Relief of the Needy
Since 2012-11-25
"whosoever would like that Allah saves him from the distresses of the hereafter, let he relieves or overlooks a debtor" [Reported by Muslim]
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
All praise be to Allah Almighty, Full of Majesty and Honor… the Giver of great endowments… and peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Prophet, the master of mankind and upon his family and companions and their followers.
My Muslim brother: noble deeds have doors that are sought only by the dedicated. Those to whom doing good deeds is tastier than cold water!
On the contrary, there are some to whom doing noble deeds; is just like moving a mountain from its place!!
Felicitations to those whose determination has elevated that doing favors for them has become one of the greatest works!
They have gained, therefore, the pleasure of Allah Almighty, as well as good manners.
O you who are asking for goodness and seeking the noble degrees, would you contemplate with me through these pages this unique manner?
It is the (Relief of the needy), the (Comforting of the distressed) and (Aiding people of destitutions).
The Precious Chance!
My Muslim brother: Once the dawn of a new day is seen these ideas gather: How will be the livelihood of this day?!
No doubt that people differ in meeting their livelihood. Some toil all the day to only get what assuages their hunger!
Others exert fewer efforts; however they get a bit more than their needs.
Others are just still. They do not exert any effort nor shed a drop of sweat. However, they are mired in livelihood. Glory be to Allah who divide livelihoods!
He has a lot of wisdom in that which is not realized by man… the weak… the ever hasty.
O Muslim brother: Imagine yourself in dire need... weak... worried... and someone comes to alleviate your needs, to make your weakness go and to bring joy into your heart. Tell me, how will his rank be for you?
The answer is known by every sane!
My Muslim brother: They are those who Allah Almighty has made them happy by fulfilling people's needs, by relieving the needy and by being charitable to the weak.
What a precious chance, and what a high degree and how happy they are by the good tidings of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: “The best deeds for Allah Glorified and Exalted is to bring happiness to a Muslim, to relieve him of a plight, to expel his hunger or to pay off his debt”. [Al-Albani said it’s Hasan (good) due to its multiple chains of transmission, Sahîh Al-Targhîb]
«أحب الأعمال إلى الله عز وجل سرور تدخله على مسلم ، أو تكشف عنه كربة ، أو تطرد عنه جوعا ، أو تقضي عنه دينا» قال الألباني: حسن لغيره، صحيح الترغيب
How great is Al-Hasan al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, when he said: “To fulfill the need of my brother is more favorable for me than worshipping Allah for a year!”
I have not seen a matter like the favor, its taste
Is sweet and its face is beautiful
Ja'far as-Sâdiq, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “verily, Allah has created people from His Mercy by His mercy for His Mercy; they are those who fulfill people's needs. So if you can be one of them, you should be”.
My Muslim brother: The righteous of this nation used to rejoice much if they found an opportunity to benefit people, and to relieve the needy. They considered that one of their best days!
How good they are! How many generosities they have built and how many favors they have excreted.
Sufian Ath-Thawry, may Allah have mercy on him, used to rejoice when a beggar came to his house! He used to say: “Welcome to this man who comes to wash away my sins!”
Al-Fudhayl Ibn 'Ayadh, may Allah have mercy on him, used to say: “How good beggars are! They carry our provisions to the Hereafter for free till they put them on the Balance!”
My Muslim brother: How do you feel your heart if someone begs you or a desirous knocks at your door?
Brother, may Allah guide you, have you ever thought while you are having your dinner, drinking cold water or tossing on your soft bed; have you ever thought about the hungry who cannot find a dinner like yours, the thirsty who cannot find cold water as yours or the homeless who cannot find a soft bed like yours?!
How many people Allah has given abundance of sustenance… however, the poor soul has forgotten the hunger of the hungry, the pain of the homeless, the grief of the deprived and the bereaved, the moan of the injured weak and tears of the terrified orphans.
Fulfill needs as much as you can
And be a reliever to your brother's concern
The best day of a man is that
When he has fulfilled needs
To this who wants safety in the Hereafter!!
My Muslim brother: Do you know the degree of those who help the week in the Hereafter?
Do you know what Allah has promised them on the lips of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him? Let's listen to these good tidings!
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: “This who relieves a believer from a distress of this world Allah will relieve him from a distress of the Hereafter, and this who facilitates the hardship of a debtor Allah will facilitate for him in this world and the Hereafter. This who shields a Muslim Allah will shield him in this world and the Hereafter. Allah will help His slave as long as the slave helps his brother...” [Reported by Muslim]
«من نفس عن مؤمن كربة من كرب الدنيا ، نفس الله عنه كربة من كرب يوم القيامة . ومن يسر على معسر ، يسر الله عليه في الدنيا والآخرة . ومن ستر مسلما ، ستره الله في الدنيا والآخرة . والله في عون العبد ما كان العبد في عون أخيه» رواه مسلم
My Muslim brother: Have you got all these sequenced good tidings?!
You are in dire need for relieving distresses tomorrow; in the Hereafter!
You are in dire need for safety on the Day of Great Terror!
On the day where there is no shade except for the good deeds you have done in your life!
On the day where there is no security except for those who Allah secures!
On the day where man flees from his family and clan!
On the day where there is no use for neither money nor nobility!
On such day you see the charitable in great shades… security… and rejoice…
How happy they are among the people on the day of long standing... How comfortable their endeavor is on this day!
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: “if anyone would like to be shaded by Allah on the day where there is no shade but His shade has to facilitate for or overlook a debtor” [Reported by at-Tabarani in al-Kabir (the Grand)/ Sahîh Al-Targhîb by Al-Albani]
«من سره أن يظله الله في ظله يوم لا ظل إلا ظله ، فلييسر على معسر ، أو ليضع عنه» روا ه الطبراني وقال الألباني: صحيح لغيره، صحيح الترغيب
The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: “There are rooms in Paradise where their exterior is seen from its interior and its interior is seen from its exterior. Allah has prepared them for those who give food, spread peace, and pray at night while people are sleeping” [Reported by Al-Monzery with a good chain of transmission]
«إن في الجنة غرفا يرى ظاهرها من باطنها وباطنها من ظاهرها أعدها الله لمن أطعم الطعام وأفشى السلام وصلى بالليل والناس نيام» رواه المنذري بسند حسن
What is your status, my Muslim brother, tomorrow from this great reward?!
Are you, seeker of good deeds, unable to help a needy or relieve a desirous?
Are you unable to wipe the tears of a saddened by giving him a morsel or a piece of clothing?!
Brother: Have you not heard about the story of the man who facilitated for and overlooked those who had borrowed from him?
Do you know the end of his story? Let's hear the story from the most sincere of persons!
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: “There was a man who used to lend the people, and he would say to his employees: 'if you come upon a debtor in straitened circumstances forgive him so that Allah may forgive us.' So, when he met Allah, He forgave him” [Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim].
«كان رجل يداين الناس ، فكان يقول لفتاه : إذا أتيت معسرا فتجاوز عنه ، لعل الله أن يتجاوز عنا ، قال : فلقي الله فتجاوز عنه» متفق عليه
So ponder, may Allah guide you and me, how this man has gained such a great reward with such little effort.
Brother: Do you remember how many times have you overlooked a debtor in straitened circumstances?
How many times have you pleased a debtor by saying: “I relieve you from paying the debt!”
My Muslim brother: This is a door of goodness, whoever Allah helps him with it, then He wants him all the best. So brother, seek to be one of them. This is not difficult for he who is willing to do righteous deeds.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: “whosoever would like that Allah saves him from the distresses of the hereafter, let he relieves or overlooks a debtor” [Reported by Muslim]
«من سره أن ينجيه الله من كرب يوم القيامة فلينفس عن معسر ، أو يضع عنه» رواه مسلم
Another good tidings that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has given for those who forgive in collecting their debts.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: “whosoever relieves his debtor or forgives him is to be in the shade of the Throne on the Day of Judgment.” [Authenticated by Al-Albani]
«من نفس عن غريمه، أو محا عنه، كان في ظل العرش يوم القيامة» صححه الألباني
My Muslim brother: How beautiful it is for a Muslim to enter joy in the heart of his Muslim brother by relieving him from a distress, fulfilling his needs, leaving a debt or overlooking it.
Ali Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abbas said: “Doing favor is worship to Allah, a share in the hearts of people and a remaining thank.”
Az-Zuhair said: “he who sows favors will reap goodness and he who sows evil will reap regret.”
It was said: “The harvest of sowing favor in this worldly life is pleasure in the Hereafter.”
My Muslim brother: you should know that the people of charity and relief of the desirous are the survivors of tomorrow and they are safe from the scares of the greatest terror on the Day of Judgment.
Such days are only borrowed
So be supplied with its favor as you can
You neither know in which town
You will die, nor what Allah will do tomorrow
That is how to relieve a desirous!
My Muslim brother: you should know that the noblest degree of people in relieving the desirous is the one who searches for his needy brother before he comes and asks him. A Muslim has to inspect the conditions of his brothers and neighbors and not to be like such negligent; who eats his fill while his neighbor is hungry!
The sincere Muslim is the one who searches for his Muslim brothers wherever they are. He feels pain for their pain and feels sad for their sadness. He is in a hurry for helping them and relieving their distresses.
Think about this story that tells you about the high determination of the true men in relieving the desirous:
A man came and knocked at the door of his friend. The friend opened the door and asked him: What brought you here?
He said: I am in debt for four hundreds dirham.
His friend calculated four hundreds dirham, gave them to him and returned home crying!
His wife said to him: why did you give him the money if this is so difficult for you?!
He said: I am crying because I had not inspected his conditions till he needed to accost me!!
Where are you brother from such noble ethics?
In our society, there are many of those needy who do not beg people out of their chasteness and modesty. It is worthy to search for such people to suffice them from the disgrace of asking.
How good is the saying of Mu'mmer, may Allah have mercy on him: “One of the worst favor is to make the man in distress come and ask you while he is abashed from you. Your favor does not equal the severity of his abashment. It would have been better that you have checked the condition of your brother, and send him what he needs and do not let him resort to asking.”
Do you know, brother, that there are some of Allah's servants who love relieving distresses, that they consider the one who asks help from them as being the benevolent?
As this person in need is a means for bringing reward to you; he is, therefore, a benevolent to you without you feeling it!
Al-Fudayl Ibn 'Ayadh said: “it is narrated that a man came to someone and asked him for some need. He said to him: you have specified me for your need, may Allah reward you. And he thanked him.”
Abu 'Aqil Ibn Baligh was asked: “How was Marwan Ibn al-Hakam when he was asked for relieving a need?”
He said: “I saw his desire for donation is greater than his desire for being thanked! His need for fulfilling a need is stronger than the one in need!”
My Muslim brother: let your aim for your help to the needy is requesting the reward of Allah, being charitable to your Muslim brother and relieving his distress.
Do not make your intention the love of fame… or asking for gratitude or reputation amongst people...
If you do favors with such intention you will see the good fruit of your favor in your worldly life and the Hereafter. On the Day of Resurrection the reward that Allah has prepared for the people of charity is greater.
I present the following words to the owners of money
To every owner of money who wishes to benefit from his money on the day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail!
To every owner of money who wishes a permanent everlasting profit!
To every owner of money who wants goods that do not forfeit!
To every owner of money who wants to put his money in a safe inaccessible place… where no hands can reach!
To every owner of money who wants his money to be a shield from the Fire on the Day of Resurrection!
To every owner of money who does not want his money to be a cause of regret for him on the Day of Judgment!
I present these words for you:
Fear Allah Almighty in your money. You should know that this money is in your deposit as a trust. If you spend it rightfully, it will be blessed; otherwise, its bless will be destroyed and it will be a curse against you on the Day of Resurrection.
Know brother that money is a trial and a test so that Allah sees where and how you spend it. Do not let Allah see from you but only what pleases Him.
When you give your Zakat (alms), give it with self-satisfaction and complaisant.
Try, brother, to familiarize yourself with a lot of spending and giving. If you do that, you will put your money ahead of you in a home that you will be pleased by tomorrow when you see the profit of that.
Brother: when you enter your grave, nothing will follow you but your good deed. Will you be pleased to meet your Lord Almighty empty-handed; while you had the ability to perform righteous deeds?
Money is a transient shade. So try to make it a permanent shade on the day when nothing will shade you but your deeds!
You should know that the virtue of money is only in giving it for purposes of righteousness… and spending it in acts of worship.
Brother: Do not be a slave servant of money… but make it your slave… and your servant in whatever you want.
Finally brother: Try to spend your money always for the benefit of the weak and needy... Inquire about that so that your money reaches those who deserve it.
My Muslim brother: the relief of the desirous is the job of each Muslim in which he exerts the most possible efforts. This is not uniquely for the rich. A Muslim is charitable to his brother with whatever he can, even if through a good word.
May Allah grant me and my Muslim brothers the success to the ways of pleasing Him… may He help us obeying Him... and may He gladden us with the bliss of His Paradise.
All praise to Allah Almighty… and peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Prophet, his Family and companions.
Azahari Ahmad Mahmoud
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