CHAPTER 2: WIVES – PART 9
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, encouraged them to spend in charity:
‘A’ishah narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to her: “O ‘Aa’ishah, shield yourself from the Hellfire even by spending as little as half a date.” (Reported by Ahmad (23980).)
The intended meaning of “half a date” is to encourage spending even if it is something little. The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, encouraged her to protect herself from the fire of Hell by performing an act of worship, even if it appears insignificant. No matter how little the amount one spends, it will still shield him from Hell.
‘A’ishah narrated: “Once a beggar came asking for charity while the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was with me, so I instructed (the servant) to give him something. However, before it was given to him I called the servant to show me what she was going to give him before she gave it to him (so she knows how much would be remaining to her). The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to her: “O ‘Aa’ishah, are you keen on knowing what goes in your house and that nothing leaves [is spent in charity] except with your knowledge [i.e. the amount]?” I said: ‘Yes.’ He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “O ‘Aa’ishah, spend [charitably] and do not hoard; otherwise, Allah will withhold from you.” (Reported by Abu Dawood (1700) and An-Nasa’i (2549).)
Ibn Hajar (a scholar) said: “The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, instructed in this narration not to prevent charity out of fear that wealth would run out, because it (not spending in charity) is actually one of the means that lead to one becoming deprived from his provisions being blessed. This is so, because Allah rewards generously for the charity one spends. The result will be that Allah will provide the one who does not enumerate when spending in charity without an end and from means he never expects (to receive provisions from).” (Fat-h Al-Baari (300/3).)
Another example illustrating how the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, trained his wives to be generous and spend in charity is that of the slaughtered sheep. ‘Aa’ishah narrated: “Once we slaughtered a sheep (and spent from it in charity). The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came later and asked: “How much is left of it?” I said: ‘It’s all gone except for the shoulder.’ He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Rather, it is all remaining except for its shoulder.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi (2394).)
Al-Mubaarakpoori (a scholar) said: “Meaning, what you spent in charity is, what is remaining (i.e. you will obtain reward for it), and what you kept for yourself is the part (of the animal) that is gone (consumed without obtaining reward for it).”(Tuhfat Al-Ahwathi (142/7).) In this, he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was referring to the saying of Allah (which means), «Whatever you have will end, but what Allah has is lasting. And We will surely give those who were patient their reward according to the best of what they used to do.» [Quran: 16:96]
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, explained that the one who spends in charity would be the fastest in joining him in Paradise:
‘A’ishah narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “The fastest amongst you in joining me [in Paradise] is the one who has the longest arm [spends more in charity].” ‘Aa’ishah added, “So we used to stretch our arms to see who has the longest arm, and it was Sawdah. But the one amongst us (who truly had) the longest arm was Zaynab because she used to do things with her hand (and sell it) and then spend its price in charity.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (1420) and Muslim (2452).)
An-Nawawi said: “In the beginning they thought that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was referring to the actual arm’s length, and that is why they used to measure their arms in length, and Sawdah had the longest arm. On the other hand, Zaynab was the most generous of all, and when she died (she was the first to die after the death of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) they realised that it was a metaphor and that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, meant by that the one who spent more in charity and is more generous.” (The explanation of An-Nawawi on the book of Muslim (8/16).)
Ibn Hajar said: “This narration is evidence that one should spend as much as he can in charity while he is able to, and that this would be a means for him to join the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in paradise which is the ultimate virtue one can achieve.” (Fat-h Al-Baari (286/3).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, trained them to be virtuous:
‘A’ishah narrated: “Aflah came to visit me after the verse commanding women to observe Hijab was revealed. He was the brother of Abu Al-Qu’ays whose wife had breastfed me. Aflah sought permission (to enter) but I said: ‘By Allah, I would not permit Aflah to enter unless I have solicited the opinion of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for Abu Al-Qu’ays was not the one who suckled me, rather it was his wife who did.’”
‘A’ishah continued,
“When the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, entered, I said: ‘O the Messenger of Allah, Aflah is the brother of Abu Al-Qu’ays; he came to me to seek my permission for entering (my residence).I did not like the idea of granting him permission until I had solicited your opinion. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah,
sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “What stopped you from granting him permission?” I said: ‘Abu Al-Qu’ays was not the one who suckled me, rather it was his wife who did’. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Grant him
permission as he is your uncle [the brother of her foster-father is considered her uncle].”” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (4796) and Muslim (1445).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, prevented them from addressing any matter without knowledge:
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to warn his wives against addressing a matter without having the requisite knowledge to address it. This is so that they do not hastily pass a ruling or make a wrong judgement on any matter.
‘A’ishah narrated: “ The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was called to lead the funeral prayer of a child of the Ansaar (the original residents of Madinah who supported the Muslims who migrated to them).
I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, there is happiness for this child who will be a bird from the birds of Paradise since he committed no sin nor has he reached the age when one can commit sin.’ He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “O ‘Aa’ishah, don’t be hasty, it may be otherwise, because Allah created for Paradise those who are fit for it while they were yet in their father’s loins and created for Hell those who are to go to Hell. He created them for Hell while they were yet in their father’s loins.”” (Reported by Muslim (2662).)
An-Nawawi said: “The Muslim scholars have unanimously agreed that if any Muslim child dies (before reaching puberty) then he will be admitted to Paradise because he died before reaching the age of puberty when one is held accountable for his deeds. The scholars also stated that the previous narration was only to teach ‘Aa’ishah not to hasten in passing a judgement or a ruling without being fully certain that it is correct and without having evidence to substitute her statement.”(The explanation of An-Nawawi on the book of Muslim (207/16).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, commanded his wives to maintain piety and noble manners:
‘A’ishah narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to her: “O ‘Aa’ishah, always be conscious of Allah and maintain [the quality of] kindness [leniency] because whenever kindness [leniency] is added to something, it adorns it; and whenever something is devoid of kindness [leniency], it becomes disfigured [and defective].”(Reported by Ahmad (23786). A summarized version of the narration is also reported by Muslim (2594).)
Al-’Atheem Abaadi said: “The term “adorns it” means perfects it.”(Awn Al-Ma’bood (113/13).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, trained them upon tolerance, kindness and forbearance:
‘A’ishah narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to her: “O ‘Aa’ishah, always be kind, for when Allah Wills goodness for a household, He guides them to kindness.”(Reported by Ahmad (23906).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to train them to use good words and refrain from ill speech:
‘A’ishah narrated that some Jews came to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said: “As-Salamu ‘Alaykum” (which means, death be on you). The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said: “Wa ‘Alaykum” (which means, and on you too). ‘Aa’ishah said (to them), “Death be on you, and may Allah curse you and shower His wrath upon you!” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Be calm, O ‘Aa’ishah! You should be kind and lenient, and beware of roughness and bad words.” She said (to the Prophet), “Haven’t you heard what they (Jews) have said?” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Haven’t you heard what I have said [to them]? I said the same to them, and my invocation against them will be accepted while theirs against me will be rejected [by Allah].” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (2935) and Muslim (2165).)
He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, taught his wives matters related to creed:
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, trained them to act on the basis of the fear of Allah. Whenever clouds appeared in the sky or the wind blew, he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would keep on going in and out of his residence and the colour of his face would change.
‘Aa’ishah narrated: ‘Whenever he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, saw dark clouds or wind, the signs of fear were depicted on his face. I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I find people being happy when they see dark clouds in the hope that it would bring rain, but I find that when you see that (i.e. the cloud) anxiety becomes evident on your face.’ He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “O ‘Aa’ishah, I am afraid that there may be a punishment in it, for one of the [previous] nations was punished with wind, when these people saw the punishment [approaching them] they [thought it was only bringing rain and] said (what means): «This is a cloud bringing us rain!» [Quran: 46:24].”’ (Reported by Al-Bukhari (4829) and Muslim (899).)
By Muhammad Saalih Al-Munajjid
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