Styles of Charity: Aishah and Asma

‘Abdullâh b. Al-Zubayr said, “I have never seen two women more generous than ‘Â`ishah and Asmâ`. They had different ways of being generous. As for ‘Â`ishah, she used to gather things, until she had a collection, then she would distribute it. As for Asmâ`, she would never keep anything until the next day.”

Al-Bukhârî, Al-Adab Al-Mufrad. Shaykh Al-Albânî grades its chain of transmission sahîh in Sahîh Al-Adab Al-Mufrad Vol.1 p123.

October 29, 2008 | charity

2 Comments 

Giving to spread Knowledge

It is reported that ‘Abdullâh b. Al-Mubârak – Allâh’s mercy be upon him – was criticized for spending on [other people in] other lands and not his own. In response, he said, “I know the locations of virtuous, sincere and truthful people who seek and study hadîth and do it well because people are in need of them. They are needy, and if we leave them, their knowledge will be lost; but if we help them, they will spread knowledge to the Ummah of Muhammad – Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him. I do not know of anything more virtuous, after Prophecy, than spreading knowledge.”

Al-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ`, in his biography of ‘Abdullâh b. Al-Mubârak.

September 25, 2008 | charity, hadîth, knowledge

Comments Off 

Generosity and Community in Ramadan

It is reported that Hammâd b. Abî Sulaymân was a wealthy man, he used to provide iftâr (breakfast) for five hundred people in Ramadân, and would give each of them one hundred dirham after ‘Eid.

It is also reported that he used to provide iftâr for fifty poor people a day in Ramadân, and on the eve of ‘Eid he would give each of them clothes to wear.

Al-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ`, in his biography of Hammâd b. Abî Sulaymân.

September 22, 2008 | 'Eid, charity, fasting, Ramadan

Comments Off 

The Secret Charity of ‘Alî b. Husayn

It is reported that there used to be poor people in Al-Madînah who didn’t know where they were getting their food from. When ‘Alî b. Husayn passed away, they started missing what they used to be given at night.

Abû Hamzah Al-Thumâlî narrates that ‘Alî b. Husayn used to carry bread on his back in the darkness of the night and follow the poor people (to give it to them). He used to say, “Charity in the darkness of the night extinguishes the Lords anger.”

‘Amr b. Thâbit reports that when ‘Alî b. Husayn died, they found marks on his back from the sacks of provisions he used to carry at night to the houses of the widows.

Shaybah b. Nu’âmah narrates that when ‘Alî b. Husayn died they found out that he used to provide for a hundred (poor) families.

Al-Dhahabî in Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ’ under the biography of ‘Alî b. Husayn Zayn Al-‘Âbidîn.

September 4, 2007 | charity, Ikhlas, intentions

4 Comments 

If only this was in fashion

‘Urwah b. Al-Zubayr – Allah have mercy on him – said:

‘Â’ishah – Allah be pleased with her – gave seventy thousand (dirham) in charity, while her own skirt used to be patched.

‘Abdullah b. Mubârak in Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqâ’iq Vol. 1 p588, no.705.

August 31, 2007 | charity, zuhd

1 Comment