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3 TYPES OF GENEROSITY FIRST INCIDENT SECOND INCIDENT THIRD INCIDENT FOURTH INCIDENT CONCLUSION 1. To give while one has something in possession and the one to whom it is given also has something in possession. 2. To give while one has something in possession and the one to whom it is given is in need. 3. The one who is giving is in need but places his own needs aside and gives priority to others over himself. A sensible person can understand from this story and by now would have deduced, that the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam’s generosity is on such a level that it is absolutely impossible to imagine, such as the case where he himself was in need, had come to the circumstances of borrowing from someone else, yet gave away his own to someone who had merely asked for it. In Mishkat (an authentic book of hadith) a story of the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam is narrated by Hazrat Anas, a very close companion of the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam He had served the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam for ten years, at home and while on journey. He narrates that once, as the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam was returning from one of the battles, and was still on his way to Madina, when some villagers surrounded him, they closed up onto him and began to pull harshly on his collar, so hard that it left marks on his skin, then said, "O Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam, order for us some of the wealth which Allah has given you." The Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam did not become angry or serious, nor did he become grave, but instead smiled to them and calmly and callously, in a joking mood told some of the companions to give them some of the wealth which they asked for. Here again we see that the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam shows generosity although he is hurt, pushed backwards and forwards, in fact almost strangled. After all this he doesn't become angry nor does he show signs of anger but instead smiles and shows that their wrong behaviour doesn't affect his kind heartedness. Hence, he ordered for them what they asked for. In this story the Holy and Noble Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam was hurt, but in many other episodes we see that the opposition is with the intention of taking his life! Regardless of this, the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam treated them well and in a kindly manner. The Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam was asleep, the person gave trouble by awakening the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam and then used such an ill-mannered attitude, he was thirsty for the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam’s blood, but when the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam achieved the upper hand, the power and strength to slay the man, he merely sets him free. When Makkah was conquered, the disbelievers were overthrown and the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam arrived there with his order it was announced that all those who wronged him, offended him, put him to grief to Islam, everything would be forgiven and forgotten if they took refuge in such and such a place. There were such people as Hind radiyallahu anhu who had actually chewed the heart of the beloved uncle of the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam, Hazrat Hamza radiyallahu anhu. There was Hazrat Wahshi radiyallahu anhu who was the one who killed Hazrat Hamza radiyallahu anhu. The Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam loved his uncle very much, he was very dear to him sallallahu alaihe wasallam, and Hazrat Hamza also had great affection for his nephew. They were greatly attached to each other, this is exactly why, even after many years of his being killed, whenever Hazrat Hamza’s name was mentioned, memories would come flooding back, and the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam would feel upset. The Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam forgave Hazrat Wahshi radiyallahu anhu but he did say to him, "Do not to come in front of me, for when I see you, I remember my dear uncle, which upsets me greatly." This is what kindness and being soft-hearted really means, and this is the way which every Muslim should aim to follow. When the son of Abu-Jahl, Hazrat Ikrama, came to know of the state of Makkah, and of it being conquered, he fled from there as fast as possible. He knew he would have no peace now, for he had troubled the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam a great many times. Hazrat Ikrama radiyallahu anhu himself felt guilty, he regretted what he had done and wanted to repent, but because of all the troubles he had given the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam, he was in doubt whether a person of such disobedience would be forgiven or not. Secondly he was ashamed to go anywhere near the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam and was also scared of the results which may follow, would his repentance be accepted or would his life be in danger? When he fled away, his wife followed him and assured him that the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam would surely forgive him and under no circumstances would he punish him, for Muhammad has the most soft and kind a heart a man has ever received, and never would he see ill-treatment on behalf of himself. The Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam came to know of this so he let it be known that anybody who came for pardon no matter who it was, would be forgiven. Hazrat Ikrama radiyallahu anhu was informed of this. He came, repented and then accepted Islam. Here again we see that Hazrat Ikrama radiyallahu anhu was certain that the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam would take revenge and retaliate in some way or the other, but to his amazement, the Prophet sallallahu alaihe wasallam didn't mention a single word about it! Islam has left this vast field of generosity for us, that we may delve further and deeper into it and explore it with zeal, but the main parts associated with generosity are more or less obvious to any layman. |
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