Reluctant Friday to Remembered Friday

By Abdullah Moulana Amin

Until a Friday about 5 months ago, I did not begin to realize what it meant to do things for the sake of Allah. It was a little while after the Jumuah prayer.  My elder sister had convinced me to join her for a tree-planting event at her university campus. I agreed reluctantly.

It was almost a full-day with my sister. There were many things on our to-do list after Jumuah prayer.

As we walked towards the planting site, my sister’s friends were ahead, while my sister and I were behind. What my sister did next made me laugh at her. She picked up an empty can of coke from the path. I asked her, “Sis, don’t you have better work to do?” She laughed, and jokingly shook her head.  “Nope.”

Soon everyone picked a sapling and got to work. My sister picked up a miswak sapling, and I reluctantly helped her. With her wide grin, she encouraged me to say “Bismillah.”  I felt defeated, but agreed when she told me a hadith about ongoing charity.

Narated By Anas bin Malik: Allah’s Apostle said, “There is none amongst the Muslims who plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, but is regarded as a charitable gift for him. [Bukhari, Volume 003, Book 039 (Agriculture), Hadith Number 513].

After we finished, I laughed at my sister again as I noticed the coke can in her hand. I asked her this time, “Why did you not throw it away when we went to plant the baby miswak tree?”

She smiled at me and said, “You know that Rasulullah (S) said that whoever removes something harmful from a path, it is an act of charity?” I shook my head, amazed at this new knowledge. As we walked, I saw a few twigs on the ground which I picked up and threw in the bin. My sister then tickled me as we walked and smiled, but didn’t say anything.

Ever since then, I always try to remember the hadiths my sister taught me that day.  Just a few days ago when my sister removed something from a different path, I told her, “I know why you picked that up!” On another day out with my sister, I asked her, “Can we go see the plant that we planted long ago?” She agreed. It is wonderful doing something for Allah’s sake. I ask Allah to allow us to do everything for His sake and for His love, and I ask Allah that we try our best to follow the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (S).

About the Author

Abdullah Moulana Amin lives in Doha, Qatar.  He is 10 years old.  

(Attention, writers!  Muslim Kids Matter is a regular feature at Muslim Matters.  New articles for kids are posted every other Sunday.  You’re welcome to send in your entries to muslimkidsmatter@muslimmatters.org.)