The first generation of Muslims, the pious Salaf, were undoubtedly
the best
of generations. Their character and way of life stand witness to
this fact
and is further confirmed by the statement of Allaah’s
Messenger, :
'The best of generations are my generation, then those which
follow them,
then those which follow them.' (Reported by Muslim)
They were indeed, the best amongst those who implemented the
teachings of our
beloved Prophet Muhammad. So naturally it is their example that one
must
follow
in all matters and Ramadaan is no exception. The Salaf were frugal
with their
own iftaar meals but generous hosts towards others.
'Abdullaah ibn 'Umar, for example, would prefer to eat his
iftaar meal with
the poor.
Whenever he broke his fast at home, he never ate his fill, so that
if a needy
person visited, 'Abdullaah could give him his iftaar meal. Thus he
would end
up virtually "fasting" that whole night too! He used to give away
sweets in
charity saying,
'I am aware of Allaah's saying; "…you shall not attain piety
until you spend
out of that which is beloved to you" [Ali 'Imraan: 92] and Allaah
knows that
I love sweets.'
Once when Al-Imaam Ahmad had prepared some bread for iftaar, a
needy person
called on him. Without hesitating he gave away all his bread, and
went
hungry.Ibn-ul Mubaarak used to prepare sweets for his brothers,
despite the
fact that he was fasting.
Al-Imaam Ash-Shaafi'ee, once said, 'It is beloved to me to see
one increasing
his acts of generosity during the month of Ramadaan, following the
example of
Allaah’s Messenger, and for one's own good. There are many
who become
over-occupied with fasting and Prayers, forgetting the other
benefits of the
month of Ramadaan [i.e. forgetting about the benefits and rewards
for being
generous towards others].'
(Lataa'if-ul Ma‘aarif)
The Prophet, said, 'The best of deeds is that of keeping your
believing
brother happy,
or that of paying off a debt of his, or that of feeding him.'
(Ad-daylamee,
1/1/123, AsSilsilah As-Saheehah/Al-Albaanee, 1494)
The most beloved of people to Allaah are those who are of most
benefit [to
others].
The most of beloved actions to Allaah, 'azza wa jalla, is when you
make
another Muslim happy, removing a hardship that has befallen him,
paying off a
debt of his or rid him of hunger. It is more beloved to me indeed
that I walk
with my Muslim brother
to see to a need of his than performing i'tikaaf (secluding
oneself) in a
Masjid for a month…' (At-Tabaraanee/Al-kabeer, 3/209/2,
As-Silsilah
As-Saheehah, 906)
'The best of people is the one who is of most benefit to them'
(As-Silsilah
As-Saheehah, 426) 'The likeness [i.e. in terms of rewards] of the
one who
comes to
[the aid of] a widow and [the aid of] a destitute is like that of a
mujaahid
(striver) in the cause of Allaah or that of someone who spends the
night in
prayers and the day in fasting. (Al-Mishkaat, 4951)
'Abdullaah ibn 'Amro ibn Al 'Aas, narrated that a man once asked
Allaah’s
Messenger, , 'Which is the best [of actions] in Islaam?' He []
replied,
'Feeding [others] and extending the Salaam to those who you know
and those
you do not.' (At-Targeeb - Saheeh)
The Prophet, also said, 'Once there was a dog wondering around,
dying of
thirst, when a prostitute saw it. She then took off her shoe and
used it to
give the dog water
[out of a well]. She was granted forgiveness [i.e. for her sins for
being a
prostitute, when she repented].' (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
If this huge reward was granted to a woman because of kindness
to a dog, even
though she was involved in major sin, can we imagine the rewards
for kindness
to an obedient, fasting Muslim?! Our Prophet, told us, 'Allaah,
ta'aala, has
singled out certain people with abundance for the benefit of His
other
servants and He shall let it run [i.e. their wealth] as long as
they are
persistent [in benefiting others with it]. If they cease to do so
then He
shall take it away from them and redirect it to others.'
(At-Tabaraanee/Al-Awsat, 5295,As-Silsilah As-Saheehah, 1692)
We should be most active in spending our wealth to help those
less
fortunate.This Ramadaan, let us remember too, the saying of 'Ubaid
Ibn
'Umair, rahimahu Allaah, 'On the Day of Judgement people will be
gathered as
hungry as they have ever been and as thirsty as they have ever been
and as
naked as they have ever been. Then, he who has fed [others] for the
sake of
Allaah, 'azza wajalla,Allaah will feed him till he is full. He who
has given
to water to others, for the sake of Allaah, 'azza wajalla, Allaah
will give
him water and he who has clothed others for the sake of Allaah,
'azza
wajalla, Allaah will clothe him.'
Ash-Sha'bee, once said, 'He who does not consider himself in
greater need of
the reward for giving sadaqah,as compared to the need of the
destitute for
that sadaqah,
will have corrupted his act of charity and have it flung in his
face [on the
Day of Judgement].'
Brothers and sisters! We shouldn't shy away from performing even
the smallest
of good deeds, for Allaah the Most Merciful's rewards can be
greater than
Mount Uhud in size! Let us not forget that, 'The Messenger of
Allaah, was the
most generous of people and he used to be most generous in
Ramadaan…'(Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
The next time we come across a call to help our needy fellow
Muslims, let us
respond with vigour and joy! Maybe this act could be the one
through which
Allaah bestows His pardon and everlasting bliss!