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Sincerity: The Most Important And Difficult Act Of Worship

The Hadith of intention is usually the first in most books of Hadith. Ibn Daqiq Al-Id expounds on it in his explanation of Imam Nawawi’s 40 Hadith.

Umar Bin Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: “Actions are but by intention and every man shall have but that which he intended.

Thus he whose migration was for Allah and His messenger, his migration was for Allah and His messenger, and he whose migration was to achieve some worldly benefit or to take some woman in marriage, his migration was for that for which he migrated.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

This Hadith is great in its benefit and importance. It has been said that Islam revolves around it. Some scholars said it is one-third of knowledge because actions involve the heart, tongue, and limbs. So the intention of the heart is one-third of that.

Other scholars said Islam is encompassed in three Ahadith: This one, the Hadith “The Halaal is clear, the Haraam is clear and between them are doubtful matters…,” and the Hadith “Whoever innovates in this religion that which is not from it will have his actions rejected (by Allah).”

The word “by” (in the sentence “actions are but by intention”) means that the acceptance and correctness of any action depend upon the intention behind it.

An action which is apparently good, such as giving money to charity, will be rejected if the intention behind it is wrong. Giving charity to show off is one such example. The Prophet (peace be upon him) narrated from Allah that if a person performs an act for Allah’s sake and also for the sake of someone else, then Allah will reject the deed entirely and leave the whole of that deed for the partner the person made (with Allah). This shows us how grave the sin of Shirk is – it is the only sin that Allah will never forgive.

In the Hadith, the words “shall have” means that the person will be rewarded only for what he intended. If a person did the Hijrah with a wrong intention, then he would not be rewarded with Hijrah (for Allah’s sake).

The word “actions” refers to those actions which are part of the Shariah of Islam.

Thus, any action of the Shariah – such as Wudhu, Ghusl, Tayammum, Salah, Zakat, Fasting, Haj, I’tikaf, or any other act of worship – will not be accepted and rewarded unless it is performed with the correct intention.

Who Will Go To Jannah

The meaning of a Hadith is:
The Messenger pbuh of Allah s.w.t said: “Nobody will go to Jannah on account of his good deeds/behavior but only those will be permitted to enter JANNAH whom Allah s.w.t may (WILL) cover with His mercy. The Sahabahs r.a. asked Hazoor (pbuh) you too he said yes I too.

However, Allah is very Merciful that can be inferred from following Ahadith copied from
Riadh-us-Saleheen:
20. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Prophet of Allah (PBUH) said: “There was a man from among a nation before you who killed ninety-nine people and then made an inquiry about the most learned person on the earth. He was directed to a monk. He came to him and told him that he had killed ninety-nine people and asked him if there was any chance for his repentance to be accepted. He replied in the negative and the man killed him also completing one hundred. He then asked about the most learned man on earth. He was directed to a scholar. He told him that he had killed one hundred people and asked him if there was any chance for his repentance to be accepted. He replied in the affirmative and asked, `Who stands between you and repentance? Go to such and such land; there (you will find) people devoted to prayer and worship of Allah, join them in worship, and do not come back to your land because it is an evil place.’ So he went away and hardly had he covered half the distance when death overtook him; and there was a dispute between the angels of mercy and the angels of torment. The angels of mercy pleaded, ‘This man has come with a repenting heart to Allah,’ and the angels of punishment argued, ‘He never did a virtuous deed in his life.’ Then there appeared another angel in the form of a human being and the contending angels agreed to make him arbiter between them. He said, `Measure the distance between the two lands. He will be considered belonging to the land to which he is nearer.’ They measured and found him closer to the land (land of piety) where he intended to go, and so the angels of mercy collected his soul”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In another version: “He was found to be nearer to the locality of the pious by a cubit and was thus included among them”. Another version says: “Allah commanded (the land which he wanted to leave) to move away and commanded the other land (his destination) to draw nearer and then He said: “Now measure the distance between them.’ It was found that he was nearer to his goal by a hand’s span and was thus forgiven”. It is also narrated that he drew closer by a slight movement on his chest.
Commentary:
1. One comes to know from this Hadith that the gate of Taubah is open even for the worst of the sinners; and Allah forgives everyone provided he repents sincerely, the conditions for such repentance have already been discussed.
2. It is the duty of a religious scholar that while discussing a problem, he should keep in mind the psychological aspects of the questioner and adopt a policy which neither causes a change in the Injunction of Allah nor make the sinner reckless in his sins out of frustration.
3. When a situation warrants, angels appear in the form of men on Orders of Allah.

126. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “While a man was walking on his way he became extremely thirsty. He found a well, he went down into it to drink water. Upon leaving it, he saw a dog that was panting out of thirst. His tongue was lolling out and he was eating moist earth from extreme thirst. The man thought to himself: `This dog is extremely thirsty as I was.’ So he descended into the well, filled up his leather sock with water, and holding it in his teeth, climbed up, and quenched the thirst of the dog. Allah appreciated his action and forgave his sins”. The Companions asked: “Shall we be rewarded for showing kindness to the animals also?” He (PBUH) said, “A reward is given in connection with every living creature”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In the narration of Al-Bukhari, the Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said: “Allah forgave him in appreciation of this act and admitted him to Jannah”.
Another narration says: “Once a dog was going round the well and was about to die out of thirst. A prostitute of Banu Israel happened to see it. So she took off her leather sock and lowered it into the well. She drew out some water and gave the dog to drink. She was forgiven on account of her action”.
Commentary:
1. This Hadith emphasizes the importance of kindness to every creature, even animals because Allah is pleased with such kindness.
2. Allah’s Quality of mercy and forgiveness is immensely vast. If He wants He may forgive a person even for a minor good action done by him.
127. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “I saw a man going about in Jannah (and enjoying himself) as a reward for cutting from the middle of the road, a tree which was causing inconvenience to the Muslims”.
[Muslim].

Another narration says: “A man who passed by a branch of a tree leaning over a road and decided to remove it, saying to himself, `By Allah! I will remove from the way of Muslims so that it would not harm them.’ On account of this, he was admitted to Jannah”.|

According to the narration in Al-Bukhari and Muslim: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “While a man was walking, he saw a thorny branch on the road, so he removed it and Allah appreciated his action and forgave him”.
Commentary: The act of saving people from harm and loss is greatly liked by Allah, no matter how small it is. Allah is greatly pleased if a person removes from the passage something that causes harm to people. On the contrary, persons who restrict or obstruct passages and thereby create inconvenience for the passers-by, as is usually done with great audacity on marriage parties, or create trouble for people by encroachment, do in fact incur Allah’s displeasure. But our moral sense has been so blunted that rather than feeling any compunction, we do such things boastfully forgetting that `Truly, to Allah, we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.’ We have now become so low that we take pride in going against our religious teachings and practices thus incurring Allah’s displeasure. Is there any further stage of moral turpitude and revolt against Him?.

BUT we must note that Allah s.w.t has sent The Book: “al-Qur’an” and the Mighty Messenger pbuh as an example to show us how to act on this book.

Allah’s Promises of Rizq

I was talking to a brother about Allah’s promise for the Rizq for the maklook( creations), but on the other hand, Allah’s promise for the Jannah for one if we are obedient to Allah. Yet people are running after the Duniya for their Rizq which has already been promised by Allah. We should be trying for the Jannah, which has been promised only with our effort. Arriving home I thought to share a few thoughts on this with you.
First, off all let’s agree on the meaning of Rizq mentioned below:

Rizq is earnings, profit, or wealth
The definition of rizq includes everything whether its wealth, spouse, CHILDREN, provisions, sustenance, which of course includes food, clothing, shelter, etc

“All aspects of a person’s subsistence and livelihood fall under the definition of rizq, including but not restricted to wealth, status, business, and children.”

We see in this capitalist society, everyone will do anything that is possible to gain their Rizq. People think they are expanding their rizq by doing haram, opening liquor shops, but they aren’t. Islam tells us the rizq is assigned at our birth and on top of that Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala made five promises of Rizq.

1. Taqwa
“And whoever fears Allah, for him Allah brings forth a way out, and gives him provision (rizq) from where he does not even imagine…” (Surah At-Talaq: 2/3)

In reference to this Ayaat-i- Karima:
“The word taqwa primarily and literally means ‘to guard’ or ‘to refrain’. In Islamic terminology, it signifies ‘to guard against sins’. When the word is related to Allah, it is translated as ‘to fear Allah’ and implies ‘to avoid disobedience of Allah and guard against sins’.”

Once, Saiyyidina Umar ibn al-Khattab (radhiall ahu anho) asked Saiyyidina Ka’ab Ahbaar (radhiallahu anho): “What is the reality of Taqwa?”
Ka’ab (radhiallahu anho) said: “Have you ever passed a thorny tree?”
Umar (radhiallahu anho) answered: “Yes.”
Ka’ab (radhiallahu anho) asked: “How did you pass?”
Umar (radhiallahu anho) answered: “I passed with such care that I ensured that no thorn got caught into my hem.”
Ka’ab (radhiallahu anho) then elaborated: “In the very same way, the reality of Taqwa is for one to save himself from the thorns of sins and negligence.”

So, this is the first thing with which Allah Ta’ala promised the righteous believers, that He will ease every difficulty of theirs and provide for them all their needs from resources they never expected or thought about.

2. Daily Five Prayers
Everyone who ever spends time in Jama’at should know that through the daily five prayers Allah Ta’ala makes the rizq easy – if you don’t then you should definitely spend time in the way of Allah. Anyone for 4 months? Anyway…

A hadith states: “Salaah is the cause of Allah’s pleasure: It is a beloved act of the Malaikah (angels), a sunnah of the Ambiyaa (alayhimus salam), the nur (light) of ma’rifah is achieved by it, du’aas are accepted, and barakah in rizq is attained.”

Once a Sahabi (radhiallahu anho) said: “When the household of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) experienced difficulty in their expenses he commanded the performing of salaah, and recited this aayah:

“And enjoin upon thy people worship, and be constant therein. We ask not of thee a provision: We provide for thee. And the sequel is for righteousness.” (Surah Ta Ha: 132)”

3. Istighfar
Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has said in another Hadith: “The one who seeks forgiveness for Muslim males and females from Allah Ta’aala twenty-six or twenty-five times every day, Allah Ta’ala will count that person among those whose Du’a is accepted, and through the barakah of whom those on earth gain rizq (sustenance) .”

Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) not only made himself 70 till 100 times a day Istighfar and Taubah, but as well enjoined the Muslims to ask Allah Ta’ala frequently for forgiveness. One of the many virtues of Istighfar, that can be found in Ahadith, is that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala deals with the person engaging much in Istighfar in a similar way like with the servant attaining Taqwa.

Sayyidina Abdullah bin Abbas (radhiallahu anho) narrates that Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “The one who (regularly) says Istighfaar, that is, frequently repent to Allah Ta’aala for sins committed, Allah ‘Azza Wa-Jalla will open a path from poverty and difficulties. All sorrow and hardship will be removed, and in its place prosperity and contentment granted. One will receive sustenance from unimagined and unexpected sources.”

4. Tawakul On Allah
Tawakkul on Allah could be translated as sincere reliance on Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. In our context right now it means to be 100% convinced that Allah will definitely give me the rizq, that He has fixed for me. If all creations of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala (malaikah, jinns, humans, animals etc.) come together to change something about that, they simply can not.

Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has said: “If you have proper and sincere tawakkul (reliance) on Allah Ta’ala. He will grant you rizq like the birds are given rizq, who come out of their nests in the morning with empty stomachs and return to their nests in the evening with a full stomach. Allah Ta’aala says:

“And whoever places his trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him.” (Surah At-Talaq: 3)”

That’s how the Ayaat quoted above continues. Subhan’Allah, what an amazingly illustrious example our beloved Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has given, may Allah shower His blessings upon him and his family.

Sayyidina Imraan bin Husayn (radhiallahu anho) narrates from Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) that: “The person who (sincerely) relies on Allah Ta’aala, Allah Ta’aala will suffice for all the responsibilities of that person. Rizq will be received from such sources, whence it cannot be imagined. The one who relies on the (material) world, Allah Ta’aala hands that person over to the world.”

“One who wishes to become the strongest should make tawakkul on Allah Ta’aala. One who wishes to become the most respectful should adopt taqwa (piety). The one who wishes to become the wealthiest should rely more on the qudrah (power) of Allah than that which is in ones possession.”

5. Infaaq Fisabilillah
It’s no secret that when spending or giving charity in the path of Allah, Allah Ta’ala according to His boundless mercy gives back much times more. There are many Ahadith regarding this, but to spare you time I’ll just type the incident of Hadhrat Sayyidina Ali (karamallahu wajuhu) and a beggar which will make you understand this concept very easily.

Oh yeah, and I almost forgot Asbab. There are no promises of Allah attached to Asbab, but our Yaqeen nowadays is made on them. May Allah forgive us and bring all these attributes into our life. Ameen!

Wine & Alcohol Are Forbidden

Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, reported:
A delegation of the ‘Abdul-Qais came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: Messenger of Allah, verily ours is a tribe of Rabi’ah and there stand between you and us the unbelievers of the Mudar and we find no freedom to come to you except in the sacred month. Direct us to an act which we should ourselves perform and invite those who live beside us. Upon this, the Prophet remarked: I command you to do four things and prohibit you against four acts. (The four deeds which you are commanded to do are): Faith in Allah, and then he explained it for them and said: Testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, the performance of the Prayer, payment of Zakah, that you pay khums (one-fifth) of the booty fallen to your lot, and prohibit you to use round gourd, wine jars, wooden pots or skins for wine.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 23

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) observed: Whoever fornicates is not a believer so long as he commits it and no thief who steals is a believer as long as he commits theft, and no drunkard who drinks wine is a believer as long as he drinks it.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 86

‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, reported:
When the concluding verses of Surah Al-Baqarah were revealed, Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) went out and read them out to the people, and he then forbade them to trade in wine.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 2958

Jabir bin ‘Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with them, reported:
I heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying in the Year of Conquest while he was in Makkah: Verily, Allah and His Messenger have forbidden the sale of wine, carcass, swine, and idols. It was said: Allah’s Messenger, you see that the fat of the carcass is used for coating the boats and varnishing the hides and people use it for lighting purposes, whereupon he said: No, it is forbidden. Then Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: May Allah the Exalted and Majestic destroy the Jews; when Allah forbade the use of the fat of carcass for them, they melted it, and then sold it and made use of its price (received from it).
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 2960

Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) lashed a man who drank wine with two palm branches about forty lashes.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 3218

Anas b Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
I was the cup-bearer of people in the house of Abu Talhah on the day when liquor was made unlawful. Their alcoholic drinks had been prepared from dry dates or fresh dates when the announcer made the announcement. He (Abu Talhah) said to me: Go out and find out (what the announcement was). I got out (and found) an announcer making this announcement: Behold, alcohol has been declared unlawful. He said: The alcohol (was spilt and) flowed in the lanes of Medina. Abu Talhah said to me: Go out and spill it, and I spilled it. They said or some of them said: Such and such were killed, such and such were killed while (alcohol) was still in their stomachs. He (the narrator) said: I do not know whether it is the narration transmitted by Anas (or by someone else). Then Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, revealed: Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate (in the past), if they fear Allah (by keeping away from His forbidden things), and believe and do righteous good deeds. [Surah Al-Maida – Ayah: 93]
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 3662

Jabir bin ‘Abdullah Al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased with them, reported:
Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) prohibited the mixing of raisins and fresh dates, and dry dates and fresh dates.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 3674

Abu Qatadah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Do not prepare Nabidh by mixing nearly ripe dates and fresh dates together, and do not prepare Nabidh by mixing grapes and dates together, but prepare Nabidh from each (one of them) separately.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 3681

Ibn ‘Umar’s Hadith, may Allah be pleased with them.
Sa’id bin Jubair said: I testify that Ibn ‘Umar and Ibn ‘Abbas testify that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade to prepare Nabidh in-ground, painted jars, varnished jar and groove.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 3705

‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr, may Allah be pleased with them, reported:
When Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade (the preparation) of Nabidh in vessels, they said all the people cannot (afford to have) them. He (the Holy Prophet) then granted them permission (to prepare) Nabidh in a green pitcher, but not in those besmeared with pitch.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 3726

‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, reported:
Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) was asked about Al-Bit’ (an intoxicant prepared from honey), whereupon he said: Every drink that causes intoxication is forbidden.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 3727

Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, reported:
Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Every intoxicant is alcohol (khamr) and all alcohol is unlawful. He who drinks alcohol in this world and dies while he is addicted to it, not having repented, will not drink it in the Hereafter.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 3733

Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Of the signs (or indications) of the Last Hour, knowledge would be taken away and ignorance would prevail (upon the world), the liquor would be drunk, and adultery would become rampant.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 4824

{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur’an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)

{And who is better in speech than he who [says: “My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness),” and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah’s (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: “I am one of the Muslims.”} (Holy Quran-41:33)

The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels.” [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]

The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, “Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all.”
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa’ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]

Have You Ever Know Such An Honoured Person

ABDUR – RAHMAN IBN AWF (ra – may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him)

He was one of the first eight persons to accept Islam. He was one of the ten persons (al-asharatu-al-mubashshirin) who were assured of entering Paradise. He was one of the six persons chosen by Umar (ra – may Allah be pleased with him) to form the council of shura (consultation) to choose the Khalifah (caliph) after his death. His name in Jahiliyyah (ignorance i.e. before the coming of Islam) days was Abu Amr. But when he accepted Islam the noble Prophet (saw – may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) called him Abdur-Rahman – the servant of the Beneficent God.

Abdur-Rahman (ra) became a Muslim before the Prophet entered the house of al-Arqam. In fact it is said that he accepted Islam only two days after Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (ra) did so. Abdur-Rahman (ra) did not escape the punishment which the early Muslims suffered at the hands of the Quraysh. He bore this punishment with steadfastness as they did. He remained firm as they did. And when they were compelled to leave Makkah for Abyssinia because of the continuous and unbearable persecution, Abdur-Rahman (ra) also went. He returned to Makkah when it was rumored that conditions for the Muslims had improved but, when these rumors proved to be false, he left again for Abyssinia on a second hijrah (migration). From Makkah once again he made the hijrah to Madeenah.

Soon after arriving in Madeenah, the Prophet (saw) in his unique manner began pairing off the Muhajirin (those who migrated) and the Ansar (the helpers). This established a firm bond of brotherhood and was meant to strengthen social cohesion and ease the destitution of the Muhajirin. Abdur-Rahman (ra) was linked by the Prophet (saw) with Sa’d ibn ar-Rabi’ah (ra). Sa’d (ra) in the spirit of generosity and magnanimity with which the Ansar greeted the Muhajirin, said to Abdur-Rahman (ra): “My brother! Among the people of Madeenah, I have the most wealth. I have two orchards and I have two wives. See which of the two orchards you like and I shall vacate it for you and which of my two wives is pleasing to you and I will divorce her for you.”

Abdur-Rahman (ra) must have been embarrassed and said in reply: “May God bless you in your family and your wealth. But just show me where the sooq (market place) is..”Abdur-Rahman (ra) went to the market-place and began trading with whatever little resources he had. He bought and sold and his profits grew rapidly. Soon he was sufficiently well off and was able to get married. He went to the noble Prophet (saw) with the scent of perfume lingering over him.

“Mahyarn, O Abdur-Rahman (ra)!” exclaimed the Prophet (saw) – “mahyam” being a word of Yemeni origin which indicates pleasant surprise.

“I have got married,” replied Abdur-Rahman (ra). “And what did you give your wife as mahr (dowry)?” “The weight of a nuwat in gold.”

“You must have a walimah (wedding feast) even if it is with a single sheep. And may Allah bless you in your wealth,” said the Prophet (saw) with obvious pleasure and encouragement.

Thereafter Abdur-Rahman (ra) grew so accustomed to business success that he said if he lifted a stone he expected to find gold or silver under it! Abdur-Rahman (ra) distinguished himself in both the battles of Badr and Uhud. At Uhud he remained firm throughout and suffered more than twenty wounds some of them deep and severe. Even so, his physical jihad was matched by his jihad with his wealth.

Once the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, was preparing to despatch an expeditionary force. He summoned his companions and said:

“Contribute sadaqah (charity) for I want to despatch an expedition.” Abdur-Rahman (ra) went to his house and quickly returned. “O Messenger of God (saw),” he said, “I have four thousand (dinars). I give two thousand as a qard to my Lord and two thousand I leave for my family. “

When the Prophet (saw) decided to send an expedition to distant Tabuk – this was the last ghazwah (battle) of his life that he mounted – his need for finance and material was not greater than his need for men for the Byzantine forces were a numerous and well-equipped foe. That year in Madinah was one of drought and hardship. The journey to Tabuk was long, more than a thousand kilometers. Provisions were in short supply. Transport was at a premium so much so that a group of Muslims came to the Prophet (saw) pleading to go with him but he had to turn them away because he could find no transport for them.

These men were sad and dejected and came to be known as the Bakka’in or the Weepers and the army itself was called the Army of Hardship (‘Usrah). Thereupon the Prophet (saw) called upon his companions to give generously for the war effort in the path of God and assured them they would be rewarded. The Muslims’ response to the Prophet’s (saw) call was immediate and generous. In the forefront of those who responded was Abdur-Rahman ibn Awl (ra). He donated two hundred awqiyyah of gold whereupon Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra) said to the Prophet (saw):

“I have (now) seen Abdur-Rahman (ra) committing a wrong. He has not left anything for his family.”

“Have you left anything for your family, Abdur-Rahman (ra)?” asked the Prophet (saw).

“Yes,” replied Abdur-Rahman (ra). “I have left for them more than what I could ever give and better.” “How much?” enquired the Prophet (saw).

“What God and His Messenger (saw) have promised of sustenance, goodness and reward i.e. Allah and His messenger (Islam),” replied Abdur-Rahman (ra).

The Muslim army eventually left for Tabuk. There Abdur-Rahman (ra) was blessed with an honor which was not conferred on anyone till then. The time of Salat (prayer) came and the Prophet, peace be on him, was not there at the time. The Muslims chose Abdur-Rahman (ra) as their imam. The first rakat (unit of prayer) of the Salat was almost completed when the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, joined the worshippers and performed the Salat behind Abdur-Rahman ibn Awl (ra). Could there be a greater honor conferred on anyone than to have been the imam of the most honored of God’s creation, the imam of the Prophets, the imam of Muhammad, the Messenger of God!

When the Prophet, peace be on him, passed away, Abdur-Rahman (ra) took on the responsibility of looking after the needs of his family, the Ummahaat al-Muminin (the Mothers of the believers). He would go with them wherever they wanted to and he even performed Hajj with them to ensure that all their needs were met. This is a sign of the trust and confidence which he enjoyed on the part of the Prophet’s (saw) family.

Abdur-Rahman’s (ra) support for the Muslims and the Prophet’s wives (ra – may Allah be pleased with them all) in particular was well-known. Once he sold a piece of land for forty thousand dinars and he distributed the entire amount among the Banu Zahrah (the relatives of the Prophet’s (saw) mother Aminah), the poor among the Muslims and the Prophet’s wives (saw). When Aishah, may God be pleased with her, received some of this money she asked:

“Who has sent this money?” and was told it was Abdur-Rahman (ra), whereupon she said:”The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: No one will feel compassion towards you after I die except the sabirin (those who are patient and resolute).”

The prayer of the noble Prophet (saw) that Allah should bestow barakah (blessings) on the wealth of Abdur-Rahman (ra) appeared to be with Abdur-Rahman (ra) throughout his life. He became the richest man among the companions of the Prophet (saw). His business transactions invariably met with success and his wealth continued to grow. His trading caravans to and from Madinah grew larger and larger bringing to the people of Madinah wheat, flour, butter, cloths, utensils, perfume and whatever else was needed and exporting whatever surplus produce they had.

One day, a loud rumbling sound was heard coming from beyond the boundaries of Madinah normally a calm and peaceful city. The rumbling sound gradually increased in volume. In addition, clouds of dust and sand were stirred up and blown in the wind.

The people of Madinah soon realized that a mighty caravan was entering the city. They stood in amazement as seven hundred camels laden with goods moved into the city and crowded the streets. There was much shouting and excitement as people called to one another to come out and witness the sight and see what goods and sustenance the camel caravan had brought.

Aishah, may God be pleased with her, heard the commotion and asked: “What is this that’s happening in Madinah?” and she was told: “It is the caravan of Abdur-Rahman ibn Awl (ra) which has come from Syria bearing his merchandise.”

“A caravan making all this commotion?” she asked in disbelief.”

“Yes, O Umm al-Muminin (mother of the believers). There are several hundred camels.”

Aishah (ra – may Allah be pleased with her) shook her head and gazed in the distance as if she was trying to recall some scene or utterance of the past and then she said: “I have heard the Messenger of God (saw), may God bless him and grant him peace, say: I have seen Abdur-Rahman ibn Awl (ra) entering Paradise creeping.”

Why creeping? Why should he not enter Paradise leaping and at a quick pace with the early companions (ra – may Allah be pleased with them all) of the Prophet (saw)?

Some friends of his related to Abdur-Rahman (ra) the hadith which Aishah (ra) had mentioned. He remembered that he had heard the hadith more than once from the Prophet (saw) and he hurried to the house of Aishah (ra) and said to her: “Yaa Ammah! Have you heard that from the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace?”

“Yes,” she replied.

“You have reminded me of a hadith which I have never forgotten,” he is also reported to have said. He was so over-joyed and added: “If I could I would certainly like to enter Paradise standing. I swear to you, yaa Ammah, that this entire caravan with all its merchandise, I will giver sabilillah (in the path of God).”

And so he did. In a great festival of charity and righteousness, he distributed all that the massive caravan had brought to the people of Madinah and surrounding areas.

This is just one incident which showed what type of man Abdur-Rahman (ra) was. He earned much wealth but he never remained attached to it for its own sake and he did not allow it to corrupt him.

Abdur-Rahman’s (ra) generosity did not stop there. He continued giving with both his hands, secretly and openly. Some of the figures mentioned are truly astounding: forty thousand dirhams of silver, forty thousand dinars of gold, two hundred awqiyyah of gold, five hundred horses to mujahidin setting out in the path of God and one thousand five hundred camels to another group of mujahidin, four hundred dinars of gold to the survivors of Badr and a large legacy to the Ummahaat al Muminin and the catalogue goes on. On account of this fabulous generosity, Aishah (ra) said:

“May God give him to drink from the water of Salsabil (a spring in Paradise).” All this wealth did not corrupt Abdur-Rahman (ra) and did not change him. When he was among his workers and assistants, people could not distinguish him from them. One day food was brought to him with which to end a fast. He looked at the food and said: “Musab ibn Umayr (ra) has been killed. He was better than me. We did not find anything of his to shroud him with except what covered his head but left his legs uncovered. Then God endowed us with the (bounties of) the world… I really fear that our reward has been bestowed on us early (in this world).” He began to cry and sob and could not eat. May Abdur-Rahman ibn Awl be (ra) granted felicity among:-

“those who spend their substance in the cause of God and follow up not their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury. For them their reward is with their Lord, on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve”. (The Qur’?n, Surah al-Baqarah, 2: 262)