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Blessed With Barakah​

‘Umaarah bin Hazm (rahimahullah) narrates the following incident from Sayyiduna Ubayy bin Ka’b (radhiyallahu ‘anhu):

On one occasion, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) sent me to collect the zakat that was due on the people’s wealth. While collecting zakat from the people, I passed by a Sahaabi who also needed to discharge his zakat. Accordingly, this Sahabi gathered all his camels and presented them to me so that I could calculate the zakat due on the camels. After examining the camels, I determined that his zakat on the camels amounted to a single one-year-old she-camel.

I thus said to him, “You need to discharge a single one-year-old she-camel as this is the zakat due on your camels.” Hearing this, the man replied, “A one-year-old she-camel neither gives milk nor can it be used as a conveyance (hence, there is very little benefit in it). Instead of a one-year-old she-camel, here is a young, strong, large, and fat she-camel. Take this camel..” I replied, “I cannot take that which I was not instructed to take. However, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is nearby. If you wish to go to him and present to him what you presented to me, you may do so. If Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) accepts your offer (to give a better camel in zakat), I will take the camel from you, but if he does not accept your offer, I will not take the camel.”

The man replied, “I will do as you suggest.” He thus accompanied me to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), bringing with him the superior camel that he wished to give in zakat. When we came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he addressed him saying, “O Nabi of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Your messenger came to me to collect the zakat due on my wealth. By the oath of Allah! Neither Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) nor the messenger of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has ever collected the zakat due on my wealth before (i.e. this is the first time that I am fortunate enough to discharge zakat on my animals). I thus gathered all my animals for your messenger who claimed that I only have to discharge a single one-year-old she-camel. However, such a camel neither provides milk nor can it be used as a conveyance. I presented him with a large, strong camel and asked him to take it, but he refused. Here is the camel, I have brought it to you, O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Please accept it from me.”

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “It is only a single one-year-old she-camel that is compulsory upon you. However, if you wish to voluntarily give a better camel, Allah Ta‘ala will reward you for it and we will accept it from you.” The man said, “Here it is, O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), so accept it from me!” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thus accepted it from him, gave the instruction for the camel to be taken from him, and made special du‘aa for this Sahabi to be blessed with barakah in his wealth.

Many years later, during the period of the rule of Mu‘aawiyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), ‘Umaarah bin Hazm (rahimahullah) was sent to this very same Sahabi to collect his zakat. At this time, the zakat due on the camels of this Sahaabi was 30 three-year-old camels, as he now owned 1500 camels in total! (This was on account of the special du‘aa for barakah that Rasulullah [sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam] had made for him.)

(Sunan Abi Dawood #1583 and Musnad Ahmad #21280)

Lessons:
1. The sign of true love and devotion is that a person happily and wholeheartedly goes the extra mile. Imagine asking a person to lend you a pot to cook biryani, and instead, he gives you a pot of hot, steaming, fragrant biryani! At that moment, one will undoubtedly feel gratitude and develop a love for the person who ‘went the extra mile’. Similarly, we should not suffice merely fulfilling the faraa-idh (obligations). Rather, we should go the ‘extra mile’, as this draws the special love and blessing of Allah Ta‘ala.

2. When giving something in the path of Allah Ta‘ala, we should ensure that it is fit to be given in His path. It should not be rotten, broken, unusable, or tattered. The better the item that we give, the greater our reward will be.

3. When the Sahabi offered to give a better camel in zakat, Ubayy (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) refused to accept it as he did not know whether it was allowed or not. Hence, he insisted that they refer the matter to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Likewise, we should refer all matters in our Deen to the righteous, knowledgeable ‘Ulama so that we can get guidance and direction in our lives.

4. There is no value that can be attached to barakah. When a person is blessed with barakah, his life will be one of happiness and posterity. We should thus try to please Allah Ta‘ala at all times so that we do not deprive ourselves of His barakah.

Moral Excellence And Benevolence Of The Heart In Islam

Allah likes those who perfect their illustrious toils and turn their thoughts on moral excellence and benevolence.

[Allah’s Quran – 3:134 – Amatul Rahman Omar] “Those who spend (in the cause of Allah) in prosperity and adversity and those who suppress anger and pardon (the offenses of) the people. And Allah loves such doers of good to others”

The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) has said “The best of the deeds are love and hate for the sake of ALLAH, The Exalted.”

[Sunan Abu Dawud, Book #40, Hadith #4664 ] “Narrated Abu Umamah: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: If anyone loves for Allah’s sake, hates for Allah’s sake, gives for Allah’s sake and withholds for Allah’s sake, he will have perfect faith.

[Bukhari, Book #2, Hadith #20] “Narrated Anas: The Prophet said, “Whoever possesses the following three qualities will taste the sweetness of faith:
1. The one to whom Allah and His Apostle become dearer than anything else.
2. Who loves a person and he loves him only for Allah’s sake.
3. Who hates to revert to disbelief (Atheism) after Allah has brought (saved) him out from it, as he hates to be thrown in the fire.”

[Muslim, Book #001, Hadith #0138 ] “Al-Bara reported it from the Apostle (may peace and blessing be upon him) that he observed with regard to the Ansar, None but the believer loves them, none but the hypocrite hates them. He who loved them loved Allah and he who hated them hated Allah. I (the narrator) said: Did you hear this hadith from al-Bara’? He said: To me, he narrated it.

Your Control Problems Are Caused By Your Weaknesses With Starting, Changing Or Stopping

Take Control
Fractiousness, helplessness, incompetence, inefficiency, and other undesirable factors in a job are all traceable to the inability to start, change, and stop things.

No business can succeed unless it has been properly started unless it is progressing through time or changing position in space, and unless it is capable of stopping harmful practices and even competitors.

Thus the secret of doing a good job is the secret of control itself. One not only continues to create a job, day by day, week by week, month by month, he also continues the job by permitting it to progress, and he is also capable of stopping or ending any cycle of work and letting it remain finished.

To improve your control, you strengthen the part of control that is most difficult for you. To do this, start by identifying your weakest part. Which is most difficult for you: starting, changing, or stopping?

Signs You Have Difficulties Starting Things
You have many ideas that you never implement. You make notes and even write down plans, but you never start them.

You may even obtain the material you need to do a job but do not start it. For example, you buy the tools and materials to build a dog house, but never actually start to build the dog house.

You might have big goals, great plans, or incredible dreams, but you never take that first step.

Signs You Have Difficulties Changing Things
You may take the first step on a work project, but you never get much done.

You might leave things incomplete. For example, you paint a wall with the first coat but never get around to putting on the second coat.

You might follow the same routine you learned in school or have had for years, even though you know a better way exists.

You possibly make big resolutions every New Year and do well for a day or two. Yet you never really make the change.

Signs You Have Difficulties Stopping Things
You probably have bad habits that you cannot break. You might say, “I just can’t stop myself.”

You may hate to throw things away, even if they are useless. Your closets are stuffed with worthless junk.

If you force yourself to finish a project, you are likely to leave your tools lying around as you hate to clean up after yourself.

If you are a boss, you take too long to fire employees, even though they deserve it. Stopping people, who are damaging your operation, may be difficult for you. You may also have a hard time ending bad relationships or forgiving people.

When you give a job or object to someone, you have a hard time leaving him or her alone. You can’t stop possessing the responsibility of the object.

Signs You Are Fixated on Start, Change or Stop
Control is also difficult if you are fixated or obsessed with starting, changing, or stopping things.

For example, you are constantly starting new programs or projects. Every week or so you start a new project or two. Unfortunately, they do you no good as you or your group cannot complete all the things you start.

Or you are constantly changing things. You do not like the way things are. You are never satisfied. Unfortunately, you end up changing things that should be left alone.

Or maybe you like to stop things a little too much. Your first reaction to any change is to stop it or end it. If you are a boss, you fire people too quickly. You throw things away you later need. Or maybe you feel like a police officer and constantly try to stop bad things from happening. Unfortunately, you end up stopping good things, as well.

Recommendations

  1. Determine your biggest problem: starting things, changing things or stopping things.
  2. Write down how you can improve this weakness this week.
  3. As you make these improvements, notice how your control improves.
  4. Keep working on your weakest areas until you enjoy more success.

When you can easily and effectively start, change, and stop things when they need to be started, changed or stopped, you are in control

Visiting The Blessed Mausoleum Of The Beloved Prophet SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam

I. Hadrat ibn ‘Umar Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said, “Whoever visits my grave, my intercession is guaranteed for him.”
[al-Sunan al-Daraqutni (2:278) al-Kuna wa al-Asma’ al-Dulani (2:64), Majma’ al-Zawaid Haythami (4:2), al-Talkhis al-Habir Ibn Hajar al-Hafiz (2:267), Kanz al-‘Ummal (15:651), Jadhb al-Qulub – Shaykh ‘Abd al-Haq al-Dehlwi al-Muhaddith (204)]

II. Hadrat ibn ‘Umar Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said, “Whoever visits me without any avowed purpose other than my visit, it is incumbent upon me to be his intercessor on the Day of Resurrection.”
[narrated by al-Tabarani in al-Awsat and al-Kabir (12:291) and al-Daraqutni and Majma’ al-Zawa’id al-Haythami (4:2) and Ittihaf al-Sa’dah al-Muttaqin Sharh Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din al-Zubaidi (4:416) and Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthur al-Suyuti (1:237) and Kanz al-‘Ummal Muttaqi al-Chishti al-Shadhili al-Hindi (Hadith no. 34928 (2:256) all references from Jami’ al-Ahadith – Imam Ahmed Rida Khan compiled by ‘Allama Hanif Khan Razvi Bareilly – Vol. 2 Page 268]

III. Hadrat ibn ‘Umar Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said, “Whoever makes pilgrimage then visits me after my death it is as if he visited me in my life.”
[narrated by al-Tabarani in al-Kabir (12:310) and al-Daraqutni (2:278) and al-Baihaqi in his al-Sunan al-Kubra (5:286) and in Mishkat al-Masabih Tabrezi (2756) and in al-Jami’ al-Saghir Suyuti (2:523) and Jadhb al-Qulub – ‘Abd al-Haq Dehlwi (205) and Ittihaf al-Sadah Zubaydi (4:416) and Kanz al-‘Ummal (5:135) and Majma’ al-Zawaid Haythami (4:2)]

IV. The Messenger of Allah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said, “Whoever visits my grave after my death is as those who visited me in my life.”
[Narrated by al-Tabarani in al-Kabir (12:406) al-Awsat (1:94) and al-Daraqutni (2:278)]

V. Hadrat Anas ibn Malik said that the Messenger of Allah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said, “Anyone who visits me in Madinah for the sake of Allah is near me and I will intercede for him on the Day of Rising.”
[al-Baihaqi and others as mentioned by Imam Qadi al-‘Iyad in al-Shifa – Section 9 – “Concerning visit to the Prophet’s grave…”]

VI. Hadrat Nafi’ Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu said, “I saw that Hadrat [Abdullah] ibn Umar Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhuma used to come to the blessed grave a hundred times or more. He would say, ‘Peace be upon the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Peace be upon Abu Bakr.’” Then he would leave. Ibn ‘Umar was also seen to put his hand on the seat of the Prophet at the mimbar and then place his hand on his face .
[narrated in al-Shifa’ – Section 9, and mentioned by Imam Ahmed Rida Khan the great Muhaddith and Mufassir and the Reviver of the Islamic sciences in his treatise “Abar al-Maqal – Page 3 and Jami’ al-Ahadith – Vol. 2 Pg. 268]

VII. Hadrat ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhuma reported that the Messenger of Allah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said, “whosoever visits me (my grave) after my death is as he has visited me in my life and I shall be an intercessor and witness for him on the Day of Resurrection.
[Ittihaf al-Sadah (4:416) and al-Mughni Zain al-Din al-Iraqi (1:259) and Jadhb al-Qulub ‘Abd al-Haq al-Dehlawi (205)]

NOTES:
1. To perform the ziyarah (visit) of the blessed shrine of the Messenger of Allah is near to Wajib (being necessary). [Fatawa-e-Razawiyyah, Bahar-e-Shari’at]
2. To perform Hajj and not to visit the blessed shrine of the Beloved Prophet is a sign of wretchedness.

Extracted From
Anwaar al-Hadith, Chapter 7, Pages 275 to 277
by Hadrat Allama Mufti Jalal al-Din Qadiri al-Amjadi
English Translation: Mawlana Kalim al-Qadiri [Bolton – U.K.]

For The Greedy Miser

[92:8] “But he who is a greedy miser and thinks himself to be self-sufficient,”
[92:9] “and calls the ultimate good a lie”
[92:10] “For him shall We make easy the path towards hardship:”

The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) has said:
[Muslim, Book #005, Hadith #2229] “Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The similitude of a miserly man and the giver of charity is that of two persons with coats of mail over them; when the giver of charity intends to give charity, it expands over him (too much so) that the footprints are also obliterated. And when the miserly man intends to give charity, it contracts over him, and his hands are tied up to his collarbone, and every ring is fixed up to another. He (the narrator) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) as saying: He would try to expand it. but he would not be able to do so.”

[Bukhari, Book #60, Hadith #469] “Narrated ‘Ali: We were in the company of the Prophet in a funeral procession at Baqi Al-Gharqad. He said, “There is none of you but has his place written for him in Paradise or in the Hell- Fire.” They said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Shall we depend (on this fact and give up work)?” He said, “Carry on doing (good deeds), for everybody will find it easy to do (what will lead him to his destined place).” Then he recited: ‘As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah, and believes in the Best reward from Allah (i.e. Allah will compensate him for what he will spend in Allah’s way). So, We will make it smooth for him on the path of ease. But he who is a greedy miser….for him, the path for evil.”