Faza'il-E-Sadaqaat
I propose to narrate in this Chapter some anecdotes from the lives of the ascetics. They realised the true character of this world and that of the Akhirah and showed great indifference to the false attractions of the world and made ample provisions for the Akhirah.
'Zuhd' (Abstinence) and generosity are two qualities readily distinguishable from each other, although both are closely associated with each other in regard to results. The reason is that an ascetic (zahid) who is not interested in things of this world will of necessity, be generous in spending money. If a person finds something that he does not want to keep with him, he will naturally give it away generously. Similarly, one such people can be generous who have no love for wealth, the more attached a person is to worldly wealth, the more miserly will he be in spending money. In view of this fact, we have narrated in this chapter the stories of generosity as well as those about asceticism and renunciation. For the same reason, we have included in this book which deals primarily with the virtues of charity, some Verses and Ahadith about Zuhd (asceticism).
So long as a person loves wealth, which is in reality, the dross of filth of the world, he does not feel inclined to spend it for the cause of Allah. Even though his heart might sometimes exhort him to show generosity, his inclination will not be to part with money. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has illustrated the same point by a very cogent example in the following Hadith:
"A niggardly person and the one who gives Sadaqah are like two men who are wearing coats of chain mail, in such a manner that their hands are also pressed close to their chests instead of protruding out of the coats. So, whenever the one accustomed to give sadaqah intends to do so, the coat of chain mail expands for him and his hands come out of it instantly but when the niggardly man intends to give sadaqah, the coat of armour contracts, pressing him more closely and he cannot move his hands." (Mishkat). The Hadith means that whenever a generous man thinks of spending money, his heart opens up for it and he can give sadaqah without much ado. But a miser even though he might sometimes be persuaded to spend money, yet finds it to hard to do so, inhibited by something within him. And he feels like a person wearing a coat of armour with his hands pressed closely to his chest, unable to move his hands, he vainly tries to coax himself to spend something, but he cannot bring himself to part with the money. It is indeed a very apt simile and very true of the miserly people. We notice in everyday life that a niggardly person cannot spend money even though he sometimes wishes to do so. If an occasion demands an expenditure of ten rupees, a miser will find it hard to part with ten paisas.
Abu Bakr Siddiq's devotion for Tabuk of his entire wealth
The entire life history of Abu Bakr Siddiq Radhiallaho anho is full of anecdotes on this subject of generosity, too numerous for the scope of this volume. It is common knowledge that on the occasion of the Tabuk expedition, when Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam exhorted the Sahaabah to make contributions, Abu Bakr Siddiq Radhiallaho anho brought all that he possessed and when Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam asked him what he had kept for his family, he replied, "I have kept for them the good will of Allah and his Rasool." A detailed account of this incident has been given in my book "The stories of Sahaabah" together with many other stories on the same subject. Those stories will reveal to the reader self sacrifice, sympathy towards others and generosity in spending for the cause of Allah with their peculiarities. If we were to possess of these virtues to some extent, everybody would be impressed by us. With the Sahaabah Radhiallaho anhum, such incidents were a matter of daily occurrence.
As for Abu Bakr Siddiq Radhiallaho anho, it should suffice to say that Allah Ta'ala Himself has praised his magnanimity in the following Verses of the Holy Qur'an:
"Far removed from it (the flaming Fire) will be the righteous, who gives his wealth (for the cause of Allah) that he may grow (in goodness). With no other motive for reward but seeking the purpose of his Lord, the Most High. (He does not owe anybody a favour for which a reward is expected of him, in return. But spends solely for the pleasure of Allah). (Al-Lail 17-20)
These Verses affirm the very high standard of selfless devotion to Allah Ta'ala attained by Abu Bakr Radhiallaho anho. It is quite commendable to do good in return for a favour, but it cannot compare with an act of generosity performed on one's own initiative. (Bayan-ul-Qur'an). Ibn-ul-Jauzi Rahmatullah alaihe says, "The Ulama are agreed that these Verses were revealed concerning Abu Bakr Siddiq Radhiallaho anho." Abu Hurairah Radhiallaho anho reports Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam as saying: "No one's property has benefited me more than that of Abu Bakr." Hearing this Abu Bakr Radhiallaho anho wept and said, "O Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) do I and my property belong to anyone else except you?" The Hadith has been transmitted on the authority of many Sahaabah Radhiallaho anhum, through various chains of narration. In one version, Sa'eed-bin-Almusayyab adds, "Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam made use of Abu Bakr's property as if it were his own." Urwah Radhiallaho anho says that, on the day when Abu Bakr Radhiallaho anho embraced Islam, he had forty thousand Dirhams (silver pieces) in his possession and he spent all of these on Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam (i.e. in seeking his pleasure). Another Hadith says, "on the day when Abu Bakr Radhiallaho anho embraced Islam, he had in his possession forty thousand Dirhams, and when he made Hijrah (migration) to Medina, he had no more that five thousand, The entire sum he had spent on different religious requirements and upon freeing of slaves who were being persecuted for their acceptance of Islam." (Tareekh-ul-khulafah). Abdullah bin Zubair Radhiallaho anho says: "Abu Bakr used to buy the physically weak slaves and set them free." Once his father, Abu Quhafah said to him, "If at all you must set free slaves, I suggest that you should select those who are strong in body, so that they might help you at the hour of your need." Abu Bakr Radhiallaho anho replied, "I do not set them free for my own sake, I do so solely to please Allah Ta'ala." (Durre Manthur). The reward granted by Allah Ta'ala for helping the weak is far greater than that for helping strong people. Another Hadith reports Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam saying, "There is no one who has obliged me with a favour without my compensating him, except Abu Bakr. Verily, he has done me favours for which Allah Ta'ala Himself will reward him on the day of resurrection. And the property of no one has ever benefited me as has the property of Abu Bakr." (Tareekh-ul-khulafah).
By
Shaikhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhlawi (Rahmatullah alaihe)