This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abdullah Yusuf Zuhaybi's book Fazail-e-Sadaqaat.
The Generosity of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
The Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the most generous person in the universe because his heart held no attachment to the world and its adornments. Therefore, whatever wealth came to him, instead of hoarding it, he would immediately spend it in the way of Allah. He was exemplary in asceticism and piety. His devoted companions have described his generosity in various ways. Here are some hadiths that clearly show how generous he was and how he spent wealth in the way of Allah. Following the Prophet requires that Muslims also learn lessons from these incidents of his generosity and adopt his example.
➊ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates:
كان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم أجود الناس بالخير وكان أجود ما يكون فى رمضان حين يلقاه جبريل عليه السلام وكان جبريل يلقاه كل ليلة فى رمضان حتى ينسلخ يعرض عليه النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم القرآن فإذا لقيه جبريل عليه السلام كان أجود بالخير من الريح المرسلة
“The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was more generous than anyone else in doing good deeds. When Jibreel (Gabriel) would meet him during Ramadan, he would become even more generous. Jibreel would visit him every night until Ramadan ended. Whenever Jibreel met him, the Prophet’s generosity was swifter than the fast wind.”
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 1902; Sahih Muslim: 2308
➋ Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
لو كان عندي أحد ذهبا لأحببت أن لا يأتى على ثلاث وعندي منه دينار ليس شيء أرصده فى دين على أجد من يقبله
“If I had gold equal to the mountain of Uhud, I would like that not even a single dinar remains with me before three days pass, if there are takers for it, except for what I keep to pay off my debts.”
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 7228
➌ Sayyiduna Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that some people from the Ansar asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for something, and he gave it to them. They asked again, and he gave again until what he had was finished. He said:
ما يكون عندي من خير فلن أخبئه عنكم ومن يستعفف يعفه الله ومن يستغن يغنه الله ومن يتصبر يصبره الله وما أعطي أحد عطاء خيرا وأوسع من الصبر
“Whatever wealth I have, I will not keep it away from you. Whoever chooses chastity, Allah will grant him chastity. Whoever desires self-sufficiency, Allah will make him self-sufficient. And whoever is patient, Allah will grant him patience. No one has been given anything better and more abundant than patience.”
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 1469; Sahih Muslim: 1053
➍ It is narrated from Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them) that:
ما سئل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم شيئا قط فقال لا
“No request was ever made to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that he refused.”
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 6034; Sahih Muslim: 2311
Whatever was asked from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he never said “no.”
➎ Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a woman came with a sheet and said: O Messenger of Allah! I have made this sheet especially for you to wear. The Prophet took the sheet from her as if he needed it, then wore it as a waist wrap and came to us. One man among the people praised the sheet greatly and said: O Messenger of Allah! Give me this sheet. The Prophet said: Okay. He stayed in the gathering as long as Allah willed, then left and sent the sheet wrapped to that man. The companions said to that man: You did not do well by asking the Prophet ﷺ for this sheet. You know that the Prophet never turns away a beggar. The man said: By Allah! I asked for this sheet so that it may become my shroud. Sahl (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the same sheet became that man’s shroud.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 5819
➏ Sayyiduna Jubair bin Mut’im (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he was going with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Many companions were with him. Returning from the valley of Hunayn, some people clung to him and started asking. Eventually, he was forced to go near a babool tree. There his sheet was snatched. He stood up and said:
أعطوني ردائي لو كان لي عدد هذه العضاه نعما لقسمته بينكم ثم لا تجدوني بخيلا ولا كذوبا ولا جبانا
“Give me my sheet. If I had camels as many as the thorns of this tree, I would distribute them among you, then you would not find me stingy, nor a liar, nor a coward.”
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 2821
➐ Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a man asked the Prophet ﷺ for goats between two mountains, and he gave him those goats. Then he went to his people and said:
أى قوم أسلموا فوالله إن محمدا ليعطي عطاء ما يخاف الفقر
“O my people! Embrace Islam, for by Allah! Muhammad ﷺ gives so much that there is no fear of poverty.”
Reference: Sahih Muslim: 2312
Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) says that a man would become Muslim only for worldly (material) reasons, but after embracing Islam, Islam and everything related to it would become more beloved to him than the world.
Reference: Sahih Muslim: 2313
➑ Ibn Shihab says that after the conquest of Makkah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fought the Battle of Hunayn with the Muslims, and Allah granted victory to Islam and the Muslims. On that day, the Prophet ﷺ gave Safwan bin Umayyah one hundred camels, then another hundred, and then another hundred (i.e., a total of three hundred camels). Safwan bin Umayyah (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
والله لقد أعطاني رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ما أعطاني وإنه لأبغض الناس إلى فما برح يعطيني حتى إنه لأحب الناس إلي
“By Allah! Whatever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave me, he gave. In my eyes, he was more detestable than anyone else. He kept giving to me continuously until he became more beloved to me than anyone else.”
Reference: Sahih Muslim: 2312
This was the way the Prophet ﷺ won the hearts of people. Those who hated Islam and the Prophet and were hostile to Muslims, when he gave them wealth, love for him grew in their hearts, and after reflecting on his personality and his message, they ultimately accepted Islam.
Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates:
ما ترك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عند موته درهما ولا دينارا ولا عبدا ولا أمة ولا شيئا إلا بغلته البيضاء وسلاحه وأرضا جعلها صدقة
“At the time of his death, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ left no dirham, dinar, slave, maid, or any other thing except his white mule, weapons, and a piece of land which he had given as charity.”
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 2739
The Generosity of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be pleased with him)
Hazrat Umar ibn Khattab (RA) narrates that one day the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) commanded us to give charity. At that time, I also had wealth, so I thought to myself: if I want to precede Abu Bakr (RA), I can do so today. Therefore, I brought half of my wealth. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "What have you left for your family?" I said: this much. Then Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA) brought all of his wealth. The Prophet (PBUH) asked him: "What have you left for your family?" He said: I have left Allah and His Messenger for them. Then I had to say: I can never surpass Abu Bakr in anything.
Reference: Hasan, Sunan Abi Dawood: 1678, Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 3675, Al-Mustadrak al-Hakim 414/1
Sayyiduna Abu Saeed Khudri (RA) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
ان آمن الناس على فى ماله وصحبته أبو بكر ولو كنت متخذا خليلا لاتخذت أبا بكر خليلا ولكن أخوة الإسلام لا تبقين فى المسجد خوخة إلا خوخة أبى بكر
"Among the believers, Abu Bakr has done me the greatest favor in terms of wealth. If I were to make anyone my close friend (Khalil), it would have been Abu Bakr, but the brotherhood of Islam is sufficient. Close all the doors of the mosque except the door of Abu Bakr."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 3904, Sahih Muslim: 2382
The Prophet (PBUH) asked the companions: "Who fasted today?" Abu Bakr said: I did. He asked: "Who went with the funeral today?" Abu Bakr said: I went. He asked: "Who fed a poor person today?" Abu Bakr said: I did. He asked: "Who visited a sick person today?" Abu Bakr said: I did. The Prophet (PBUH) said:
ما اجتمعن فى امرئ إلا دخل الجنة
"Whoever combines these deeds will enter Paradise."
Reference: Sahih Muslim: 1028
Hazrat Jabir ibn Abdullah (RA) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "If the wealth of Bahrain comes to us, I will give you so much, so much, so much." Then the Prophet (PBUH) passed away before the wealth of Bahrain arrived, and after him, Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA) received that wealth. Then a caller announced: Whoever the Prophet (PBUH) promised or whoever has a debt on me should come and take it. I went and said: The Prophet (PBUH) said: "If the wealth of Bahrain comes, I will give you so much, so much, so much." Then Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA) gave a handful once and said: Count it. I counted and it was five hundred. Abu Bakr (RA) said: Take as much more.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 2598; Sahih Muslim: 2314
Imam Ibn Jarir al-Tabari (RA) narrated from Amir ibn Abdullah ibn Zubair that Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA) used to buy and free slaves who embraced Islam in Makkah. He especially freed the elderly and women when they became Muslims. His father said: O son! I see you free the weak people; if you free the strong and healthy people, they will stand with you, protect you, and keep the enemy away from you. He replied: Father! I seek the reward that is with Allah Almighty. Amir says that some of my family told me that these verses were revealed about them:
فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَى وَاتَّقَى وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَى فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْيُسْرَى
Reference: (92-Al-Lail:5-7)
Reference: Tafsir al-Tabari: 279/30; and its chain is weak, it is a narration of Muhammad ibn Ishaq.
The Generosity of Sayyiduna Umar Farooq (May Allah be pleased with him)
Sayyiduna Umar Farooq رضي الله عنه was passing through the market when a woman met him and said: O Commander of the Faithful! My husband has passed away and left behind a few small daughters. By Allah! They neither have goat legs to cook, nor farmland, nor milk-giving animals. I fear they may die of extreme poverty. I am Khuffaf bin Ima'a's daughter. My father participated in the Battle of Hudaybiyyah with the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه stood with her for a while and did not move forward. Then he said: Welcome, your family connection is very close. Then he went to a large, strong camel tied in the house, on which two sacks full of grain were placed. Between these two sacks, he placed money and other necessary items and clothes, and handing over the camel to the woman, he said: This will not end; before it does, Allah Almighty will give you something better than this.
A man said: O Commander of the Faithful! You have given her too much wealth. Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه said: May your mother lose you! By Allah! The father and brothers of this woman are still before my eyes, as they participated in the siege of a fortress for a long time and finally conquered it. Then in the morning, we were collecting their share of the spoils.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 4160
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما narrates that Sayyiduna Umar Farooq رضي الله عنه acquired a piece of land in Khyber and then presented himself before the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and said: I have acquired a piece of land and have not received better wealth than this. What do you command me regarding it? He said: "If you wish, keep the original property in your possession and give its profits as charity." Accordingly, Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه gave charity on this condition that the original land should neither be sold, nor gifted, nor inherited by anyone, but should remain dedicated for the poor, relatives, freeing slaves, in the way of Allah, for guests and travelers.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 2772
Hazrat Umar رضي الله عنه’s freed slave Aslam narrates that Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما asked me about some conditions of his father Umar Farooq رضي الله عنه, which I told him, and he said:
ما رأيت أحدا قط بعد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من حين قبض كان أجد وأجود حتى انتهى من عمر بن الخطاب
"After the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, I have not seen anyone work so hard for religion and be so generous as Umar bin Khattab رضي الله عنه."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 3687
The Generosity of Sayyiduna Uthman Ghani (May Allah be pleased with him)
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Samrah رضي الله عنه that when the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم was preparing for the expedition of Al-Asrah (Tabuk expedition), Uthman رضي الله عنه brought a thousand dinars in his sleeve and placed them in the Prophet’s صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم cloak. I saw that the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم was turning the cloak over and over and saying:
ما ضر عثمان ما عمل بعد اليوم
"After today, whatever deeds Uthman performs, they will not be harmed."
Reference: Hasan, Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Book of Virtues, Chapter on the number of Uthman and his being called a martyr, Hadith 3701; Musnad Ahmad: 63/5
When the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم migrated to Madinah, there was no place except a well called Ruma where sweet water was available. The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
من يشتري بئر رومة فيجعل فيها دلوه مع دلاء المسلمين بخير له منها فى الجنة
"Whoever buys the well of Ruma and ties his bucket with the Muslims’ bucket (meaning he uses it himself and allows other Muslims to use its water) will receive a great reward in Paradise."
Reference: Hasan, Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Book of Virtues, Chapter on the number of Uthman and his being called a martyr, Hadith 3703; Sunan al-Nasa’i: 3638
Accordingly, Hazrat Uthman Ghani رضي الله عنه purchased it from his own wealth. In one narration it is said:
من حفر بئر رومة فله الجنة
"Whoever digs the well of Ruma, Paradise is for him."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 2778
Due to the increasing number of Muslims, when space became tight in the Prophet’s Mosque, the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم expressed a desire that someone should buy the adjacent land to the mosque and dedicate it as a waqf (endowment). On this occasion also, Sayyiduna Uthman Ghani رضي الله عنه took the lead and bought the land from his own wealth and dedicated it. The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
من يشتري بقعة آل فلان فيزيدها فى المسجد بخير له منها فى الجنة
"Whoever buys the land of so-and-so family and dedicates it for the expansion of the mosque, it will be better for him in Paradise."
Reference: Hasan, Sunan al-Nasa’i, Book of Endowments, Chapter on waqf of mosques, Hadith 3638
The Generosity of Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Awf (RA)
Abu Salamah narrates that Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Awf (RA) bequeathed a garden for the Mothers of the Believers, which was later sold for four hundred thousand.
Sayyida Aisha (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
إن أمركن لمما يهينني بعدي ولن يصبر عليكن إلا الصابرون
"The matter that will occur after me has distressed me. Only those who are patient will be able to fulfill your rights."
Reference: Hasan, Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Al-Manaqib, Chapter on the Story of Abdur Rahman's Will, Hadith 3750
Then Sayyida Aisha (RA) said to Abu Salamah (son of Abdur Rahman bin Awf (RA)):
فسقى الله أباك من سلسبيل الجنة
"May Allah give your father to drink from the Salsabeel (spring) of Paradise."
Reference: Hasan, Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Al-Manaqib, Chapter on the Story of Abdur Rahman's Will, Hadith 3749
In fact, he gave a garden to the Mothers of the Believers as an act of maintaining kinship ties, which was sold for forty thousand.
The Selflessness of Abu Talhah Ansari (RA)
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that a person came to the presence of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and said: I am starving. The Prophet (PBUH) sent a message to one of his wives. She said: By the One Who sent you with the truth! I have nothing except water. Then he sent a message to another wife. She also said the same. Until the same reply came from all the wives that by the One Who sent you with the truth! I have nothing except water. Then he (the Prophet) said to the companions: "Whoever hosts him tonight, Allah will have mercy on him." One person from the Ansar (Abu Talha RA) stood up and said: O Messenger of Allah! I will host him. He took the guest to his house and asked his wife: Do you have anything? She said: No, only the children's food. Abu Talha (RA) said: Keep the children occupied with something, and when our guest arrives, extinguish the lamp and make it appear that we are eating. When the guest starts eating, go to the lamp and extinguish it. Then they all sat down and the guest ate. When morning came, they went to the presence of the Noble Prophet (PBUH) and he said:
عجب الله من صنيعكما بضيفكما الليلة
"Allah was very pleased with the kindness you showed to the guest last night."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 3798; Sahih Muslim: 2054 (same wording)
At the same time, this noble verse was revealed:
وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ
Reference: (59-Al-Hashr:9)
"And they give preference to others over themselves, even though they are in great need."
Generosity of the People of Banu Najjar
Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه narrates that when the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم came to Madinah, he ordered the construction of a mosque (the people of Banu Najjar dedicated their garden for the construction of the mosque). He said: O Banu Najjar! Take the price of your garden from me. They said:
والله لا نطلب ثمنه إلا إلى الله
“No, by Allah! We only ask its price from Allah.”
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 2774
Generosity of Sayyida Aisha Siddiqah رضي الله عنها
Umm Zarrah narrates that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zubair رضي الله عنهما sent goods worth one hundred thousand in two sacks to Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها, and she ordered a tray to be brought and distributed it among the people. That day she was fasting. When evening came, she said: Bring my iftar (meal to break the fast). Umm Zarrah said: O Mother of the Believers! Could you not have saved five dirhams from the goods you distributed and bought meat with it to break your fast? Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها replied: Do not blame me; if you had reminded me, I would have done so.
Reference: Al-Tabaqat by Ibn Saad: 67/8 and authenticated by our Sheikh Al-Hafiz Zubair Ali Za'i رحمه الله. See also the hadith: 34, p. 62
Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها says that a woman came asking for something for her two daughters. At that time, I had nothing except one date. I gave her that. She divided that one date between her two daughters and did not eat herself, then she got up and left. After that, the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم came, and I told him this incident. He said:
من ابتلي من هٰذه البنات بشيء كن له سترا من النار
"Whoever is tested because of these daughters, then the daughters will be a shield for him from Hellfire."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 1418
The Generosity of Abu Talha (May Allah be pleased with him)
Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه narrates that when this verse was revealed:
لَنْ تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنْفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ
Reference: (3-Al Imran:92)
"You will never attain righteousness until you spend from that which you love most."
Then Abu Talha رضي الله عنه came to the presence of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم and said: O Messenger of Allah! Allah, the Exalted, has said in His Book: "You will never attain righteousness..." Among my possessions, the most beloved to me is a garden called Bayrha. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to also visit this garden, sit in its shade, and drink its water. Abu Talha said that this garden is for the sake of Allah and His Messenger. I hope for its reward and its storage in the Hereafter. O Messenger of Allah! Spend it as Allah has instructed you. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: Abu Talha, this is indeed a very profitable wealth. We accept it from you and then return it to you. Now you give it to your relatives. Thus, Abu Talha رضي الله عنه gave that garden to his relatives.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 2758; Sahih Muslim: 998
The Generosity of Abu Hudhaifa (May Allah be pleased with him)
Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه narrates that a man said: O Messenger of Allah! So-and-so has date palms, and I am also planting date palms with him. Please tell him to give me those dates so that I can build a wall for my garden.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said to him:
أعطها إياه بنخلة فى الجنة
"Give him those dates; in return, you will receive dates in Paradise."
But he refused to do so. Abu Hudhaifah رضي الله عنه went to him and said: Sell me your date palm tree in exchange for my garden. He agreed. Abu Hudhaifah رضي الله عنه came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and said: O Messenger of Allah! I have bought such-and-such date palm tree in exchange for my garden; please give this tree to that needy man. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
كم من عذق رداح لأبي الدحداح فى الجنة
"For Abu Hudhaifah, there are many large and tall clusters of dates in Paradise."
Reference: Sahih, Musnad Ahmad: 146/3; Al-Mustadrak al-Hakim: 20/2
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم repeated this phrase several times. Abu Hudhaifah رضي الله عنه went to his wife and said: Come out of the garden; I have sold it in exchange for a date palm tree in Paradise. His wife said: You have made a profitable trade.
The Generosity of Umm al-Mu'minin Sayyida Zainab (RA)
Sayyida Aisha Siddiqah (RA) narrates that some of the wives of the Prophet (PBUH) asked him who among us will be the first to meet you in the Hereafter. He replied, "The one whose hand is longest." We then began measuring hands with a stick, and Sayyida Zainab (RA) was found to have the longest hand. Later, we understood that by "longest hand," the Prophet (PBUH) meant the one who gave the most charity. Among us, Sayyida Zainab (RA) was the first to meet the Prophet (PBUH) (i.e., she passed away first). She loved giving charity very much.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 1420
Sayyida Zainab (RA) frequently gave charity and alms. That is why the Prophet (PBUH) gave her the name "the one with the longest hand," meaning her hand was very open in spending her wealth in the way of Allah.
The Generosity of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA)
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates that once he came to the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم with some dates and said: O Messenger of Allah! Please pray for blessings in them for me. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم gathered those dates and prayed for blessings, then said: Take these dates and put them in your provision bag (pouch). Whenever you want to take dates from it, just put your hand in and take them out, but do not take them out and scatter them outside.
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه says: I spent so many wasq of those dates in the way of Allah. We used to eat from them and also feed others. This pouch was always tied to my waist until Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه was martyred, then it tore.
Reference: Hasan, Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Book of Virtues, Chapter on the Virtues of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه, Hadith 3839
This was the result of the Prophet Muhammad’s صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم prayer that miraculously the dates in this pouch never finished. Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه himself ate from it and also spent in the way of Allah.
Wasq is a measure. One wasq contains sixty sa’ (a traditional measure). According to current weight standards, its quantity is approximately one hundred and fifty kilograms.
The Generosity of Abdullah bin Umar (May Allah be pleased with them both)
Narrated by Nafi, the servant of Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), that once Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) went towards a corner of Madinah Munawwarah. Some of his companions were with him. The companions spread a dining cloth for him. At that time, a shepherd passed by. Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said to him: "Come, come! Eat something from this dining cloth as well."
The shepherd said: "I am fasting."
Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "You are enduring the hardship of fasting in such a hot day, while the mountain is steep and you are grazing goats in the mountains."
The shepherd replied: "Yes, I am preparing for those empty days when there will be no opportunity for deeds, so I am doing good deeds in this worldly life."
Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), intending to test the shepherd's piety and fear of Allah, said to him: "Can you sell one goat from this herd? We will pay you its cash price, and also give you meat for your iftar."
The shepherd replied: "These goats are not mine to sell; they belong to my master, so I cannot sell them."
Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "If your master finds a goat missing and you say it got lost, he will not say anything, because one or two goats often get lost in the mountains from the herd."
Hearing this, the shepherd left from Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both). He raised his finger towards the sky and kept saying this phrase:
أين الله؟ أين الله؟
"Then where is Allah? Where is Allah?"
When the shepherd left, Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) started repeating this phrase again and again. When Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) came to Madinah, he sent his men to the shepherd's master and bought the goats and the shepherd from him. He freed the shepherd and gave all the goats to him as a gift.
Reference: Shu'ab al-Iman by Al-Bayhaqi 5291, Majma' al-Zawa'id: 9/347, Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir by Al-Tabarani: 13054. Its chain is weak, narrated by Muhammad bin Yazid bin Khunis, and also the conditions of Abu Tatbah are not met.
Generosity of Zain al-Abidin (Ali ibn Husayn, may Allah be pleased with him)
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said:
"Whoever frees a Muslim slave, Allah will free every limb of that person’s body from Hellfire in exchange for every limb of the slave’s body."
The narrator who narrated this hadith from Abu Hurairah, Saeed bin Marjanah, may Allah have mercy on him, says that after hearing this hadith from Abu Hurairah, I went to Zain al-Abidin, may Allah be pleased with him, and narrated this hadith to him. Zain al-Abidin, may Allah be pleased with him, turned to one of his slaves, whose price Abdullah bin Ja'far, may Allah be pleased with them both, was offering ten thousand dirhams or one thousand dinars for. He then freed this slave.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Emancipation, Chapter on Emancipation and its Virtue: 2517, Sahih Muslim: 3595
Generosity of Murtad bin Abdullah al-Muzani, may Allah be pleased with him (Tabi'i)
Yazid bin Abi Habib narrates that Mursad bin Abdullah رضي الله عنه was the first among the people of Egypt to go to the mosque, and whenever I saw him entering the mosque, he always had some cash for charity, bread, or wheat in his sleeve. Sometimes I even saw that he would bring onions for charity, and I would say: O Abu al-Khair! Onions make your clothes smell bad. He would reply: O Ibn Habib! There was nothing else available in my house to give in charity.
A companion of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم narrated to me that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
ظل المؤمن يوم القيامة صدقته
"On the Day of Resurrection, the shadow of a believer will be his given charity."
Reference: Isnad authentic, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: 2432
The Generosity of Sayyida Zainab (wife of Abdullah bin Mas'ud رضي الله عنهما)
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that one day after the morning prayer, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) came to the women in the mosque and stood near them and said:
يا معشر النساء ما رأيت من ناقصات عقل ودين أذهب للب الرجل الحازم منكن وإني قد رأيت إنكن أكثر أهل النار يوم القيامة فتقربن إلى الله بما استطعتن
"O group of women! Among the foolish and those with deficient religion, I have not seen anyone whose intellect is more destructive than yours. Indeed, I have seen that the majority of you will be among the inhabitants of Hell on the Day of Judgment, so try as much as possible to seek nearness to Allah."
Among the women was Zainab (RA), the wife of Abdullah bin Mas'ud (RA). She went to Abdullah bin Mas'ud (RA) and narrated to him the statement of the Prophet (PBUH) which she had just heard, then took her jewelry and set out. Ibn Mas'ud (RA) asked: Where are you going with this jewelry? She said: I want to give it as charity to seek nearness to Allah and His Messenger (PBUH). Ibn Mas'ud (RA) said: May you be rewarded, bring it and give it as charity to me and my children; we are more deserving of it. She said: No, until I ask the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). So she went and sought permission to meet the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). The Companions said: O Messenger of Allah! This is Zainab seeking permission. You asked: "Which Zainab?" They replied: The wife of Ibn Mas'ud. You said: "Allow her." So she came before the Prophet (PBUH) and said: O Messenger of Allah! I heard your statement, so I went and narrated it to Ibn Mas'ud, then I took my jewelry and wanted to give it as charity to Allah and His Messenger to seek nearness, hoping that Allah would not make me among the people of Hell. Ibn Mas'ud told me to give this jewelry as charity to him and his children because they deserve it, so I said I would ask the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
تصدقي به عليه وعلى بنيه فإنهم له موضع
"Give it as charity to Ibn Mas'ud and his children, for they are deserving of it."
Reference: Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: 2461; Musnad Ahmad: 373/2 with authentic chain
Conclusion
The Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, set such examples of charity, almsgiving, and generosity that it is difficult to find their equal today. The wealthy Companions were one thing, but even the poor and needy Companions, who earned through hard labor, would spend a large portion of their earnings in the way of Allah.
Sayyiduna Abu Mas'ud Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that when the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded us to give charity, one of us would go to the market and work as a porter to earn a measure (of grain, etc.) and then give charity from it. But today, many of us have millions of dirhams and dinars.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 1416
The purpose of the Companion's statement is that during the time of the Prophet, even those who had nothing would labor and spend what they earned in the way of Allah, but as time passed, the spirit of spending in the cause of Allah diminished among people. Now people have millions of rupees, yet they do not give charity. In the time of the Prophet, not only men but women also did not lag behind in giving charity; rather, they actively participated in almsgiving. Once, after leading the Eid prayer, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, went towards the women in the Eid ground and commanded them to give charity. Consequently, the women took off their bracelets, perfumes, and necklaces and gave them in charity.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 1416; Sahih al-Bukhari: 5881
The purpose of mentioning the examples of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, is to inspire today's Muslims to develop the spirit of spending wealth. Otherwise, they are such great personalities that we can never reach their level.
It is narrated from Abu Sa'id Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لا تسبوا أصحابي فلو أن أحدكم أنفق مثل أحد ذهبا ما بلغ مد أحدهم ولا نصيفه
"Do not speak ill of my Companions. If any one of you were to spend gold equal to the mountain of Uhud, it would not equal even a mudd or half a mudd of what they spent."
It is understood that when the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, gave charity with such zeal even after being guaranteed Allah's pleasure, then we need to spend much more in comparison to them.
At the end of the book, the message for the readers is that if Allah has granted someone the opportunity and ability to give charity, they should consider it Allah's grace and favor and spend generously, thanking Allah for granting them this ability and for providing them with means on which they can spend. Otherwise, a time near the Day of Judgment will come when a person will want to give charity, but no one will accept it.
Sayyiduna Haritha bin Wahb, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
تصدقوا فإنه يأتى عليكم زمان يمشي الرجل بصدقته فلا يجد من يقبلها يقول الرجل لو جئت بها بالأمس لقبلتها فأما اليوم فلا حاجة لي بها
"Keep giving charity, for a time will come upon you when a man will bring his charity, but no one will accept it. The man will say: If only I had brought it yesterday, I would have accepted it, but today I do not need it."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 1411
