By No Means Shall You Attain Righteousness.. (Hadith No. 1239)

Bismillah.

Hadith no. 1237 (below) is a repeat. Read it here.

Volume 2, Book 24, Number 538:

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri (radiallaahu `anhu):

Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “No Zakat is imposed on less than five Awsuq of dates; no Zakat is imposed on less than five Awaq of silver, and no Zakat is imposed on less than five camels.”

Hadith no. 1238 (below) is also a repeat. Read it here.

Volume 2, Book 24, Number 539:

Narrated Abu Dhar (radiallaahu `anhu):

Once I went to him (the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)) and he said, “By Allah in Whose Hands my life is (or probably said, ‘By Allah, except Whom none has the right to be worshipped) whoever had camels or cows or sheep and did not pay their Zakat, those animals will be brought on the Day of Resurrection far bigger and fatter than before and they will tread him under their hooves, and will butt him with their horns, and (those animals will come in circle): When the last does its turn, the first will start again, and this punishment will go on till Allah has finished the judgments amongst the people.”

Today’s Hadith:

This is extraordinary. Brace yourselves.

Volume 2, Book 24, Number 540:

Narrated Ishaq bin ‘Abdullah bin Al Talha (radiallaahu `anhu):

I heard Anas bin Malik (radiallaahu `anhu) saying, “Abu Talha (radiallaahu `anhu) had more property of date-palm trees gardens than any other amongst the Ansar in Medina and the most beloved of them to him was Bairuhaa garden, and it was in front of the Mosque of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) used to go there and used to drink its nice water.” Anas (radiallaahu `anhu) added, “When these verses were revealed:–‘By no means shall you Attain righteousness unless You spend (in charity) of that Which you love. ‘ (3.92) Abu Talha (radiallaahu `anhu) said to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) ‘O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! Allah, the Blessed, the Superior says: By no means shall you attain righteousness, unless you spend (in charity) of that which you love. And no doubt, Bairuha’ garden is the most beloved of all my property to me. So I want to give it in charity in Allah’s Cause. I expect its reward from Allah. O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! Spend it where Allah makes you think it feasible.’ On that Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, ‘Bravo! It is useful property. I have heard what you have said (O Abu Talha), and I think it would be proper if you gave it to your Kith and kin.’ Abu Talha (radiallaahu `anhu) said, I will do so, O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam).’ Then Abu Talha (radiallaahu `anhu) distributed that garden amongst his relatives and his cousins.”

Can you ever imagine giving away the best of your wealth, your most prized possession, the one thing you love the most? It’s truly the most difficult thing to do. Imagine Abu Talha (radiallaahu `anhu) giving away his beloved garden to his relatives. I wonder how he would feel later looking at them enjoying the fruits of his beloved garden, while he only looked from a distance. SubhanAllah, such courage! If I were in his place, I’d probably give it to some stranger and move away from the city in order to not be able to look at that garden again. That only proves that he had a stronger resolve, and definitely firmer Imaan, a level of Ikhlaas I’m nowhere close to.

On a side note, do check out a brilliant explanation of this Hadith here. You’ll see how different rulings and lessons are derived from simple conversations and narrations.

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