The Poor Amongst Us

The Prophet said: “The one who looks after a widow or a poor person is like a Mujahid (warrior) who fights for Allah’s cause, or like him who performs prayers all the night and fasts all the day.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Volume 7, Book 64, Number 265.

One of the great reforms that the Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) brought was the rights and treatment of the poor. Prior to the advent of Islam, the pagan Arabs used to disregard the poor, they would look down on them, and could care less about them; the poor people were basically an insignificant portion of society that did not matter. However so, with the Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) that all changed, the Muslims were now obliged to look after the poor, and were required to spend of their wealth to help the poor out. For instance the Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) taught the following:

Narrated Abu Huraira (RadhiAllahu Anhu): Allah’s Apostle (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “Allah said, ‘O son of Adam! Spend, and I shall spend on you.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari: Volume 7, Book 64, Number 264]

This means that: The basic teaching of this hadith was that Muslims should spend from their wealth in giving charity to the poor. This teaching of the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam), to spend and to give in charity, was a very common message that he would often repeat.

We also read in another hadith, what the Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) would do when he encountered poor people:

Narrated Abu Burda bin Abu Musa (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam): His father said, “Whenever a beggar came to Allah’s Apostle (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) or he was asked for something, he (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) used to say (to his companions), “Help and recommend him and you will receive the reward for it, and Allah will bring about what He will through His Prophet’s tongue.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari: Volume 2, Book 24, Number 512]

The prophet would not simply ignore them and let them be, as would have been the custom of the time, rather he gave advice and teaching to his companions to help these people.

So in the spirit of this season of supplication and deep reflection, we need to imbibe the principle of helping the poor around in fulfilling the will of Allah.

May our prayers be answered too.

Special thanks to Ismail Ahmed for your contribution to this.

Join us tomorrow for the Day 7 of “From the Prophet’s Teaching” a special Ramadan series from Community Magazine.

O.T Alphonso
Editor-in-Chief
Community Magazine

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