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.’