Excellence of generosity-III

Excellence of generosity-III

An incident describing blessings of spending 1/3^rd of profits in the path of Allah

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he relates from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Once, a man was standing in a forest.  He heard a sound from inside a cloud (someone was saying) Irrigate the orchard of so and so.  Then the cloud started moving in a particular direction and rained on a stony land.  Through small rivulets, that water gathered in a big stream and started flowing.  That man (who was seeing all this, to find out where the water went) started walking along with the water.  Suddenly, he saw a man who was standing in his orchard and was spreading the water here and there with his….  This man asked him:  O worshipper of Almighty Allah!  What is your name?  That man gave the same name which the former had heard from inside the cloud.  (The orchard owner) asked this man:  Why did you ask my name?  The former said:  I had heard from inside the cloud whose water this is that irrigate the orchard of so and so.  It was your name.  Now tell me, what (good) deed do you do in your orchard (because of which you enjoy this grace)?  The orchard owner replied:  (I had not wanted to reveal this to anyone) But since you are asking (I will tell you) that whatever produce is there from my orchard, 1/3^rd of it I give away in charity, 1/3^rd I spend on myself and my dependents and 1/3^rd I put back in the orchard (for cultivation).

Muslim has related this Hadith.

Bounties should not be considered coincidences.  The fact is that they come by the command of Almighty Allah

It is written in Tuhfatul Akhyaar that it is Commendable that from the profits, 1/3rd should be spent in the path of Allah.  This is also learned from this Hadith that it is angels who bring rain by the command of Almighty Allah and that this command is with name and other details, like make it rain in so and so person’s farm in so and so country.  Similarly, all the works of the world are done by angels as per divine orders.  Thus, whatever bounties Muslims get, be it financial or physical, they should give thanks to Almighty Allah for it and should not consider it a mere coincidence.

Charity should be given without counting and without thinking whether it is less or more

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Asma (May Allah be well pleased with her), she says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Spend money (to seek the pleasure and approval of Almighty Allah) and don’t keep counting (what you have given and how much.  If you keep counting, then you will stop giving in the future and) Almighty Allah will also count and give you.  Don’t withhold wealth (from the poor), as Almighty Allah will also withhold (wealth) from you.  (Don’t think whether it is less or more) Whatever you can, give it away.

Bukhari and Muslim have unanimously related this Hadith.

[Excerpted from Noor ul Masabeeh, Vol. 4, Kitaab uz Zakaat]