Treating Children Fairly (Ahadith 2257 – 2258)

Bismillah.

One of the most well-known ways in which parents favour some of their children over others is with regard to giving, which is something that is forbidden according to the laws of Allah. Among the bad effects that result from this kind of favouritism is that it causes children to be disobedient towards their parents, so that they do not all treat their parents with the same level of respect and kindness. Our Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) drew attention to that and clearly stated that favouritism in giving is wrongdoing and unfair.

Volume 3, Book 47, Number 759:
Narrated An-Nu’man bin Bashir (radiallaahu `anhu):
that his father took him to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and said, “I have given this son of mine a slave.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asked, “Have you given all your sons the like?” He replied in the negative. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Take back your gift then.”

Volume 3, Book 47, Number 760:
Narrated ‘Amir:
I heard An-Nu’man bin Bashir (radiallaahu `anhu) on the pulpit saying, “My father gave me a gift but ‘Amra bint Rawaha (my mother) said that she would not agree to it unless he made Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) as a witness to it. So, my father went to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and said, ‘I have given a gift to my son from ‘Amra bint Rawaha, but she ordered me to make you as a witness to it, O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)!’ Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asked, ‘Have you given (the like of it) to everyone of your sons?’ He replied in the negative. Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, ‘Be afraid of Allah, and be just to your children.’ My father then returned and took back his gift.”

Just as Allah, may He be exalted, has forbidden this favouritism among children in giving, He has also forbidden something else, namely making a bequest to any one of them. He has forbidden making a bequest to an heir (one who automatically inherits according to sharee‘ah). All these rulings are in the best interests of the family and lay the foundations for family unity, not division.

Read more on this here.

Rights of Servants (Hadith No. 2230)

Bismillah.

Ahadith 2227 – 2229 (below) are repeats. See linked text for related posts.

Volume 3, Book 46, Number 729:
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu):
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “If one manumits his share of a common slave (Abd), and he has money sufficient to free the remaining portion of the price of the slave (justly estimated), then he should free the slave completely by paying the rest of his price; otherwise the slave is freed partly. “

Volume 3, Book 46, Number 730:
Narrated ‘Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu):
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Everyone of you is a guardian and is responsible for his charges. The ruler who has authority over people, is a guardian and is responsible for them, a man is a guardian of his family and is responsible for them; a woman is a guardian of her husband’s house and children and is responsible for them; a slave (‘Abu) is a guardian of his master’s property and is responsible for it; so all of you are guardians and are responsible for your charges.”

Volume 3, Book 46, Number 731:
Narrated Abu Huraira and Zaid bin Khalid (radiallaahu `anhumaa):
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “If a slave-girl (Ama) commits illegal sexual intercourse, scourge her; if she does it again, scourge her again; if she repeats it, scourge her again.” The narrator added that on the third or the fourth offence, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Sell her even for a hair rope.”

Today’s Hadith:

Volume 3, Book 46, Number 732:
Narrated Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu):
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “When your servant brings your meals to you then if he does not let him sit and share the meals, then he should at least give him a mouthful or two mouthfuls of that meal or a meal or two meals, as he has prepared it.”

Rights of a servant over his employer based on this article are as follows:

1-     He should give his servant the same food as he eats

2-     He should clothe him as he clothes himself.

3-     He should not give him more to do than he is able for, and if he does that he should help him.

4-     He should pay him a wage that is appropriate to his work and his efforts.

5-     He should not insult him or hit him.

6-     He should treat him well and be kind to him.

7-     He should overlook his mistakes and shortcomings.

Read more here.

A Portion of Hell (Hadith No. 2135)

Bismillah.

There’s this strange feeling I’m getting that maybe I’ve covered this hadith before but I’m unable to find it in the blog. Never mind, we’ll do it anyway. Reminder benefits!

Volume 3, Book 43, Number 638:
Narrated Um Salama (radiallaahu `anhaa) (the wife of the Prophet)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) heard some people quarreling at the door of his dwelling. He came out and said, “I am only a human being, and opponents come to me (to settle their problems); maybe someone amongst you can present his case more eloquently than the other, whereby I may consider him true and give a verdict in his favor. So, If I give the right of a Muslim to another by mistake, then it is really a portion of (Hell) Fire, he has the option to take or give up (before the Day of Resurrection).”

When we try to prove ourselves innocent despite having done something wrong, what goes on in our minds? Are we lying to save ourselves from the embarrassment and humility it’ll bring? Or the loss of respect? Or loss of other worldly benefits?
Why do we forget that even if we save our faces in this world, we won’t be able to hide them on the Day of Judgement..? When our sins and mistakes are exposed on that day, there’ll be humiliation like none other. The whole world, nay, the whole humanity will see your secrets out in the open. So imagine having the whole world on your Facebook friend-list and someone hacks your account and lets out your dirty secret(s). You get a few hundred likes and a trillion dislikes with a gazillion hate comments. Some mock you, some ridicule you, and some, aadat se majboor () people troll that post. Where would you hide your face? Would you not want the Earth to swallow you right then and there?

Such (and much worse) is the humiliation of the Day of Judgement. And make that a combo with a large side of Hell-fire forever please! Drinks? Oh yes, pus, blood, and boiling water, thank you very much!

Let’s avoid all that by facing a small punishment and insignificant humiliation in this world. Let’s be honest inshaAllah.

Product Owner Suggests the Price (Hadith No. 1814)

Bismillah.

44 days of hibernation and now I’m back, Alhamdulillah. Resuming from where we left off.. Book of Sales and Trade..

Volume 3, Book 34, Number 319:

Narrated by Anas (radiallaahu `anhu):
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “O Bani Najjar! Suggest a price for your garden.” Part of it was a ruin and it contained some date palms.

This is commonly known to us now: the owner of the product suggests its price. If the buyer agrees to it, he pays him; if not, a bargain might ensue.

P.S. the seller should be just when marking the price and compensate for any damages or flaws int he product. He must be honest to the buyer in this regard so as to make sure Allah puts His blessing in his trade.

Jews go to Muslims for Justice (Hadith No. 1112)

Bismillah.

Volume 2, Book 23, Number 413:

Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar :

The Jew brought to the Prophet a man and a woman from amongst them who have committed (adultery) illegal sexual intercourse. He ordered both of them to be stoned (to death), near the place of offering the funeral prayers beside the mosque.”

There are various aspects to this Hadith. The one I like the most is: how awesome a leader Muhammad (SAW) was, and how just the Islamic court was, that the Jews used to come to the Muslims to solve their issues. They had the freedom to go to their own courts, and get judged by their own Sharee`ah, but they preferred coming to the Prophet (SAW) because they knew they will be treated with justice, no matter what.

Prophet (SAW) was truly awesome, don’t you think? <3

Wassalam.