RIYAD-US
SALIHEEN CHAPTER 33
BENEVOLENT
TREATMENT TOWARDS ORPHANS, GIRLS,
THE
WEAK, THE POOR AND THE HUMBLE PERSONS
Assembled by Mallam Abba Abana, Kubwa, Abuja,
Nigeria
http://variousislamicdawadocuments.blogspot.com
Emails:gonidamgamiri@yahoo.com;
abba.abana@gmail.com
Bismillah
Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum
Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu
Praise be to Allaah; we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
Allah, the Exalted,
says:
"And
lower your wings for the believers (be courteous to the
fellow-believers)". (Holy Quran Chapter 15:88)
"And
keep yourself (O Muhammad (PBUH)) patiently with those who call on their Rubb
(i.e., your companions who remember their Rubb with glorification, praising in
prayers, and other righteous deeds) morning and afternoon, seeking His Face,
and let not your eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp and glitter
of
the life of the world.'' (Holy Quran Chapter 18:28)
"Therefore,
treat not the orphan with oppression. And repulse not the beggar.'' (Holy
Quran Chapter 93:9,10)
"Have
you seen him who denies the Recompense? That is he who repulses the orphan
(harshly). And urges not the feeding of Al-Miskin (the poor)". (Holy
Quran Chapter 107:1-3)
Hadith
No. 260. Sa`d bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Six
of us were with the Prophet (PBUH) when the infidels said to him: "Drive
these ones away, lest they should begin to venture against us". The six
were, myself, Ibn Mas`ud, a man of the Hudhail tribe, Bilal and two other men
whose names I don't know. Messenger of Allah (PBUH) thought what Allah wished
him to think, and Allah revealed: "And turn not away those
who invoke their Rubb, morning and afternoon seeking His Face.'' (Holy
Quran Chapter 6:52) [Muslim].
Commentary:
This Hadith tells us that those people alone have value in the
sight of Allah who are equipped with Faith and good deeds, no matter how humble
they are in the eyes of people because of their poverty and indigence.
Those who are
deprived of Faith and good conduct have absolutely no value in His sight even
if they hold a high status in this world.
This Hadith also
exhorts the believers that criterion for respect and honour should also be
Faith, not the lineage or wealth.
Hadith
No. 261. `Aidh bin `Amr Al-Muzani (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Abu Sufyan passed by Salman, Suhaib and Bilal and some other Companions (May
Allah be pleased with them). They said to him: "Did not the swords of Allah
exact their due from the foes of Allah?'' Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with
him) said to them: "Do you speak like this to the chief of the Quraish and
their master?'' Then he went to the Prophet (PBUH) and related this to him. He
(PBUH) said, "Abu Bakr, perhaps you have angered them. If so, you have
angered your Rubb''. Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) went
back to them and said: "Brothers, did I offend you?'' They replied:
"No. May
Allah forgive you,
brother". [Muslim].
Commentary:
This Hadith enjoins the Muslims to treat one another with
affection and kindness and keep their hearts free from ill-feeling and malice.
If someone inadvertently says to another anything that hurts the latter's feelings,
he must immediately apologize to him.
Hadith
No. 262. Sahl bin Sa`d (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger
of Allah (PBUH) said, "I will be like this in Jannah with the
person who takes care of an orphan". Messenger of Allah (PBUH) raised his
forefinger and
middle finger by way
of illustration. [Al-Bukhari].
Commentary:
It will be indeed a great honour to be close to the Prophet (PBUH)
in Jannah. This honour will be given to those who are kind to the orphans. The
Prophet (PBUH) has regarded it the `best house' in which an orphan is treated
with kindness. He declared the worst home in which an orphan child is not
treated with affection.
Hadith
No. 263. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger
of Allah (PBUH) said, "He who takes care of an orphan, whether he
is his relative or a stranger, will be in Jannah with me like these two".
The narrator, Malik bin Anas raised his forefinger and middle finger for
illustration. [Muslim].
Commentary:
The Islamic system of welfare and economic security is not
restricted to relatives only. It includes every orphan and needy. If Muslims
put this system into practice, there will be no need for insurance - a system which
is based on usury. May Allah enable the Muslims to adopt the teachings of Islam
so that they will be relieved of the curse of the system of usury.
Hadith
No. 264. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger
of Allah (PBUH) said, "A Miskin (needy) is not the one who can be
turned away with a date-fruit or two, or a morsel or two. The true Miskin is
one who, despite his poverty, abstains from begging". [Al-Bukhari
and Muslim].
In another narration
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, " A Miskin is not the
one who goes round begging from people and who can be turned away with a morsel
or two, or a date-fruit or two. A true Miskin is he who does not find enough to
suffice him, does not disclose his poverty so that he might be given alms, and
does not stand up to beg". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary:
This Hadith throws light on a very important problem relating to
beggars who go door to door begging. They are, in fact, not poor because they
accumulate a lot of wealth through small amounts which they collect every day.
The real needy and poor are those who are not well-to-do, but their appearance
and dress hide their poverty. Their self-respect does not permit them to make a
request for help. The real purport of this Hadith is that it is the latter
category of poor people, with a sense of self-respect, who should be given
preference in financial help over the professional beggars because it is they
who are really poor.
Hadith
No. 265. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet
(PBUH) said, "One who strives to help the widows and the poor is like the
one who fights in the way of Allah.'' The narrator said: I
think that he (PBUH)
added also: "I
shall regard him as the one who stands up (for prayer) without rest and as the
one who observes fasts continuously". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary:
Here the words `widow' and `poor' have been mentioned for example
only while they cover the whole range of indigent, invalid and needy people.
Efforts for their care, support and welfare has been regarded equivalent to
Jihad. Islam has done full justice in supporting the helpless individuals and
the entire poor class of the society by elevating the status of those who
undertake this noble task to the level of Mujahidun.
It makes it clear
that worship is not restricted to prayers and fasting only but also covers
every good deed. Thus, those who are always mindful of the weak and the poor
and constantly strive for their welfare are engaged in perpetual worship.
Hadith
No. 266. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet
(PBUH) said, "The worst food is the food of the marriage banquet from which
those are left out who would like to come; and to which those are invited
who refuse to come.
He who rejects an invitation disobeys Allah and His Messenger". [Muslim].
In another narration
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The worst food is the
food of the marriage banquet to which the rich are invited and from which the
poor are left out". [Muslim].
Commentary:
Our rich class has made Walimah (marriage banquet
given by the bridegroom) a highly luxurious affair and a means of
displaying wealth and richness. This excessive exaggeration of a simple feast
has brought in its
wake many religious,
moral and social evils. In its present form, it is sheer extravagance and
wastage which are satanic acts and those who do it are brothers of Satan. It is
such a big loss and serious threat that if our rich class is
left with any sense of
religion, it should immediately abandon this extravagance which is escalating
day by day. Its moral disadvantage is that one invites in this function only
men of his own status and not the the poor, whereas the fact is that it is the
latter who deserve to be invited because of their need, and not the former.
Good manners also warrant that the needy should be given priority over the
affluent. Its social disadvantage is that display of wealth on such occasions
creates a sense of deprivation in the poor segments of society while what Islam
teaches is the uplift, material and moral help, consolation and encouragement
and respectable treatment of the poor. Instead of holding sumptuous feasts on
Walimah, if the Muslims shift to one or two simple food items and invite the
poor along with
their friends and relatives, they not only save themselves from all the three
evils mentioned above, but also prevent themselves from the accountability in
the Hereafter; otherwise they will suffer loss in both the worlds.
This Hadith exhorts
the Muslims to participate in the Walimah ceremony but it is the kind of feast
which is simple and in accordance with the teachings of Islam.
Hadith
No. 267. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH)
said, "Whoever supports two girls till they attain maturity, he and
I will come on the Day of Resurrection like this". Messenger
of Allah (PBUH) joined his fingers illustrating this. [Muslim].
Commentary:
In the pre-Islamic era, Arabs were greatly dejected and showed
resentment on the birth of a daughter, which in fact reflected the status of
women in society, In order to give them their rightful place in the society,
Islam
taught its followers
to recognize their legitimate rights. Among the injunctions which were issued
in this behalf, the most important was that their proper upbringing, education
and training were made a means to attain Jannah so that
people did not only
feel joy over the birth of sons but also felt pleasure on the birth of
daughters. In this respect, Islam is the first religion which has not only
ensured protection of their rights but also made full arrangements for their
respect and prestige in society. For instance, they have been prohibited from
having close contacts with men and for this purpose restriction of the veil has
been imposed on them. Islam has emancipated them from the obligation of earning
their own livelihood so that they are safe from the malicious eyes of
evil-minded, and secure from the sexual lust of men, the way it is happening
with women who are working side by side with men in the West. But it is a curse
indeed that due to intellectual immaturity and evil trends, this freedom of
women, which has disgraced and robbed them of the virtues of a chaste life, is
liked by many people and they are trying that Muslim women should also imitate
the style of western women. To the people of such crooked thinking, the Islamic
teachings, which
ensure the honour and chastity of women, appear to be the yoke of slavery and
they want to release women from it.
Hadith
No. 268. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: A woman came to
me with her two daughters. She asked me (for charity) but she found nothing
with me except one date-fruit, so I gave it to her. She accepted it and then divided
it between her two daughters and herself ate nothing out of that. She then got
up and went out. When Messenger of Allah (PBUH) came in, and I narrated to him
the story, he said, "He who is involved (in the responsibility)
of (bringing up) daughters, and he is benevolent towards them, they would
become protection for him against Hell-fire". [Al-Bukhari
and Muslim].
Commentary:
This Hadith also tells us about the great merit and reward of kind
treatment with daughters.
Hadith
No. 269. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: A poor woman
came to me carrying her two daughters. I gave her three date-fruits. She gave a
date to each of them and then she took up one date-fruit and brought that to
her
mouth to eat, but
her daughters asked her that also. She then divided between them the date-fruit
that she intended to eat. This (kind) treatment of her impressed me and I
mentioned that to Messenger of Allah (PBUH) who said,
'Verily, Allah has
assured Jannah for her, because of (this act) of her,'' or said, "He (SWT)
has rescued her from Hell-Fire". [Muslim].
Commentary:
Besides great merit of the upbringing of daughters, this Hadith
also tells us that if a wife has secured general permission from her husband
about Sadaqah (alms and charity) she can offer Sadaqah, and
its reward will be given to both of them. The former will be entitled to it for
paying it, while the latter will be eligible to it for giving his consent to
it.
Hadith
No. 270. Abu Shuraih Khuwailid bin `Amr Al-Khuza`i (May Allah be pleased
with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "O Allah, I
declare inviolable the rights of two weak ones: the orphans and women". [An-Nasa'i].
Commentary:
The poor are generally treated callously in human society. Women
and orphans are regular victims of this cruelty. They are deprived of their
share in property to which they are entitled under the Islamic law. In some cases
their properties are usurped and they are maltreated at the hands of usurpers.
The Prophet (PBUH) has threatened them with serious consequences to prevent the
Muslims from committing such injustice. The attitude of Muslims and the
teachings of Islam in this matter are two different things. How can Islam be
blamed for the attitude of Muslims? It is time Muslims should understand that
Islam is getting a bad name because of their bad conduct. As a result of this
they are committing a double crime. On the one hand, they are guilty of
usurping others of their legitimate rights and perpetrating cruelties, and on
the other, disgracing their religion. In other words, rather than preaching
Islam they are creating obstacles in the way of people joining the fold of
Islam. May Allah grant us guidance to follow the right path. Amin!
Hadith
No. 271. Mus`ab bin Sa`d bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with them)
reported: Sa`d considered himself better than his inferiors, so the Prophet
(PBUH) said to him, "You are given help and provision because of
your weak
ones". [Al-Bukhari].
Commentary:
This Hadith exhorts the resourceful people not to look down upon
the poor and resourceless people of the society and not to consider themselves
superior to others. They should learn to respect the weak and cooperate with
them because may be Almighty, Allah, is providing them because of the poor.
Hadith
No. 272. Abud-Darda (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of
Allah (PBUH) said, "Seek among your weak ones, for you are
given provision and help only because of the weak amongst you.'' [Abu
Dawud].
Commentary:
This Hadith mentions the reason for the acceptance of the
invocations of the weak and poor. Since their hearts are free from the worldly
vices and are gifted with greater sincerity and fear of Allah, their prayers
are
more acceptable to
Him. This point has been mentioned more explicitly in Nasa'i which says: "Almighty
Allah helps the Ummah because of the prayers, worship and devotion of its weak
people". (Aun-ul-Ma`bud, Vol. No. 2, chapter Al-Jihad).
The words which occur in most of the manuscripts of Riyad-us-Saliheen are
(Abghow fi ad-duafa') and the translation quoted here follows these words. But
in the manuscripts of Abu Dawud, the word (fi)
does not figure in the text. In one manuscript, however, we find the words (Abghow
fi ad-duafa') which means "For me search Muslims who
are weak so that I find reason to support you with their prayers
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