser, so even when he wants to spend, he can’t really find the means to do it. There’s no barakah in his wealth. Even a lot isn’t sufficient for him.
Posted on November 20, 2012, in iLook and tagged alms, barakah, bukhari, charity, generous, hadith no 1222, miser, reward, zakah. Bookmark the permalink. 4 Comments.
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What I get from it is that when the generous person is about to give charity he doesn’t feel any restriction in doing so. As in when he gives charity Allah makes it easy for him. And that it is not known whether he has given charity or not (his footprints get covered). So this is charity in the best way that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given.
Fingertips get covered seems to mean that at the time of giving he is saved from Ar-Riya and just gives it silently and it leaves no footprints that is to say he later does not boast off about it either or doesn’t make the person (to whom he gave charity) feel that he has done something good for him.
And Allah knows the best.
And of course your explanation is nice too!
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