Rawdhatul-‘Uqala [post 7]
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever relieves his brother of a hardship from the hardships of this world, Allah shall relieve him of a hardship from the hardships of the Day of Judgement. And whoever makes things easy for a person in difficulty, Allah will ease for him in this world and the Next. And whoever conceals (the faults of) a Muslim, Allah will conceal him in this world and the Next. Allah is forever aiding a slave so long as he is in the aid of his brother.” [Sahih Muslim, al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and others]
Abu Hatim: It is a must upon all Muslims that they should advise each other and alleviate each other’s sorrows and difficulties, because whoever relieves his brother of a hardship from the hardships of this world, Allah will relieve him of a hardship from the hardships of the Day of Judgement. And whoever strives to help a person with regards to his concerns, but is not able to completely fulfill it himself, then he has not fallen short. The smallest thing (a person can do) in settling people’s needs is giving due praise/thanks, and friends are known in times of need just like a family is tested in times of poverty. This is because in times of ease everyone is a friend, but the worst of friends is he who deceives his brothers during times of difficulty and need (by not being there for him/her), just like the worst of cities is the one without security and fertile land…
Al-Karizi recited the poem:
The best days of a man is when he attains benefit
And doing good to others is the most lasting of deeds
Goodness is never attained by doing evil
And a person only reaps what he has sown of seeds
Eras are not made up of one type of day
And perhaps a person falls, only to rise again.
Al-Hasan al-Basri said: ‘Helping and settling the needs of a Muslim brother is more beloved to me than I’tikaf (seclusion in the mosque) for 2 months.’
Al-Basami recited:
Rush towards the good, and prepare for it!
Indeed, you know what lies ahead of you
And put forth good deeds, for every person
Shall only be preceded by what he’s put forth.
A beautiful example of a Muslim’s generosity:
A man once came to Yahya ibn Talha ibn ‘Ubaydallah and said, ‘Give us something.’ He said, ‘O boy (speaking to the young man who worked with him), give him whatever you have.’ So he gave him 20,000 which he took and attempted to carry. But it was too heavy for him and so he sat down and began to weep. He (Yahya) said, ‘What’s making you cry? Perhaps you think it’s too little, so shall I increase it for you?’ He said, ‘No, by Allah I do not think it’s too little, but I am crying due to what the earth consumes of your generosity.’ Yahya then said to him, ‘What you have just said to us is greater than what we have given you.’
Jazākillāhu khayran for sharing these words; there are so many lessons to reflect on in this, and it was definitely something I needed to read.
This post reminded me of a famous statement inscribed within a prison which some historians attribute to Yūsuf ‘alayhis salām:
هذه منازل البلوى، وقبور الأحياء، وتجربة الأصدقاء، وشماتة الأعداء
May Allāh subhānahu wa ta’ālā ease the affairs of all those in difficulties and shower His Mercy upon us all.
asalaam alaikum warahmatullah
jazakillahu khairan for this very beneficial post,
please can you clarify the last part, I did not understand why the man cried
“He said, ‘No, by Allah I do not think it’s too little, but I am crying due to what the earth consumes of your generosity.’ Yahya then said to him, ‘What you have just said to us is greater than what we have given you.”
Jazakallah khayrun. This is something ive been reflecting lately. May Allah swt give us the strength to support our brothers and sisters in times of need and advise and console eachother with adhaab. Thank you for the reminder.
Wa iyyakum.
Brother Sajid, great quote masha’Allah. Off-topic, but did they really attribute it to Yusuf ‘alayhi-Salam? Just wondering what the original language that it was written in must’ve been then? Amazing and truthful statement nonetheless.
Bint Abbas, I think the man was generally referring to how the earth is a witness to all our deeds – hence in this case, it is a witness to the greatness and magnitude of the sadaqah which was given. It could also mean that since he will spend all the money, it is huge consumption which the earth shall devour and testify to. Wallahu a’lam.
Sabeena 🙂 good to see you on here, sis! Ameen to your du’a, may Allah ‘azza wa jall allow us to be beneficial people as Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Khayrukum anfa3akum lil-naas” – ‘The best of you is the one who benefits the people the most.’
The statement of Imam al-Hasan al Basri (rahimahullah) – ‘Helping and settling the needs of a Muslim brother is more beloved to me than I’tikaf (seclusion in the mosque) for 2 months.’
Might have asl in a hadith, where the Prophet (salAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said
«ولأن أمشي مع أخي المسلم في حاجته أحب إلى من أن أعتكف في مسجدي هذا شهرا»
very deep subhanAllah
” من كان في حاجة أخيه كان الله في حاجته .”
As-Salaam Alaykum,
Sister, sorry to go off-topic, but would you be able to locate the original arabic of this statement:
Ibn Hibbaan has said: “It is obliged for the bright person to use his ears twice as much in stead of his tongue and to realise that he has received two ears and just one mouth, so that he will be listening more than that he speaks.”
Jazakallaahu Khayran!
Wa `alaykumusalam wa rahmatullah
I think this is the one:
الواجب على العاقل أن ينصف أذنيه من فيه ، يعلم أنه انما جعلت له أذنان وفم واحد ليسمع أكثر مما يقول
Jazakallahu khayran for the input, AbdulHasib.