Connect with us

Inspiration and Spirituality

The Status of The Poor in the Ummah

Published

by Faraz Omar (Editor Saudi Gazette)

“O, Prophet of Allah! The rich among us have taken away all the rewards,” complained the poor Companions. “They pray as we pray, they fast as we fast, but they also give wealth in charity (while we have no wealth to spend).” (Refer Imam Nawawi’s 40 Hadith for the full narration.)

THE poor among the Ummah deserve a special mention because they are more often than not overlooked, their interests disregarded and their voices ignored. Throughout human history, they have always been the first to believe in the Messengers of Allah, and they will enter Jannah 500 years before everyone else.

During Ramadan last year, at the initiative of a friend, we stood at a traffic signal giving away dates, water and laban just before Iftar time for commuting people who may not have a chance otherwise to break their fast with food. We distributed all the food packs without realizing we had kept none for ourselves, which left us with no other option than breaking our fast at a masjid nearby. The adhan was called while we were heading to the masjid.

Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah

Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.

The Prophet (SAW) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are small. Click here to support MuslimMatters with a monthly donation of $2 per month. Set it and collect blessings from Allah (swt) for the khayr you're supporting without thinking about it.

We joined the “banquet” of a people who would seldom – if ever – join ours. They were those whose names would never find place in the sprawling invitations we give out for our lavish feasts. Yes, they were all there – the African children and the Asian laborers.

Yet they welcomed us with a smile and made space for us. They shared their Iftar, which was no more than some dates, a piece of bread that they broke into half for us, and some drinks. Being used to excess, we couldn’t imagine how the already small meal would be sufficient for them if they divided between us.
The African children, stereotyped for crimes and what not, were wonderful. A boy turned to me and passed on his can of soft drink. What should I do? I refused. “Children they are after all, who not just love, but crave for sweet drinks,” I thought. He pushed the can towards me and gestured he would share his friend’s.

These are people who we don’t even say our salaams to. The Black women scavengers are seen all around the country. They stop with their trolleys and children at the time of Salah and pray on pavements. Nevertheless, we pass them by as if they don’t exist, as if they are excluded from the obligation of saying salaams to our fellow Muslims.

How much did I learn from that incident? I don’t know. Which lesson was the most important – being content with little; giving preference to others over ourselves; or genuine hospitality? I don’t know. I was reminded of a narration in Al–Bukhari: A man came to the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) and said, “Poverty has struck me.”

The Prophet asked his wives if they had anything to feed the man. They had none. So an Ansari man came forward to host the man. He took him home and told his wife, “Entertain the guest of Allah’s Messenger generously.” She said, “By Allah! We have nothing except the meal for my children.” He replied, “Put your children to sleep if they ask for supper. Turn off the lamps. We go to bed hungry tonight.” The lights were put off so the guest wouldn’t know the hosts had nothing to eat, but were merely pretending to eat in their empty plates. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said the next morning that Allah “laughed at the action of so-and-so and his wife” and then revealed the verse, “and they give them preference over themselves even though they were in need of that.” (Qur’an, 59:9)

Life carried on and the incident was soon buried in the sands of time till something similar took place this Ramadan. This time we were in the Prophet’s Mosque, waiting for the time of Iftar. As is the usual practice, locals of Madina compete with each other to serve the fasting people. The sufra was spread early, and the people were taking their spots – the places from where they would serve.

The hosts of the sufra where I was seated were a father and four sons, the eldest of whom looked no more than twelve. As yoghurt, bread, dates and water were being dished out, one of the boys would stand by the passageway inviting the influx of worshipers to break the fast at his sufra. He had many competitors to worry about. When people walked past him without paying any attention, he started to cling on to their arms with his tiny hands, pleading them to be his guests.

What desire to serve! How could any number of words describe that sight, or describe the emotions that would erupt from such a sight?
My hosts did not appear rich. Their clothes were simple. The father’s thobe was, according to the standards of elite, dirty. The family appeared to be even larger, and their income modest. Yet they were here spending their valuable money to feed others, so they could please their Lord and earn some reward.
There we were, sitting with fine, pressed clothes, eating shamelessly, and being pleased with the “how–good–we–are” thought. Such incidents really show who the real miskeen are. We have built up fortunes of kings, but give charity less than a pauper would. The truly rich are not those who have more cash, they are those who have big hearts filled with lots of generosity.

With all the education, culture and enlightenment, if we have not come up to the level of underprivileged Muslims in character then there’s some fundamental flaw in the methodology of our learning.

If the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) were alive today, the rich would really be complaining, “O, Prophet of Allah! The poor among us have taken away all the rewards!”

As published in the Saudi Gazette.

Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah

Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.

The Prophet (SAW) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are small. Click here to support MuslimMatters with a monthly donation of $2 per month. Set it and collect blessings from Allah (swt) for the khayr you're supporting without thinking about it.

15 Comments

15 Comments

  1. Mirza S Baig

    November 24, 2009 at 6:26 AM

    jazakumullah khair. reminds me of 3:134 tafsir; wassalam.

  2. ummmaryam

    November 24, 2009 at 6:54 AM

    mashallah..jazakillahu khairaaa.

  3. Amad

    November 25, 2009 at 2:26 AM

    That was beautiful Faraz… I could tell that it was heart-felt

  4. Faraz Omar

    November 25, 2009 at 5:06 AM

    Jazaak Allah khair for ur kind du’a, words mirza, umm maryam n amad. may Allah accept it… n thank u MM for publishing it.

  5. shahgul

    November 25, 2009 at 7:21 PM

    Needed to read this old fashioned raqeeq al qalb. Jazakallaha khair.
    Now I have to cook something for tomorrow’s iftar, inshallah.

  6. Running Muslimah

    November 25, 2009 at 8:23 PM

    Beautiful, and so true. I’ve observed the same thing myself. I remember when I was younger my masjid would rent a community center that was near the subway, so it was an ideal commuter jummah stop for all the Muslim taxi drivers. After Jumaah the donation boxes would be overflowing because even though they were not wealthy, everyone would put in one or two dollars. Compare that to the other masjids I’ve gone to with Lexus’ and Jaguars in the parking lot while the khateeb is pleading during post-Jumaah announcements to please donate generously.

    Lovely imagery as well. I felt like I could see it all unfolding.

    • Faraz Omar

      November 26, 2009 at 4:47 AM

      Subhan Allah…. Allahu Akbar… what paradox

    • Faraz Omar

      November 26, 2009 at 4:56 AM

      Does wealth make us stingier? Or is it because we tend to indulge into luxury that we don’t spend as we should be? The poor believers don’t have the luxuries, so they aren’t bothered about it. All they care about is their daily food, shelter and basic needs. Anything extra is Alhamdulillah.

      It’s interesting… how come uthman RA was so rich yet he would spend sooooooo much… the rich companions led an ascetic life… may be that’s why… it’s not really the wealth itself, it’s the extravagance may be…

  7. Amatullah

    November 25, 2009 at 9:07 PM

    Jazaak Allahu khayran.

  8. Sadaf Farooqi

    November 25, 2009 at 9:26 PM

    A good reminder for the month of Dhul Hijjah, when charity should be one of our priorities. Jazak Allahu khair.

  9. Umm Abdullah

    November 26, 2009 at 3:33 AM

    Good one. Brought tears to my eyes.

  10. hUddi

    November 26, 2009 at 6:51 AM

    nice mA

  11. Yassar

    November 27, 2009 at 11:42 PM

    Is it necessary to deprive oneself to serve others? Being rich is also a beautiful gift, seen as a means to serve others where the poor are unable to. If you don’t have money, how can you give it to others? Yes, one can give love/appreciation/support, but how long does it go to feed the hungry/malnourished child. I feel the emphasis must be on being responsible with one’s money, rather than depriving oneself of money.

    Either way, nice thought, and thank you for sharing.

  12. coolguymuslim

    November 28, 2009 at 11:27 AM

    this was a beautiful piece, jazakAllahkhair for sharing it
    -bilal

  13. Pingback: ‘They have taken away all rewards’ « Muslim Student Association at the University of Tennessee

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending