Ultimate Generosity

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Once 'Omar al-Khattab (radhiAllahu anhu) complained to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam that Ali ibn Abi Talib (radhiAllahu anhu) never gave him salam (Islamic greetings) when they met. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam summoned Ali and asked him to explain his actions. Ali said that he had heard the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam saying that whoever initiates a greeting to his brother in Islam first, will be given a palace in jannah (a high reward), and he wanted that reward to be bestowed upon 'Omar. This was why every time he met 'Omar, he delayed his greeting, so that 'Omar would initiate the greeting and be rewarded for it.

In another incident, Ali entered the house and gave his greetings to his wife, Fatimah (radhiAllahu anha), the most beloved daughter of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam. She had a pain in her stomach, and requested Ali to take the few dirhams she had to buy some pomegranates for her. Ali obliged and purchased a pomegranate from the market. On the way home, a poor man in the street waved to him, saying “Ya Ali, I’m a very poor man. Do you know what I want? I want a pomegranate.” Without any hesitation Ali immediately gave the poor man the pomegranate, explaining that he had bought it for his wife but gave it to the poor man instead for the sake of Allah. The poor man offered to take half the pomegranate only, but Ali refused and instead went home empty handed. He explained the incident to Fatimah when he got home. Immediately, she replied, “Best, what you did. It is better that you give it to the poor person.” Some time later, there was a knock on the door. It was Salman Al Farisi (radhiAllahu anhu) bearing a tray of nine pomegranates in his hand. He said that a man had come to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam asking him to give the pomegranates to Ali. Ali inquired whether this was all that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam gave him. Salman Al Farisi revealed that there was a tenth pomegranate which he had purposely concealed! After a while, Ali enquired with the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam what actually transpired. Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wassallam replied that the poor man was Angel Jibril alayhissalaam, who, in the form of a man, came to check Ali’s iman. After Ali passed the test, Allah sent down the ten pomegranates for the obedience and sacrifice of Ali and his wife for the path of Allah – for Allah rewards tenfold for every good deed performed.

It has been said that 'Othman’s generosity could not be surpassed by anyone, with the exception of Abu Bakr. Other than significant contributions made during the conquest of the Islamic State, 'Othman took it upon himself to give alms and look after widows and orphans. It was also customary for him to free a slave every Friday.

The Muslims in Medina were poor as they had left their worldly possessions in Mecca. Much depended on the Ansar (dwellers of Medina) to adopt a Muhajireen (emigrants from Mecca) to support them in maintaining their livelihood and for survival. A Jewish trader had taken advantage of the need for the city dwellers’ survival when he sold water (a precious commodity indeed) at a very high price. 'Othman took the initiative to relieve them of such high expenses. He offered to buy the well at Rawmah from the Jew but was only allowed to purchase half of it. 'Othman then told the Muslims to purchase enough water for two days each time it was his turn to sell water, thereby avoiding purchase of water on the second day when it was the Jew’s turn to use the well. The Jew was then unable to get any buyers and eventually had to sell his share to 'Othman. The well then overflowed with its sweet water and provided the people of Medina with water at no price or account.

When the number of converts to Islam increased in Medina, the space available for them at the mosque in Medina decreased. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam had hoped that perhaps one of his Companions could help with the purchase of the neighboring area to facilitate the expansion of the mosque. 'Othman was only too willing to oblige and proceeded to the owners of this area with an offer to purchase. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam had said, “Who will buy the land of so and so add it to the mosque in return for something good for him in Paradise?”

Again, when the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam returned from their victorious campaign in Makkah, he sought to expand the area of the sacred mosque. He suggested that the owners of the home beside the mosque to donate it but they did not, saying that they had nothing else to their name and no other means of finding another home. For the third time 'Othman came forward, purchased a house for the owners with an even larger one than they had given up.

During the rule of Abu Bakr, the Muslims had undergone great hardship and one of them was the need for food. As a merchant, 'Othman was due to receive a substantial delivery of food and other goods from Damascus but he had chosen to give up the entire caravan to the poor to help them survive the harsh conditions.

Abu Bakr was the quickest of the Companions to rush to any good deed. 'Omar ibn Al-Khattab said: "The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam ordered us to give sadaqa (charity). It happened to coincide with some wealth I had just acquired and I said to myself: If I will every surpass Abu Bakr, this is the day I will surpass him. And so I came to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam with half of my wealth and he (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) said to me: "What have you left for your family?" I said: The same amount. Then Abu Bakr came with all of his wealth. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said to him: "What have you left for your family?" He said: I have left them Allah and His Messenger." I said: I will never surpass you in anything." [Dawood]

Narrated Aslam: Ibn 'Omar asked me about some matters concerning 'Omar. He said, “Since Allah’s Apostle died, I have never seen anybody more serious, hardworking and generous than 'Omar bin Al−Khattab (till the end of his life).” [Bukhari]

Generosity and Leadership of 'Omar Al-Khattab

Look at this ultimate generosity, kindness and love of the companions for each other and for Islam. Where is our iman compared to theirs, our relationship with each other, and our priority in life?

"None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." [Bukhari and Muslim]

May Allah increase our love for the great companions and enable us live according to their noble examples and resurrect us with them. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakum Allahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam