Narrated Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه:

Allah’s Prophet صل الله عليه و سلم said, “No bloodmoney will be charged if somebody dies in a mine or in a well or is killed by an animal; and if somebody finds a treasure in his land he has to give one-fifth of it to the Government.”

[Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 40, Number 545]

The wisdom behind the second part of this hadith is staggering. All across the world, lands are rich in resources. When the resources are discovered, the rights to them are immediately purchased by private interests, who make off with resulting financial boon. The people of the lands are so often completely impoverished…we don’t even have to look beyond the United States to see this: Native American reservations are routinely violated in this way. If just one-fifth of the financial gain went back to the people of the land, it would so alleviate the suffering of a people. Instead, we assuage our consciences by helping the Natives build casinos in which people can gamble away their hard-earned money. It’s a double-looting…and the answer is so simple, it was given in the “backward” seventh century.

Malik related to me that he heard that

Abdullah ibn Masud رضي الله عنه used to say, “You must tell the truth. Truthfulness leads to right action. Right action leads to the Garden. Beware of lying. Lying leads to corruption, and corruption leads to the Fire. Don’t you see that it is said, ‘He speaks the truth and acts rightly,’ and, ‘He lies and is corrupt.’”

[Muwatta Book 56, Number 56.7.16]

Sometimes, there is that overwhelming temptation to speak a little white lie. Then, they snowball, and before you know it, you’ve uttered a mother of all whoppers. Save yourself the grief, preserve your dignity, and speak the truth. If that is absolutely impossible, you might need to invest in learning how to stay silent!

Umar b. Khattab رضي الله عنه reported:

I donated a pedigree horse in the path of Allah. Its possesser made it languish. I thought that he would sell it at a cheap price. I asked Allah’s Messenger صل الله عليه و سلم about it, whereupon he said: “Don’t buy it and do not get back your charity, for one who gets back the charity is like a dog who swallows its vomit.” This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Malik b. Anas رضي الله عنه with the same chain of transmitters but with this addition: “Don’t buy that even if he gives you for one dirham.”

[Sahih Muslim Book 012, Number 3949]

Someone I know is having a tough time letting go, due to the amount of time, energy, and money they have invested in the relationship. Perhaps remembering this famous hadith might help in letting go of both the things and the person associated with those things. Worldly goods can sometimes prove such a hazard to peace of mind.

Narrated Jarir bin ‘Abdullah رضي الله عنه :

The Prophet صل الله عليه و سلم said, “Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to mankind.”

[Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 93, Number 473]

Needs no commentary from me. Although, if anyone has commentary on it from professional sources, I would love to read it.

Narrated ‘Aisha رضي الله عنه :

The Prophet صل الله عليه و سلم sent (an army unit) under the command of a man who used to lead his companions in the prayers and would finish his recitation with (the Sura 112): ‘Say (O Muhammad): “He is Allah, the One.” ‘ (112.1) When they returned (from the battle), they رضي الله عنهم mentioned that to the Prophet صل الله عليه و سلم. He صل الله عليه و سلم  said (to them), “Ask him why he does so.” They رضي الله عنهم asked him and he said, “I do so because it mentions the qualities of the Beneficent and I love to recite it (in my prayer).” The Prophet صل الله عليه و سلم said (to them), “Tell him that Allah loves him”

[Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 93, Number 472]

This is just a beautifully simply hadith. It speaks to the importance of sincerity, how sincerity can have the most unintended of beautiful consequences.

Narrated Abu Waqid Al-Laithi رضي الله عنه:

While Allah’s Apostle صل الله عليه وسلم  was sitting in the mosque with some people, three men came. Two of them came in front of Allah’s Apostle صل الله عليه وسلم  and the third one went away. The two persons kept on standing before Allah’s Apostle صل الله عليه وسلم  for a while and then one of them found a place in the circle and sat there while the other sat behind the gathering, and the third one went away. When Allah’s Apostle صل الله عليه وسلم   finished his preaching, he said, “Shall I tell you about these three persons? One of them be-took himself to Allah, so Allah took him into His grace and mercy and accommodated him, the second felt shy from Allah, so Allah sheltered Him in His mercy (and did not punish him), while the third turned his face from Allah and went away, so Allah turned His face from him likewise. “

[Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 3, Number 66]

Do you know how sometimes you feel uncomfortable upon entering a gathering of people?  This hadith reminds me of those moments when I am self-consciously searching for a place to sit…sometimes I want to find a spot in the middle of things. Other times, I want to disappear to a far edge and kind of hope nobody notices me.  And then there are those times when I wish I hadn’t even bothered, I wished I’d just stayed home. I hope it’s never the good types of gatherings I wanted to run away from!

Narrated Sahl رضي الله عنه:

A man passed by Allah’s Apostle صل الله عليه وسلم  and Allah’s Apostle صل الله عليه وسلم   asked (his companions رضي الله عنهم ) “What do you say about this (man)?” They رضي الله عنهم replied “If he asks for a lady’s hand, he ought to be given her in marriage; and if he intercedes (for someone) his intercessor should be accepted; and if he speaks, he should be listened to.” Allah’s Apostle صل الله عليه وسلم   kept silent, and then a man from among the poor Muslims passed by, an Allah’s Apostle صل الله عليه وسلم   asked (them) “What do you say about this man?” They رضي الله عنهم replied, “If he asks for a lady’s hand in marriage he does not deserve to be married, and he intercedes (for someone), his intercession should not be accepted; And if he speaks, he should not be listened to.’ Allah’s Apostle صل الله عليه وسلم  said, “This poor man is better than so many of the first as filling the earth.’

[Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 62, Number 28]

The wonderful thing about this hadith is that it clarifies so many things. First of all, we like to think (well, I like to think this anyway) that only our century is full of superficiality and problems with respect to who/which type of person is taken seriously. This might be a heightened issue in our times, but it certainly existed in the days of Rasulullah صل الله عليه وسلم. I guess the real difference between then and now is that the Ashaab Kareem ردالله عنهم accepted the errors in their thinking right away…while we Muslims of today think the flaws are in everyone but ourselves.  May Allah guide me to see my errors, ameen ya Rabb al ‘Alameen.

And one last thing: if you are poor, and feel ashamed of your status in this lowly world, remember that a earth-full of rightly-guided impoverished souls are better than a single, wealthy, wrongly-guided individual. Your poverty should be nothing to be ashamed of.

This will be of particular interest to the parents among us. I would go so far as to say it’s probably good advice for everyone: teachers who give gifts to students; students who give gifts to multiple teachers, etc. Makes for harmonious living, even if it’s not necessary and a matter of justice.

Narrated ‘Amir رضي الله عنه:
I heard An-Nu’man bin Bashir رضي الله عنه on the pulpit saying, “My father gave me a gift but ‘Amra bint Rawaha رضي الله عنه (my mother) said that she would not agree to it unless he made Allah’s Messenger صل الله عليه وسلم  as a witness to it. So, my father went to Allah’s Messenger  صل الله عليه وسلم and said, ‘I have given a gift to my son from ‘Amra bint Rawaha, but she ordered me to make you as a witness to it, O Allah’s Messenger !’ Allah’s Messenger صل الله عليه وسلم  asked, ‘Have you given (the like of it) to everyone of your sons?’ He replied in the negative. Allah’s Messenger صل الله عليه وسلم said, ‘Be afraid of Allah, and be just to your children.’ My father then returned and took back his gift.”

[Sahih Bukhari Volume 3, Book 47, Number 760]

Of course, my parents have always been beyond fair, alhamdulillah. And now I know why

After reading the previous Hadith, I got to wondering if I could list the seven things to avoid, and of course, I could not. So here is the hadith with the things to avoid…

Narrated Al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib:

Allah’s Apostle ordered us to do seven things and forbade us from seven. He ordered us to visit the sick, to follow funeral processions, (to say) to a sneezer, (May Allah bestow His Mercy on you, if he says, Praise be to Allah), to accept invitations, to greet (everybody), to help the oppressed and to help others to fulfill their oaths. He forbade us

1. to wear gold rings,
2. to drink in silver (utensils),
3. to use Mayathir (silken carpets placed on saddles),
4. to wear Al-Qissi (a kind of silken cloth),
5. to wear silk, Dibaj or Istabraq (two kinds of silk).

[Sahih Bukhari,Volume 7, Book 69, Number 539]

Except for the drinking from silver utensils, this all applies to the brothers amongst us. But, I guess we girls could really do with a little less gold and silk, really. (Oh, yes you can, missy!)

Narrated Muawiya bin Suwald:

I heard Al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib saying, “The Prophet orders us to do seven things and prohibited us from doing seven other things.” Then Al-Bara’ mentioned the following:–

1. To pay a visit to the sick (inquiring about his health),
2. to follow funeral processions,
3. to say to a sneezer, “May Allah be merciful to you” (if he says, “Praise be to Allah!”),
4. to return greetings,
5. to help the oppressed,
6. to accept invitations,
7. to help others to fulfill their oaths.

[Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 43, Number 625]

While we’re reading the news of what’s going on in Gaza, many of us are horrified, and more so by our complete inability to help our Muslim brothers and sisters who are dying and being maimed beyond belief. One thing we can do is keep them in our du’aas. Some may say, “what’s the point of a du’aa? Its not the same as action!” Well, visiting the sick does not help heal them in and of itself…yet, contributing a feeling of caring and positivity to those who are ill is invaluable to the healing process. The same surely applies to prayer.