Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … The detailed form of this narration is as follows: Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik radi Allahu anhu says: “Abu Talhah radi Allahu anhu was the wealthiest among the Ansar of Madinah in terms of date palm orchards, and the most beloved of his wealth to him was the orchard named Bairuha. It was situated directly facing the mosque, and the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would enter it and drink from its pure water.” Anas radi Allahu anhu narrates: “When the verse was revealed: {لَنْ تَنَالُوْا الْبِرَّ حَتّٰی تُنْفِقُوْا مِمَّا تُحِبُّوْنَ} [آل عمران:۹۲], Abu Talhah radi Allahu anhu stood up and went to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Indeed, Allah, Blessed and Exalted, says: {لَنْ تَنَالُوْا الْبِرَّ حَتّٰی تُنْفِقُوْا مِمَّا تُحِبُّوْنَ} And the most beloved of my wealth to me is Bairuha, and I give it as charity (sadaqah) for Allah. I hope for its reward and its storage with Allah, so dispose of it, O Messenger of Allah, wherever Allah shows you to do so.’ He said: The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: ‘Well done! That is profitable wealth, that is profitable wealth! I have heard what you have said, and I think you should distribute it among your relatives.’ … (Sahih Bukhari: 1461, Sahih Muslim: 3/79)

Sayyiduna Abu Talhah radi Allahu anhu was the wealthiest among the Ansar of Madinah in terms of date palm orchards, and the most beloved of his wealth to him was the orchard named Bairuha. It was situated directly in front of Masjid Nabawi. The Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would visit it and drink the excellent water found in the garden. Sayyiduna Anas radi Allahu anhu narrates that when this verse was revealed: “You will never attain righteousness until you spend from that which you love,” Sayyiduna Abu Talhah radi Allahu anhu came to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and said: “O Messenger of Allah! Allah the Exalted has revealed to you this verse: ‘You will never attain righteousness until you spend from that which you love,’ and the most beloved of my wealth to me is Bairuha (the orchard). I give it as charity (sadaqah) for Allah. I hope for its reward and for it to be stored with Him, so spend it wherever, according to the understanding granted to you by Allah, you deem appropriate.” The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Wonderful! This is indeed profitable wealth, this is indeed profitable wealth! I have heard what you have said. My opinion is that you distribute it among your relatives.” (Sahih Bukhari: 1461, Sahih Muslim: 3/79)

The noble Companions were pure personalities nurtured in the lap of Prophethood, who watered the tree of Islam with their own blood. They were not only strictly adherent to the commands of Allah the Exalted and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, but considered their happiness to lie in this very adherence. It is no ordinary matter that, upon hearing a command from Allah the Exalted, one spends his most precious orchard in the way of Allah. But look at the generosity and wisdom of Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, that, keeping in view the benefit of maintaining family ties (silat ar-rahm), such a valuable wealth is returned for the sake of relatives.