A Charitable Life (Hadith No. 2536)

Bismillah.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 141 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Charity is obligatory everyday on every joint of a human being. If one helps a person in matters concerning his riding animal by helping him to ride it or by lifting his luggage on to it, all this will be regarded charity. A good word, and every step one takes to offer the compulsory congregational prayer, is regarded as charity; and guiding somebody on the road is regarded as charity.”

Taking this and numerous other narrations about charity and its rewards, I’ve come to the conclusion that a Muslim’s life is a charitable life. A lot of the small good deeds that we do, even without thinking, are counted as charity. Why is that a big deal, you ask? What’s the difference between getting rewarded for a regular ‘good deed’ and a ‘charity’? Well it’s simple, charity brings enormous rewards, as discussed in some of the previous posts:

“If one gives in charity what equals one date-fruit from the honestly-earned money — and Allah accepts only the honestly-earned money — Allah takes it in His right (hand) and then enlarges its reward for that person (who has given it); as anyone of you brings up his baby horse, so much so that it becomes as big as a mountain.” [Vol. 2, Book 24, No. 491]

You don’t have to be a billionaire supporting various causes, charities and trusts to be charitable. You just need to be a humble Muslim, helping others with your words and deeds being your nature. :)

In words of Talib al-Habib:

Shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the Earth
Let your kindness come like rain that cares not whom it falls upon
And let ocean deep your wisdom be,
Your heart a lantern spreading peace
Give yourself in love of Him, be like al-Habib
(Al-Habib)

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Distribution of Inheritance: Being Kind to Orphans and the Needy (Hadith No. 2414)

Bismillah.

وَإِذَا حَضَرَ الْقِسْمَةَ أُولُو الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينُ فَارْزُقُوهُم مِّنْهُ وَقُولُوا لَهُمْ قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا

“And when [other] relatives and orphans and the needy are present at the [time of] division, then provide for them [something] out of the estate and speak to them words of appropriate kindness.” [4:8]

Volume 4, Book 51, Number 21 :
Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu)
Some people claim that the order in the above Verse is cancelled, by Allah, it is not cancelled, but the people have stopped acting on it. There are two kinds of guardians (who are in charge of the inheritance): One is that who inherits; such a person should give (of what he inherits to the relatives, the orphans and the needy, etc.), the other is that who does not inherit (e.g. the guardian of the orphans): such a person should speak kindly and say (to those who are present at the time of distribution), “I can not give it to you (as the wealth belongs to the orphans).”

Ibn Kathir comments:

Ath-Thawri said that Ibn Abi Najih narrated from Mujahid that implementing this Ayah, “Is required from those who have anything to inherit, paid from whatever portions their hearts are satisfied with giving away.” Similar explanation was reported from Ibn Mas`ud, Abu Musa, `Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakr, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Ash-Sha`bi and Al-Hasan. Ibn Sirin, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Makhul, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, `Ata’ bin Abi Rabah, Az-Zuhri and Yahya bin Ya`mar said this payment is obligatory. Others say that this refers to the bequeathal at the time of death. And others say that it was abrogated. Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said that this Ayah,

﴿وَإِذَا حَضَرَ الْقِسْمَةَ﴾

(And when are present at the time of division), refers to divisions of inheritance. So, when poor relatives, who are ineligible for inheritance, orphans, and the poor attend the division of the inheritance, which is sometimes substantial, their hearts will feel eager to have a share, seeing each eligible person assuming his share; while they are desperate, yet are not given anything. Allah the Most Kind, Most Compassionate, commands that they should have a share in the inheritance as an act of kindness, charity, compassion and mercy for them.

Mawdudi comments:

This directive is addressed to the heirs of the deceased. They are told not to be niggardly towards their relatives whether they be close or distant. Nor should they be niggardly towards either poor and needy members of the family or towards orphans who are present when the inheritance is distributed. Although they are not legally entitled to any share it is seemly for people to act magnanimously and give them something out of their inheritance, and especially to desist from making hurtful remarks.

Rights of a non-Muslim Mother (Hadith No. 2287)

Bismillah.

Hadith no. 2286 (below) is a repeat. Read it here.

Volume 3, Book 47, Number 788:
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu):
Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) saw a silken cloak over a man for sale and requested the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) to buy it in order to wear it on Fridays and while meeting delegates. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “This is worn by the one who will have no share in the Hereafter.” Later on Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) got some silken cloaks similar to that one, and he sent one to ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu). ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) said to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), “How can I wear it, while you said about it what you said?” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “I have not given it to you to wear, but to sell or to give to someone else.” So, ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) sent it to his brother at Mecca before he embraced Islam.

Today’s Hadith:

Volume 3, Book 47, Number 789:
Narrated Asma’ bint Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhaa):
My mother came to me during the lifetime of Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and she was a pagan. I said to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) (seeking his verdict), “My mother has come to me and she desires to receive a reward from me, shall I keep good relations with her?” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Yes, keep good relation with her.”

One must continue to do good to the non believing mother and remember that her disbelief does not justify disobedience by the son or daughter and that doing her good does not contradict with their innocence of her as a non believer, on the contrary as it is stated in Verse 31:15 below, Allah has commanded us to treat the non believing parents kindly even if they strive to make their child a polytheist because of their rights as parents hoping that they will embrace Islam.

“But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that if which you have no knowledge, then obey them not; but behave with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who turns to me in repentance and in obedience. Then to Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do.” (31:15)

Read more here.

Double Reward (Hadith No. 2218)

Bismillah.

Volume 3, Book 46, Number 720:
Narrated Abu Musa (radiallaahu `anhu):
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “He who has a slave-girl and educates and treats her nicely and then manumits and marries her, will get a double reward.“

Another similar narration:

The Prophet SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are three who will be given a double reward: a man from among the people of the Book who believed in his Prophet, then lived to see the Prophet (S) and followed him and believed in him– he will have a double reward; and a slave who fulfills his duty towards Allaah and towards his master – he will have a double reward; and a man who had a slave woman whom he fed and fed her well, and taught her and taught her well, then he set her free and married her – he will have a double reward”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (97) and Muslim (154).

The act of educating a slave-girl and treating her nicely is rewarded.. and marrying her after freeing her gets the owner double reward.. because this is kind treatment multiplied by two.

P.S. a man cannot marry his slave because ownership is stronger than wedlock. Read more here.

Being Lenient with Neighbors (Hadith No. 2140)

Bismillah.

Volume 3, Book 43, Number 643:
Narrated Al-Araj:
Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, ‘No-one should prevent his neighbor from fixing a wooden peg in his wall.” Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu) said (to his companions), “Why do I find you averse to it? By Allah, I certainly will narrate it to you.”

There are two sides to the way we can understand the rights of neighbors in Islam. One, showing kindness on your part, sharing with them and visiting them etc. Two, if you get disturbed or annoyed because of them, you be lenient and forgiving, overlook and move on. So if they’re remodeling the house next door, try ear plugs instead of cursing them r the like. :)

Islam warns against annoying one’s neighbors or treating them badly. The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) explained that this would lead to being deprived of Paradise: “He will not enter Paradise from whose harm his neighbor is not safe.” (Agreed upon. Narrated by Muslim, 64).

Having said all that, I sometimes wonder how selfish we are. In this fast-paced world, we are so swamped with work and deadlines and our own lives that we don’t even know who lives next door! We don’t even know their names, visiting them when they’re sick is out of the question. Isn’t village life better than this, where neighbors are like family? They can walk in whenever they feel like because there are people to welcome them and treat them as guests. Now that is the cool kind of neighborhood.