THE GENEROSITY OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD ﷺ
Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:
'And do not scold the needy'
(Surah Adh-Dhuha. verse 93)
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ always presented himself to the people with gentleness and softness. Prophet ﷺ was of good manners and full of tenderness.
Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:
'And indeed, you are upon excellent manners'
(Surah Al-Qalam. verse 4)
The conduct of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is The Holy Quran. The Holy Quran is a silent book and Prophet ﷺ is the walking, talking Quran. No one has the power to describe the good conduct of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the true sense of the world because it is very lofty.
Prophet ﷺ never refused the requests of anyone, no matter how many times he was approached, even if it was by the same person. He gave open-handed. He was the most munificent, the most liberal and self-sacrificing. He gave freely without expecting anything in return.
In a hadith, Hazrat Jabir(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
'never said 'no', whenever he was approached for help. (Muslim)
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was extremely helpful. Spending in the path of Allah Ta'ala was one of his virtues. He never had the wish to accumulate wealth for worldly purposes.
Hazrat Ibn Abbas(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that every year in the month of Ramadhan, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to reach peak in generosity.
Hazrat Rabi(Radi Allaahu Anha) narrates that once she presented some dates and melon to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Prophet ﷺ put some gold and jewellery in the empty basin.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the greatest donor in the universe. He was considerate, kind-hearted and very helpful, and he taught and preached the same.
In a hadith, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has said that 'generosity' is a tree in Paradise. Whoever holds on to a branch of this tree, will be in Paradise. Prophet ﷺ said that 'unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others is a tree of fire. Being stingy or being a miser is holding the branch of this tree of fire. Such people will end up in Hell'. Donors will go to Paradise and stingy people will end up in Hell.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has said that two angels come in the morning. One says
'O Allah! Make the generous and donors rich'. And the other angel says
'O Allah! Destroy the stingy and the misers'.
Hazrat Anas Ibn Malik(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that a man came to Prophet
Muhammad ﷺ,' and Prophet ﷺ gave him many sheep, so the man returned to his people and said, 'O my people! Embrace Islam, for Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gives in charity as if he has no fear of poverty!'
Hazrat Anas Ibn Malik(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the most handsome, the most generous, and very brave and courageous.
Hazrat Ibn Umar(Radi Allaahu Anhu) narrates that once Prophet Muhammad ﷺ went for shopping. He bought a tunic for two dirham. On his way back, Prophet ﷺ met a helper (Ansaari) who asked for the tunic Prophet ﷺ had just purchased. Prophet ﷺ gifted it to him. 'Prophet ﷺ then bought another tunic. This time on his way back, he met a slave girl who was weeping. She informed Prophet ﷺ that she lost the two dirham given to her by her masters to buy some necessities. Prophet ﷺ was left with only two dirham, but he gave it the slave girl. Once, she finished her shopping, she was crying again and told Prophet ﷺ that she was late and her masters would be angry with her. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then accompanied the slave girl to her house. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ greeted the owners with 'salaam', but the owners opened the door the third time he greeted them with 'salaam'. They said that they had recognized his voice and wanted the Prophet ﷺ to continue greeting them with 'salaam' so that they would be pardoned on the judgement day. By the mercy of Prophet ﷺ, the owners freed the slave girl, and Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave them the glad tidings of being jannati.
The court of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is a place of munificence where bounties are bestowed, without even asking for it.
The generosity of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is unprecedented and everlasting.
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This article is an abridged English translation of an Urdu sermon delivered by his eminence, Peer Syed Imroz Dean Saifi, Hanfi, Maturidi of Masjid Anwaar e Madina, Surrey BC Canada
If there is an inaccurate translation, please pardon it and not let it be a means to negatively reflect on the honoured presenter.
