Muslim

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: "Qut" refers to that amount of food which prevents a person from dying, that is, which maintains the connection between body and soul. From this hadith, it is understood that for scholars and callers to Islam (du‘at), the best situation is that Allah, the Exalted, grants them provision according to their needs, so that they are not dependent on anyone. However, they should avoid worldly formalities, adornments, luxuries, and extravagance, so that they become an example for others and for those with less wealth. They should not make the acquisition of more and more wealth their ultimate goal. But they should seek Allah’s refuge from such a life in which they are forced to be dependent on others, or have to resort to flattery and sycophancy of the wealthy, and have to run after them for their religious activities.

Hadith Commentary:
The purpose of all the aforementioned ahadith is that if Muslims are unable to lead a life of great luxury and comfort in this world, even then they should remain grateful servants and be certain that the life of the Noble Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is the best example for them.
However, seeking sustenance through lawful (halal) means is entirely praiseworthy, and the wealth acquired in this manner is also a manifestation of Allah’s grace.
Among the companions of the Prophet were wealthy individuals such as Uthman Ghani and Abdur Rahman ibn Awf, radi Allahu anhum ajma‘een.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
From these ahadith, it is evident that the lifestyle and means of subsistence of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) were very simple. His food was also modest, just enough to maintain the connection between body and soul. Generally, he subsisted on water and dates. However, sometimes someone would send a small amount of meat, which would be cooked at home; otherwise, for two months at a time, no smoke would be seen rising from the houses of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Sometimes, his neighbors, who owned milch animals, would send milk, and he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would give it to his family to drink. Never was a roasted goat seen before him. In any case, food items were not available in abundance.

(2)
In our homes, there are many soft and warm beds, but the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) had only one bed, which was filled with palm fibers. During his life in Madinah, his sources of livelihood were as follows:
* Spoils of war (mal ghaneemah):
One of the fruits of jihad in the path of Allah is the spoils of war.
For previous nations, spoils of war were not lawful, but Allah, by His special favor, made them lawful for this ummah.
From the spoils of war, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would receive one-fifth, which was the share of the public treasury (bayt al-mal); however, his needs were also fulfilled from this.
The gardens of Banu Nadir, the land of Khaybar, and the garden of Fadak were from this source.
The produce of Khaybar was divided into three parts:
Two parts were for the general Muslims, and one part was spent on his family.
* Fay’ wealth (mal fay’):
Wealth obtained from the enemy without fighting is called mal fay’.
This wealth was specific to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
He had the discretion to give it to whomever he wished and to withhold it from whomever he wished.
The garden of Fadak, which Allah granted him at the time of the exile of Banu Nadir, was in his possession as mal fay’. He would spend some of it on his family and distribute some among the poor and needy.
* The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) also had a fixed share from the bayt al-mal.
He had given the land of Khaybar for sharecropping (muzara’ah) on half the produce, and his subsistence was from its yield; dates were abundant.
When Khaybar was conquered, eighty wasq of dates and twenty wasq of barley were fixed annually for all the noble wives (azwaj mutahharat, radi Allahu anhunna).
* In addition to gifts from foreign kings, there were also gifts from the non-Muslim people of Madinah, as well as gifts from foreign rulers.
* The valuable gift of a Jew:
Mukhayriq, from the tribe of Banu Qaynuqa’, was the wealthiest Jew.
He had great devotion to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
He had seven gardens.
He participated in the Battle of Uhud in the company of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
At the time of participating in Uhud, he made a will that if he were killed, all his gardens would become the property of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
He was killed in that battle, so all his gardens came into the possession of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
(Tabaqat al-Kubra: 5/501)

(3)
Despite the abundance of wealth, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) preferred simplicity and contentment for himself, made humility and modesty his constant companions, and kept himself safe from every kind of unlawful source of income.
According to our understanding, the ascetic life of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was not out of compulsion, but by choice.
He also supplicated before Allah:
“O Allah! Provide us with just enough food so that life may be sustained.”
And he would give preference to altruism and compassion for others.
Here is just one example:
Many slaves and slave-girls came to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) as spoils of war.
Sayyidah Fatimah (radi Allahu anha) came to him so that she might get a servant for household chores.
He said:
“My daughter! I cannot bear the hunger of the people of Suffah.
They often remain hungry.
I wish to sell these slaves and arrange food for them.”
Then he taught her a supplication, which became famous as the Tasbih of Fatimah.
(Musnad Ahmad: 1/106)

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: By "Aal" here is meant your family and dependents. You supplicated that we be granted sustenance just sufficient for the maintenance of life’s necessities—not so little that, due to hunger and distress, one is unable to fulfill one’s personal matters and obligations and is forced to extend a hand in need before others, nor so much abundance that it can be hoarded and stored up. This is because the majority of the Ummah suffers from poverty and need. Therefore, you left your example for the poor of the Ummah and for those destitute and needy, so that they may exercise patience and contentment with their circumstances and livelihood, and not fall prey to greed, covetousness, envy, or malice by looking at others.

Explanation:
1:
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) preferred to live a life free from worldly impurities and comforts and luxuries, because the very purpose of the Prophetic mission was to turn people away from the tumult, occupations, and adornments of the world and direct them towards the Hereafter. That is why the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) made the aforementioned supplication for himself and his family. Scholars and callers to Islam should take admonition from this supplication of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), that our lives should be an example of simplicity and free from worldly formalities. If Allah grants us wealth and riches, then the conduct of the wealthy Companions (radi Allahu anhum) should be before us; however, the excessive acquisition of wealth and riches should not be the purpose of our lives, nor should every kind of stratagem and device be used for this purpose, even if such stratagems and devices are employed under the guise of religious work.

Benefits and Issues:

➊ People should desire good habits and qualities for their family members as well.

➋ The meaning of sustenance according to need is that one should not receive more than necessary, which would then have to be withheld or stored away.

➌ The asceticism (zuhd) and contentment (qana‘ah) of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is the best example for the Ummah.