… Continued
Among the remarkable things mentioned about ‘Ali Zayn Al-‘Aabideen is that some of the people of Madeenah did not know from where their means of sustenance came to them. When he died, they stopped getting the supplies that they used to get every night. While they were washing his body they found marks on his back due to the heavy sacks he used to carry at night to the houses of widows. [Siyar A‘laam An-Nubalaa’]
'Abdullaah ibn Al-Mubaarak used to spend his money on jurists. He used to take upon himself the costs of Hajj for anyone who wanted to perform Hajj from among the people of Marv. He also used to pay people's debts provided that the creditor did not inform the debtor of his name. [Siyar A‘laam An-Nubalaa’]
We also believe that Allah The Almighty rewards any doer of good even if he did not intend to draw closer to Allah The Almighty. Al-Hasan was asked, "If a man asks another for money while he hates him, so he gives it to him only out of shyness, will he be rewarded?” He said, "This is a good deed and good deeds are rewarded." Moreover, Ibn Seereen was asked about a man who follows a funeral not out of hope for the reward of Allah The Almighty but only out of shyness of the family of the deceased, will he receive a reward? He replied, "One reward? Rather, he will receive two rewards, one for praying on his Muslim brother and the other for maintaining ties with the family of the deceased." [Jaami’ Al- ‘Uloom wal Hikam]
Therefore, let us hasten to do good deeds. ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib said, "Do not abandon good deeds because of the ingratitude of the ungrateful. Perhaps, the thankful would thank you as many times as the ingratitude of the ungrateful." Al-Maawardi said,
"Whoever is capable of performing a good deed, should hasten to it out of fear of missing it or inability to perform it. He should know that it is among the opportunities of his lifetime and the crowning achievement of his abilities. He should not be reluctant out of confidence regarding his ability to do it. There have been many people who were confident of their abilities, then they lost them and regretted. Many depended upon a status that was gone, leaving nothing but shame. Al-‘Abbaas said, 'An act of goodness is not complete except with three qualities; hastening to it, considering it small and hiding it. If you hasten to it, you make it faultless. If you consider it small, you increase its value and if you hide it, you make it perfect.'"
Do not hesitate to help your fellow Muslim even if this affects your time and effort. Trust that your Creator will reward you with goodness, satisfy your needs, alleviate your worries, remove your distress and bless your sustenance. The Prophet said: "Whoever fulfills the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Ibn ‘Abbaas said, "Whoever seeks to recover the right of his Muslim brother will be rewarded a charity for every step."
Do not be reluctant to alleviate the worry of a person, offer help to rescue him, pay a debt on his behalf, lend him money, protect his chastity, keep him company, secretly supplicate for him and offer every help in righteousness or support in goodness. All of these are deeds by which the love of Allah The Almighty is attained and His pleasure is won. Let us remember the Hadeeth in which the Prophet said: "By the One in whose hand is my soul, there is no slave performing an act with the intent of attaining the reward of Allah except that I will hold his hand on the Day of Judgment to enter Paradise." [Ibn Hibbaan] [Al-Albaani: Hasan]
We ask Allah The Almighty to enable us to benefit others, to make us keys to goodness, locks to evil and to use us in obeying Him.
Every Good Deed Is Charity – I
Every Good Deed Is Charity – II