Instructions regarding giving to a person who asks for Allah’s sake
① Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
من استعاذ باللہ فأعيذوه، ومن سأل باللہ فأعطوه، ومن دعاكم فأجيبوه، ومن صنع إليكم معروفا فكافئوه، فإن لم تجدوا ما تكافئونه فادعوا له حتى تروا أنكم قد كافأتموه
“Whoever seeks refuge in the name of Allah, grant him refuge. Whoever asks in the name of Allah, give him. Whoever invites you, accept the invitation. And whoever does good to you, repay him. If you do not find anything to repay him with, then keep praying for him until you feel that you have repaid him.”
Respecting elderly people
① Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
ما أكرم شاب شيخا لسنه إلا قيض اللہ له من يكرمه عند سنه
”Whoever honors an elderly person because of their age, Allah appoints someone to honor him in his old age.“
② It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Musa رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
إن من إجلال اللہ إكرام ذي الشيبة المسلم، وحامل القرآن غير الغالي فيه ولا الجافي عنه، وإكرام ذي السلطان المقسط
”Honoring an elderly Muslim who is a bearer of the Qur’an, who neither exaggerates in it nor is negligent, and honoring a just ruler is among the respect and honor of Allah Almighty.“
Removing Harmful Things from the Path
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
رأيت رجلا يتقلب فى الجنة فى شجرة قطعها من ظهر الطريق كانت تؤذي الناس
“I saw a man walking in Paradise because of a tree he had removed from the path of the Muslims which was causing difficulty for the people.”
② Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that I said: “O Messenger of Allah (PBUH)! Tell me something by which Allah may benefit me.” He (PBUH) said:
اعزل الأذى عن طريق المسلمين
“Remove harmful things from the path of the Muslims.”
③ Sayyiduna Abu Burzah Aslami (RA) narrates that I said: “O Messenger of Allah (PBUH)! I do not know, perhaps you may pass away and I remain after you, so tell me something as provision for the journey by which Allah may benefit me.” The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
افعل كذا، وافعل كذا، وأمط الأذى عن الطريق
“Do this, do this, and remove harmful things from the path.”
④ Sayyiduna Abu Burzah (RA) says: I said to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) to tell me something by which Allah may benefit me. He said:
اعزل الأذى عن طريق المسلمين
“Remove harmful things from the path of the Muslims.”
Guiding a Lost Person
① Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
تبسمك فى وجه أخيك لك صدقة، وأمرك بالمعروف ونهيك عن المنكر صدقة، وإرشادك الرجل فى أرض الضلال لك صدقة، وإماطتك الحجر والشوكة والعظم عن الطريق لك صدقة، وإفراغك من دلوك فى دلو أخيك لك صدقة
“Your smiling in front of your brother is charity, your enjoining good and forbidding evil is charity, your guiding a lost person is charity, your removing a stone, thorn, or bone from the path is charity, and your pouring water from your bucket into your brother’s bucket is charity.”
