Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, feared for his nation from surplus more than he feared from poverty: “By Allah, it is not poverty about which I fear for you, but I fear in your case that (the worldly) riches may be given to you as were given to those who had gone before you, and that you begin to vie with one another for them as they vied for them, and that they may destroy you as they destroyed them.” (Al-Bukhari) Yet, he realized that poverty is quite a great trial. Therefore, he used to supplicate to Allah: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from disbelief and poverty.” (Abu-Dawud) “Steady us in our faith, and protect us from poverty.” (Muslim) Because the Prophet realized the severity of the crisis of poverty and its attenuating impact on people, he supported the poor and even lived amongst them. His life was not that different from the lives of the poor. Lady Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated: “The family of Muhammad did not eat their fill for three successive days till he died.” (Al-Bukhari) He treated the poor with mercy and kindness, and he used to give them whatever he could, although he, himself, was poor. He also used to teach his companions to have mercy upon the poor as well. Consider his kind, sweet words: “O son of Adam! It is better for you if you spend your surplus (wealth), but if you withhold it, it is evil for you. There is (however) no reproach for you (if you withhold the essentials) for a living. And begin (charity) with your dependants; and the upper hand is better than the lower hand.” (Muslim) He also said: “If anyone gives as sadaqa (charity) the equivalent of a date from that (earning) earned honestly, for Allah accepts that which is lawful, the Lord would accept it with His Right Hand, and even if it is a date, it would foster in the Hand of the lord, as one of you fosters his colt, till it becomes bigger than a mountain.” (Al-Bukhari)
Posted on: Sat, 24 Aug 2013 00:37:24 +0000