Generosity Of Uthman (May Allah Be Pleased With Him)
During the caliphate of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) there was a severe famine. The people of Madina were suffering due to a shortage of food.
A caravan of 1000 camels loaded with a large stock of food grains belonging to Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) arrived from Shaam (Syria). Several merchants offered to buy all of it.
He asked them what profit they would pay. “Five percent,” they said. He answered that he could get a higher profit than that. They began to argue with him, saying that they did not know of any merchant who would offer him more than their quote.
He said to them, “I know of one who repays a profit of more than seven hundred to a dirham.” He then recited the verse of the Noble Qur’an in which Allah mentioned this profit. “The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He pleases. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.” (Qur’an, 2:261)
“O traders! Bear witness with me that I donate all this to the poor people of Madinah!” Uthman said.
Dear readers, whatever we give for the sake of Allah is really ours and whatever we keep with us will one day be someone else’s. Let us follow the footsteps of our Prophet and the pious Sahabah, with whom Allah was pleased, by helping the needy ones.
Qualities of Muttaqun who will inherit Paradise
“And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Rabb, and for Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth prepared for Al-Muttaqun (the pious).” (Qur’an, 3:133)
ALLAH in this beautiful verse of Surah Al-Imran is urging us to march forth towards His Mercy and Paradise, the final abode prepared specially for “Al-Muttaqeen”. Allah clearly mentions that the distinguished people for whom he created Paradise are the “Muttaqun.”
We all, of course, want this privileged status on the Day Of Judgment In Sha Allah. But who are they? How can we be like them? Allah did not leave us wondering about their characteristics, but specified them in the very next verse:
“Those who spend (in Allah’s cause – charity) in prosperity and adversity, who repress anger and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (those who do good).” (Qur’an, 3:134)
“They spend (in Allah’s cause) in times of prosperity and adversity.”
Allah has mentioned in several places the virtue of charity. Allah said:
“The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is as the likeness of a grain (of corn), it grows seven ears and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He wills and Allah is All-Sufficient for his creatures needs, All-Knower.” (Qur’an, 2:261)
It is Allah’s promise that spending for His sake will be requited by Allah and that this investment will never be in loss In Sha Allah.
“They repress their anger.”
Allah knows his slaves. He did not make it difficult for us by ordering us not to get angry. Instead, He said that when we get angry we should repress it or swallow it.
Next time when something doesn’t go as planned or someone cuts your lane while driving, don’t burst. These affairs are too trivial for us to be smitten by anger. Let’s try our best to control our anger. We never know, this quality of ours might be the reason for us to be amongst the Muttaqeen who will enter Jannah!
•“Who pardon men.”
Forgiving is yet another admirable quality of the Muttaqeen. Forgiving is not just accepting apologies, but forgiving them from the heart and making Du’a for them that Allah also forgives them.
“...let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an, 24:22)
“...and those who came after them say: “Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an, 59:10).
The verses of the Qur’an are crystal clear, we just need to strive our utmost to inculcate those qualities in us to achieve the best in this world and in the Hereafter.