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Generosity of the honorable Sahabah


Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Umar has reported that once a Rasool’ s companion sent the head of a slaughtered goat as a gift to another companion’s home. The latter companion sent it to someone else’s home considering that he would be needier than him. The third companion sent it to the fourth with similar intention and this process continued up to the sixth companion who sent it to the very first companion considering him more deserving. In this way, the goat-head came back to the same home from where it was initially gifted. On this occasion, the following Ayah of Surah Al-Hashr was revealed in which Allah mentioned the generosity of the Rasool’ s companions  :
And they prefer those above themselves, even if they themselves are in dire need. And whoever is saved from the greed of his own-self, so it is only they who are successful.
[Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)J (Part 28, Surah Al-Hashr, Ayah 9)
It was a marvellous event of the blessed times of the Beloved and Blessed Rasool. A similar kind of inspiring event also took place during the caliphate of Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e­A’zam . It has been reported that Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam   placed four hundred dinars in a pouch and ordered one of his servants to present it to Sayyiduna Abu ‘Ubaydah Bin Al-Jaraah   and asked him to stay at his home and see what he does with the pouch. Therefore, the servant went to Sayyiduna ‘Ubaydah Bin Al-Jaraah  and told him that Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen has sent pouch of dinars for him and has directed that he may spend it in his needs.
Upon hearing the message of Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen, Sayyiduna ‘Ubaydah Bin Al-Jaraah supplicated, ‘May Allah bless Ameer-ul­Mu’mineen.’ Then he ordered his maid to donate seven dinars to so-and-so and five dinars to so-and-so. This way, he  distributed all those dinars among the needy people in a single sitting. Only two dinars left with him and he said, ‘O maid! Go and also donate these two dinars to so-and-so needy person too.’
After observing this event, the servant came back to Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen, who then sent another pouch full of four hundred dinars to Sayyiduna Mu’aaz Bin Jabal  and told his servant to remain sitting in his home and observe what he does with this pouch. Therefore, the servant reached Sayyiduna Mu’aaz Bin Jabal with the pouch of dinars. After receiving the gift and message of Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen, Sayyiduna Mu’aaz Bin Jabal  supplicated, ‘May Allah shower His mercy upon Ameer-ul-Mu ‘mineen and reward him.’ Then he instantly ordered his maid to donate such and such amount to so-and-so companion of the Rasool. Only two dinars left when the wife of Sayyiduna Mu’aaz Bin Jabal arrived and exclaimed, ‘By Allah ! We ourselves are also very needy and poor.’ Hearing this, he threw the remaining two dinars towards his wife.
After witnessing this spectacle, the servant came back to Ameer-ul­Mu ‘mineen and mentioned the whole event to him. Hearing these events of the generosity and steadfastness of Sayyiduna Abu ‘Ubaydah and Sayyiduna Mu’ aaz Bin J abal , Ameer-ul-Mu ‘mineen was extremely delighted. He  exclaimed, ‘There is no doubt that the Rasool’ s companions  are brothers to each other and are very soft hearted and extremely sympathetic to each other.’
This narration has also been reported by Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah  and other blessed Sahabah –
(Ia/seer As-Saawi, vol. 6, pp. 2138; part 28, Surah Al-Hashr, Ayah 9)
It is mentioned in a Hadees that the revelation of the abovementioned Ayah took place after the following incident:
Once, a hungry person reached in the court of the Rasool of Rahmah, the
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Intercessor of Ummah . The Holy Rasool inquired from the homes of blessed wives whether there was anything available to eat. It was informed that nothing to eat was available in the homes of the blessed wives. Then the Holy Rasool  announced to his companions, ‘Whoever makes this person his guest, may Allah shower His mercy unto him.’ Sayyiduna Abu Talhah Ansari stood up and after seeking permission from the Holy Rasool , took the guest to his home.
After reaching home, he inquired from his wife whether there was any food available. She replied, ‘There is only a little bit of food for children.’ Sayyiduna Abu Talhah  said, ‘Try to make the children sleep and when the guest sits to eat, then get up to adjust the candle light and extinguish it so that the guest is able to eat well.’ The wisdom in this strategy was that the guest may not come to know that the hosts are not eating with him because if he comes to know this, then he will insist to accompany while the food was very short and hence the guest might remain hungry. In this way, Sayyiduna A bu Talhah fed the guest and the hosts themselves went to sleep hungry.
In the morning, he  presented himself in the blessed court of the Holy Rasool ‘ who after seeing Sayyiduna Abu Talhah said, ‘Last night, a strange event took place in the home of so-and-so and Allah  is very pleased with them.’ Then this Ayah of Surah Al-Hashr was revealed. ([afseer Khaza ‘in-ul-‘Irfan, pp. 984; part 28, Surah Al-Hashr, Ayah 9)

Moral: 

This blessed Ayah and the remarkable incidents relating to its revelation are too much inspiring and moralizing. There is no need of further elaboration as any reasonable person can easily learn a moral lesson from it.

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