Admonition of Ramadan: Be Generous!
Brother, Have you been diligent in reciting the Qur’an during this Ramadan? Or probably in attending the religious lessons, thus you’ve learned much of this religious knowledges?
You probably answered, “Well, I don’t know, whether or not I’m included among people who recited the Qur’an much?! And I’m confused too whether or not I have got much religious knowledges from the lessons I attended?”
Brother, do you want to know where are your position in those affairs?
Easy, Brother, there’s no need to be confused, since it’s not hard to know where exactly your position is. Curious, eh? Think carefully about this hadith below, and you’ll certainly find it there.
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِىُّ صلى الله عليه و سلم أَجْوَدَ النَّاسِ بِالْخَيْرِ ، وَكَانَ أَجْوَدُ مَا يَكُونُ فِى رَمَضَانَ ، حِينَ يَلْقَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ ، وَكَانَ جِبْرِيلُ – عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ – يَلْقَاهُ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ فِى رَمَضَانَ حَتَّى يَنْسَلِخَ ، يَعْرِضُ عَلَيْهِ النَّبِىُّ صلى الله عليه و سلم الْقُرْآنَ ، فَإِذَا لَقِيَهُ جِبْرِيلُ – عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ – كَانَ أَجْوَدَ بِالْخَيْرِ مِنَ الرِّيحِ الْمُرْسَلَةِ. متفق عليه
“”It is narrated from Ibn Abbas -may Allah be pleased with him-, he said, “The Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- was the most generous man in terms of kindness (properties), and his generosity peaked on Ramadan, when he met the angel Gabriel. Angel Gabriel used to visit the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- on every night of month Ramadan until the end of the month. The Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- recited the Qur’an in front of him. When he had met the angel Gabriel -peace be upon him- he seemed to be very generous in terms of kindness (properties) compared to the wind breezed.” (Muttafaqun ‘alaih)
Ibn Hajar al Asqalani explained that the term ‘generosity’ in shari’a is by giving something appropriate to be given, to people who deserve it. Thus, the meaning of generosity is wider than just charity.” (See: Fathul Bari 1/31)
Brother! The generosity of the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- peaked during Ramadan, particularly after he recited the Qur’an with angel Gabriel – peace be upon him-. Do you know why his generosity increased to it’s peak on the month of Ramadan?
Wasn’t people productivity suppose to be decreased in this month, hence their income was probably decrease too?
Didn’t we fast in this month, thus we suffered from hunger and thirst, and we longed for having and enjoying all foods and drinks we got? Try to remember Brother, what did you do before the fast breaking time? I wonder, you felt that you wanted to eat all foods on the serving table by yourself. Wasn’t it?
The scholars had explained the wisdom beneath the change of Prophet’s generosity peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- during the month Ramadan, moreover after he recited the Qur’an with angel Gabriel. It was said that reciting and understanding the meaning of the Qur’an encouraged him to feel more content with himself, and free from avariciousness. And such feeling is the foundation of generosity. Plus, in Ramadan, Allah the Exalted granted double fold of His favors to mankind, hence the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- was pleased to follow Allah’s divine will, by increasing his generosity.
By all those virtues united within him, the excellence of time and his meeting with angel Gabriel, his generosity was doubled too.” (See: Fathul Bari 1/31)
You’d like to know, how far was the extent of his generosity? The following hadith is one of the example:
عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: جَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ فَأَعْطَاهُ غَنَمًا بَيْنَ جَبَلَيْنِ فَرَجَعَ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ فَقَالَ يَا قَوْمِ أَسْلِمُوا فَإِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا يُعْطِى عَطَاءً لاَ يَخْشَى الْفَاقَةَ.
Anas -may Allah be pleased with him- said, “One day, there was a man who met the Messenger of Allah-peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, and the Prophet gave him as a prize, goats as a valley. The man ran to his people spontaneously and told them, “O My people, embrace Islam, because indeed, Muhammad gives away plenty of gifts, as if he had never been afraid of poverty. ‘” (Narrated by Muslim).
Brother! Re-read those hadith above.
It is depicted in it that his generosity was better than the breezing wind. It is a sing that his generosity was not directed only to certain people, but to all people without difference, although they were different in terms of dignity, kinship, etc. As these words too a sign that his generosity was ever continued and never stopped.
Now, do you know whether you’ve read much of the Qur’an, and got many religious knowledges or not?
Know it, Brother, that if the Qur’an recitation you’ve done and religious lessons you’ve attended have encouraged you to be generous, it meant that you are indeed among people who are diligent in reciting the Qur’an and you have mastered the religious knowledge.
Contrary to that, if your Qur’an recitation and your religious lessons with the chaplains didn’t encourage you to be generous, then you need to evaluate and correct your Qur’an recitation and religious knowledges.
The Qur’an as well as the religious lessons always guide you to increase your faith to Allah the Exalted and His promises to the generous people. Your religious knowledge will guide you to be more faithful that for every single help you offered to others, there’s Allah’s reward for you.
مَا مِنْ يَوْمٍ يُصْبِحُ الْعِبَادُ فِيهِ إِلَّا مَلَكَانِ يَنْزِلانِ فَيَقُولُ أَحَدُهُمَا: اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِ مُنْفِقًا خَلَفًا وَيَقُولُ الْآخَرُ: اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِ مُمْسِكًا تَلَفًا.
“There isn’t a morning passed but there are two angels descended to it and one of them prayed, “O Allah, give a reward for the alms-giver.” while the other prayed, “O Allah, destroy the stingy (one who refused to give alms). “ (Muttafaqun ‘alaih)
Brother! What about your condition in this month, whether you become more generous or the vice verse? It is only you who know the answer, thus prove it to yourself that you too could be more generous in this holy month.
May Allah the Exalted includes us in this holy month among those who have been proven to be generous . Amin.
****
Author: Ustadz Muhammad Arifin Badri, M.A.
Article of www.whatisquran.com