CHAPTER 3: THE RICH – PART 2
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, visited them when they were sick and advised them to will less than a third to charity:
Sa`d ibn Abu Waqqaas (a Companion) said: “The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, visited me in the year of the Farewell Pilgrimage, due to a sickness that almost killed me. I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, you see how hurt I am from this sickness, and I am a person with much wealth, and only one daughter inherits from me. Should I give two-thirds of my wealth as charity? He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: ‘No.’ So I said: ‘Should I give half?’ He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: ‘No.’ I said: ‘Then a third?’ He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘A third, O Sa`d, and a third is a lot. It is better for you to leave your family rich rather than leaving them having to rely on other people. There is not a charity that you give for Allah’s Sake except that Allah will reward you for it, including a bite of food that you put in your wife’s mouth.’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, will I be left here after my companions?’(He said this out of fear of dying in Makkah, since he originally migrated from it and left it for the sake of Allah. So, he feared that his dying there would diminish the reward for his migration. Further, they used to dislike residing in an area that they migrated from and left for the sake of Allah. That is why Sa`d ibn Abu Waqqaas feared that he would die there. The explanation of An-Nawawi on the book of Muslim (11/78).) He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied to me, saying: ‘You will not be left and do an action seeking Allah’s Countenance by it except that Allah will raise you to a level and high standing. Perhaps you will be left behind so that some people benefit from you and some will be harmed by you.(Meaning that the Muslims will benefit from you through the war booty that they acquire through conquering the lands of polytheism by the Permission of Allah, and the polytheists will be harmed by you, meaning that they will be killed.) O Allah, allow my Companions to continue fulfilling their migration, and do not send them back on their heels.(This narration has a reference to a supplication that Sa`d is cured so that he can go to the place that he migrated to (Madinah) and so that he does not stay and reside in Makkah due to his sickness. Fat-h Al-Baari (11/180).) However, the unfortunate one is Sa`d ibn Khawla.’” (Al-Bukhari mentioned that Sa`d ibn Khawlah, migrated from Makkah, fought in the battle of Badr, and then went back to Makkah and died therein. The reason he was deplorable is that he invalidated his migration by going back to Makkah by his own choice and further, dying there [the explanation of An-Nawawi on the book of Muslim (11/80)].)
Az-Zuhri (a scholar) said: “The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was deploring his death in Makkah.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (1296) and Muslim (1628).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered them to be just in giving gifts and allowances to their children:
Unfortunately, some parents incline towards or love some of their children more than the others, which causes them to give precedence to some of them over others when giving gifts and allowances. This is injustice and oppression and the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, warned against it.
An-Nu`maan ibn Basheer (a Companion) narrated that his mother, `Amrah bint Rawaahah (a woman Companion) asked his father for some money to give her son, but he procrastinated for a year, then gave it to her. She said: “I am not pleased until you take the Messenger of Allah as a witness to what you have given my son.”
An-Nu`maan said: “So he took my hand to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and I was a boy at the time, and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, the mother of this boy, the daughter of Rawaahah, would be pleased if you were to witness and testify to what I have given her son.’”
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “O Basheer, do you have any other children besides this child?” He said: “Yes.” The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then asked: “Have you given all of them the same as you have given this son of yours?” He said: “No.” Thereupon, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Then do not ask me to testify, as I will not witness to oppression.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (2587).)
Another narration added that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Fear Allah, and be just between all of your children.” An-Nu`maan said: “So my father went back and took the money back.” (Reported by Muslim (1623).)
In another narration, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “They have a right on you, and that is that you are just between them, just as you have a right on them, and that is that they treat you well.” (Reported by Abu Dawood (2542).)
Therefore, there is no doubt an individual should be just when giving gifts and allowances to their children.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, clarified to them that real wealth is what an individual puts forth for Allah’s Sake, and as for what they leave after their death will perish:
‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood (a Companion) said: “The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Who among you considers the wealth of their heirs to be more beloved to them than their own wealth?’ They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, none of us considers the wealth of their heirs more beloved than their own wealth.’ The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘The wealth of any one of you is what is spent in good causes, and the wealth of your heir is what is left and not spent before death.’” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (6442).)
`Abdullaah ibn Ash-Shikhkheer (a Companion) said: “I went to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, while he was reading the verse (which means): «Competition in [worldly] increase diverts you.» [Quran: 102:1] and he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘The son of Adam says, ‘My wealth, my wealth,’ but O son of Adam, is any of your wealth yours, except that which you consumed, wore, or gave as charity and it was kept as reward?’” (Reported by Muslim (2958).)
A similar narration is that of Abu Hurayrah which has the addition: “Whatever is besides that [aforementioned ways of spending], then that is going to leave a person, and will be left for other people.” (Reported by Muslim (2959).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, never accepted that a rich person give away all their wealth in charity:
That is why when Ka`b ibn Malik (a Companion) said to the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, “One of the ways I will repent is that I will give all my money away in charity. I will give it to Allah and to His Messenger, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, responded: “Keep some of your money, for that is better for you.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (2758) and Muslim (2769).)
Jaabir ibn `Abdullaah (a Companion) said: “We were with the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, when a man came with something close to an egg-sized piece of gold, and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I got this from a mine, so take it as a charity; I only possess this piece of wealth.’ The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ignored him, then the man approached him from his right and said the same, then from his left, then from behind him, all the while saying the same thing. Then the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took it and threw it back at him. Then he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘One of you brings everything they possess and say, ‘This is a charity,’ then would sit and rely on other people! The best of charity is that which the individual still is self-sufficient afterward spending it.’” (Reported by Abu Dawood (1673) and Al-Hakim (1507).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, accepted that from some of them due to their intense reliance on Allah, patience in the face of poverty, and modesty in that they would not beg or ask others for money:
Zayd ibn Aslam (a Follower; belonging to the generation succeeding the Companions) narrated from his father who said: “I heard `Umar ibn Al-Khattaab say, ‘The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered us to give charity, and that came at a time when I had some money. So I said: ‘If there is any day that I shall outdo Abu Bakr, it is today,’ and I went and presented half of my wealth.’ The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘What have you left for your family?’ I said: ‘The same as what I brought (half).’ Then, Abu Bakr approached with all of his wealth, and the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘What have you left for your family, O Abu Bakr?’ He replied: ‘I left Allah and His Messenger.’ I said: ‘By Allah, I will never surpass him in anything.’” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi (3675) and Abu Dawood (1678).)
An-Nawawi (a scholar) said: “The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not rebuke Abu Bakr when he brought all of his wealth, because he knew of his good intention, strong-willed self, and the fact that he did not fear a trial for Abu Bakr or that he would ask others for money, in a way he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would fear for others.” (The explanation of Al-`Ayni on the book of Abu Dawood (6/432).)
At-Tabari (a scholar) said: “The majority of scholars said that it is permissible for an individual to give all of their wealth in charity if they are healthy in their mind and body, as well as patient with straitened circumstances, and if they have a family, the family is also patient. As for if one of these conditions is not met, then it is disliked.” (Fat-h Al-Baari (3/259).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told them to show the blessings of Allah on them:
One of the ways one can show gratitude for a blessing is to show it. Allah Says (what means): «But as for the favor of your Lord, announce [it].» [Quran: 93:11]
That is why the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to urge the rich to show and make apparent Allah’s blessings on them.
Malik ibn Nadhlah (a Companion) said: “The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, saw me wearing rags and torn clothes, and said: ‘Do you have wealth?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘What kind of wealth?’ I said: ‘Whatever Allah has given me, such as camels, slaves, horses, and goats.’ Then he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘If Allah gives you something, then let it be shown on you.’” (Reported by Abu Dawood (4063), At-Tirmidhi (2006), An-Nasa’i (5223) and Ahmad (15457), and the wording is for Ahmad.)
In another narration he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Allah’s blessings and generosity should be apparent on you.” (Reported by At-Tabari (617/9), At-Tahawi (3043) and Al-Bayhaqi (10/10).)
‘Ali Al-Qaari (a scholar) said: “This means that one should wear nice clothes, so that people know that the individual is rich, and that Allah has bestowed His various blessings on that individual.” (Murqaat Al-Mafaateeh (13/99).)
`Amr ibn Shu`ayb (a Follower; belonging to the generation succeeding the Companions) narrated from his father from his grandfather, who said: “The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Allah loves to see the traces of His blessings on His slave.’” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi (2819).)
Therefore, having a good appearance is one way to thank Allah for His blessings which He has bestowed on you; it is neither considered wastefulness nor being arrogant.
`Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Anyone who has an atom’s weight of arrogance will not enter Paradise.” A man said: “An individual would like that their clothes and shoes are nice.” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “Allah is Beautiful and loves beauty; arrogance is to take the truth in vain and to belittle people.” (Reported by Muslim (91).)
By Muhammad Saalih Al-Munajjid
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