Excellence of Simple Living and Being Content with Little 2

[bamalli]

501. Aboo Hurayrah radhiallaahu` anhu reported: The Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaah`alayhi wa sallam used to supplicate: "O Allaah, make the provisions of the family of Muhammad bare subsistence." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim].

502. Aboo Hurayrah radhiallaahu` anhu reported: By Allaah other than Whom there is none worthy of worship, I used to press my stomach against the earth owing to my hunger; I would tie a stone over it. One day, I was sitting on the way they usually take when the Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam passed by me. When he saw me he smiled at me and knew my condition and my feelings. He Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam called me and I replied, "At your service, O Messenger of Allaah." He said, "Follow me." So I followed him. Having arrived at home, he sought permission and entered. He allowed me in and I, too, entered. He found milk in a bowl and asked, "Where is this from?" He was told that it was a gift for him from so-and-so. He called me and I responded: "At your service, O Messenger of Allaah." He Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam said, "Go to the people of As-Suffah and usher them in." He, Aboo Hurayrah radhiallaahu` anhu explained: The people of As-Suffah were guests of Islam; they had no family, no property and no relations. When the Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam used to receive something in charity, he would send it to them without taking anything from it. When he received a present, he would send for them and share it with them. On this occasion, I disliked to give them anything. I said to myself: "This meagre quantity of milk will not be enough for all the people of As-Suffah! I am more deserving of it than anyone else. By drinking it I may attain some strength. When they come, he will order me to give it to them. I do not expect that anything will be left for me from this milk." As there was no alternative but to obey Allaah and His Messenger Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam. I went and called them. They came and sought permission which was granted. They took their seats. The Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam called me and I responded, "At your service, O Messenger of Allaah." He then said, "Take the milk and give it to them." I took the bowl and gave it to one man who drank his fill and returned it to me, and I gave it to the next and he did the same. I went on doing this till the bowl reached the Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam. By that time all had taken their fill. He Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam took the bowl, put it on his hand, looked at me, smiled and said, "Aboo Hirr." I said, "At your service, O Messenger of Allaah." He said, "Now you and I are left." I said, "That is true, O Messenger of Allaah." He said, "Sit down and drink." I drank, but he went on saying, "Drink some more." I said, "By Him Who has sent you with the Truth, I have no room for it." He said, "Then give it to me." So I gave him the bowl. He praised Allaah, uttered the Name of Allaah and drank the remainder. [Al-Bukhaari] .

Commentary: First, this Hadeeth indicates the miracle of the Prophet Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam as well as his love and compassion for Ahlus-Suffah, i.e., those poor people who used to stay at As-Suffah.  Second, the Prophet Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam would not accept charity, but only gifts. Third, he would also let others share a gift given to him by somebody. Fourth, as seen in this incident, the leftovers of a Muslim, whether food or drink, is permissible to others to consume. Fifth, to persuade a guest to eat or drink more is commendable. Sixth, to eat or drink to one's fill, without extravagance, is also permissible.

503. Muhammad bin Sirin radhiallaahu` anhureported: Aboo Hurayrah radhiallaahu` anhu said: "I would fall in swoon between the pulpit of (the masjid of) the Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam and the chamber of 'Aishah radhiallaahu` anha and every passer-by would put his foot on my neck thinking I was insane. I was not insane but I was awfully hungry." [Al-Bukhaari] .

Commentary: The Hadeeth throws light on the poverty of the Companions as well as their self-respect, patience and contentment which prevented them from begging people.

504. 'Aishah radhiallaahu` anha reported: When the Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam died, his armour was mortgaged with a Jew for thirty Sa' (measures) of barley. [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim].

Commentary: In the Hadeeth, there is a mention of the asceticism of the Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam and also a permissibility for transactions with the people of the Book (the Jews and the Christians). That is why he mortgaged his coat of mail with a Jew and took a loan against it.

505. Anas radhiallaahu` anhu reported: The Prophet Sall Allaah `alayhi wa sallam mortgaged his armour for a quantity of barley, and I took to him some barley bread and rancid fat. I heard him saying: "The family of Muhammad never possessed a measure of wheat from dawn to dusk although they were nine houses (to feed)." [Al-Bukhaari] .

Commentary: The Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam was perfectly humble and very generous to the point that he did not put anything away for himself until he had to mortgage his own armour for food.

506. Aboo Hurayrah radhiallaahu` anhu reported: I saw seventy of the people of As-Suffah and none of them had a cloak. They had either a lower cloth or a blanket which they suspended from their necks. Some reached half way down to the legs and some to the ankles, and one of them would manage to keep it in his hand to avoid exposing his private parts. [Al-Bukhaari] .

507. 'Aishah radhiallaahu` anha reported: The mattress of the Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam was a piece of tanned skin stuffed with palm fibres [Al-Bukhaari] .

Commentary: The Prophetic model of a simple way of living pictured in these ahadeeth is vastly different from today's luxurious lifestyle adopted by Muslims. May they adopt the simplicity of their Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam!.

508. Ibn 'Umar radhiallaahu` anhu reported: We were once sitting in the company of the Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam when a man from the Ansar came and greeted. As he was leaving, the Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam said to him, "O brother of the Ansar, how is my brother Sa'd bin 'Ubadah?" He replied, "He is well." The Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam asked, "Which of you is desirous of visiting him?" Having said this he got up and we followed him. We were ten and odd in number and we had neither shoes nor light boots nor caps nor shirts. We walked on foot through the barren plain till we came to the residence of Sa'd radhiallaahu` anhu. His people made way and the Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam along with those who accompanied him went up to him. [Muslim].

Commentary:  In this Hadeeth the description which the Companions made about their condition reflects its relevance with this chapter. Second, we come to know that the Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam called Sa'd radhiallaahu` anhu as his brother. This shows his perfect humbleness and great care for his Companions. Third, if the house is small, the host is presumed to make arrangement within the narrow space to accommodate the visitors, so that they may sit beside the patient for a while and enquire about his health.

509. 'Imraan bin Husain radhiallaahu` anhu reported: The Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam said, "The best of you, are my contemporaries, then those who follow them, then those who will come after them. ('Imraan said, I do not know if he said this twice or thrice). Then, they will be followed by those who will testify but will not be called upon to testify; they will betray the trust, and will not be trusted. They will make vows but will not fulfill them, and obesity will prevail among them." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim].

Commentary: In this Hadeeth, three eras have been called as the best of ages in a graded order: first, the Prophetic era, second, the Successors' era, and third, the Followers of the Successors' era. Goodness and religion collectively prevailed during this time. Then gradually there was an overall deterioration and every new era that the pass of time brought it, proved to be worse than the preceding one. Today's Muslims have fallen due to their weakness in character. Now, the majority of Muslims lack morals and belief as described in the Qur'aan and the Hadeeth. The complaint is to be lodged only with Allaah the Exalted!

510. Aboo Umamah radhiallaahu` anhu reported: The Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam said, "O son of Adam, if you spend the surplus, it will be better for you; and if you retain it, it will be evil for you. You will not be reprimanded for storing what is enough for your need. First of all spend upon those who are your dependents." [At-Tirmidhi] .

Commentary: The Muslims have been allowed, rather emphatically told and commanded, to possess as much wealth as could meet their personal and family needs. Yet, they have also been advised to spend the spare money on the needy. Man has been told that it is unwise on his part to be niggardly about money because it spawns unfavourable results in this world as well as in the Hereafter. The concentration of wealth within a few hands freezes its vitality and leads to corruption in society. As for the Hereafter, the result of stinginess will be definitely bad as the Qur'aan says:

"The things which they covetously withheld shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection." (3:180)

Some 'Ulama' are of the opinion that after the payment of the annual Zakaat (poor-due), it is not necessary to spend more. But to be accurate, if somebody pays Zakaat and yet retains enough money with him, and there are some needy people also in his knowledge, then he will be bound to spend on them. At-Tirmidhi quoted a Hadeeth in which Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam said, "Indeed there is a right (for poor) in the wealth in addition to Zakaat."

511. 'Ubaidullah bin Mihsan Al-Ansari radhiallaahu` anhu reported: The Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam said, "Whosoever begins the day feeling family security and good health; and possessing provision for his day is as though he possesed the whole world." [At-Tirmidhi] .

Commentary: To have one-day food and to enjoy peace and health is indeed a great blessing. It may be said that one has the same satisfaction which one can have on getting the whole world. And if one lacks peace and health, the treasures of the whole world will be of no use because the heaps of wealth cannot provide peace of mind to one, nor can it make one enjoy sound health. The Hadeeth also implies an advice to man that instead of running after wealth, he should endeavour to seek patience and contentment which alone can guarantee him peace and satisfaction. Otherwise, he is likely to stake everything on the pursuit of this mirage.

512. 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'as radhiallaahu` anhu reported: The Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam said, "Successful is the one who enters the fold of Islam and is provided with sustenance which is sufficient for his day's needs, and Allaah makes him content with what He has bestowed upon him." [Muslim].

Commentary:  The real success of a man will be measured by his being blessed with Divine mercy and forgiveness in the Hereafter, and this is contingent on Islam alone. If he lacks the wealth of Islam, all the worldly possessions will not ensure his success in the next world. This Hadeeth tells us that richness is not to be defined in terms of a lot of belongings, and that the real richness is gauged by the contentment of the soul.

513. Fadalah bin 'Ubaid Al-Ansari radhiallaahu` anhu reported: I heard Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam say: "Happiness is due to him who is guided to Islam and possesses provision that suffices him for his day and remains content." [At-Tirmidhi] .

Commentary: The word Tuba (translated here as happiness) is given to Jannah. Some Ahadeeth say that it is the name of a heavenly tree as well. Lexically, however, it means greeting and good tiding. The sense of this Hadeeth is analogous to that of the previous one.

514. Ibn 'Abbas radhiallaahu` anhu reported: The Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam went to bed hungry for several successive nights, nor did his family have a thing for supper for many consecutive nights; and their bread was mostly of barley. [At-Tirmidhi] .

Commentary: This Hadeeth also displays the asceticism and economic scantiness of the Prophet Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam and his wives.

515. Fadalah bin 'Ubaid radhiallaahu` anhu reported: When the Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam led Salaat, some people would fall down from their standing posture out of extreme hunger. They were of the people of As-Suffah. The nomad Arabs would say that they were insane. After concluding Salaat, the Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam would turn to them and say, "If you were to know what is in store for you with Allaah, the Exalted, you would wish to augment your starvation and lack of provisions." [At-Tirmidhi] .

Commentary: The habit of maintaining self-respect in the period of studentship makes man self-respecting, patient and content throughout his life. The dignity of 'Ulama' lies in patience, contentment and indifference and not in wishing to drain the purses of others and asking them for alms.

516. Miqdad bin Ma'dikarib radhiallaahu` anhu reported: I heard the Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam say: "No man fills a container worse than his stomach. A few morsels that keep his back upright are sufficient for him. If he has to, then he should keep one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for his breathing." [At-Tirmidhi] .

Commentary:  This Hadeeth dissuades us from overeating as this causes laziness and affects one's health.

517. Aboo Umamah bin Tha'labah radhiallaahu` anhu reported: The Companions of the Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam mentioned the life of the world before him. He Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam said, "Do you not hear? Do you not hear? Simplicity (in life) is part of Faith, simplicity is part of Faith." [Aboo Dawood].

Commentary: This Hadeeth invites our attention to a simple way of living - ordinary dress and simple and non-rich food - and discourages us from being habitual of an affected life style - use of costly dress, delicious and rich food and other dainties of life. The more a man shuns the trappings and accessories of life, the better engaged will he be in being readied for the Hereafter. The increased degree of his involvement in worldly comforts and luxuries will keep decreasing his concern for the accountability of future life. We may keep it in mind that simplicity does not mean escape from cleanliness. Because cleanliness is in itself 'half the Faith'. How can a believer ignore purity and cleanliness?

518. Jabeer bin 'Abdullah radhiallaahu` anhu reported: Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam sent us in an expedition under the command of Aboo 'Ubaidah radhiallaahu` anhu to intercept a caravan of the Quraish. He provided us with a bag of dates, apart from which he found nothing for us. Aboo 'Ubaidah radhiallaahu` anhu gave each of us one date (every day). He (the narrator) was asked: "What did you do with that?" He said: We sucked that just like a baby and then drank water over that, and it was sufficient for us for the day until night. We beat off leaves with the help of our sticks, then drenched them with water and ate them. We then went to the seaside, when there appeared before us something like a big mound. We came near it and we found that it was a beast called Al-Anbar. Aboo 'Ubaidah radhiallaahu` anhu said: "It is dead (so it useless for us)." He then said: "No (but it does not matter), we have been sent by Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam in the way of Allaah and you are hard-pressed (on account of the scarcity of food), so you can eat that." We, three hundred in number, stayed there for a month until we fattened up (having plenty to eat of that fish). He (Jabeer) said: I saw how we extracted pitcher after pitcher full of fat from the cavity of its eye, and sliced from it compact piece of meat equal to a bull or almost like a bull. Aboo 'Ubaidah radhiallaahu` anhu called thirteen men from us and he made them sit in the cavity of its eye, and he held one of its ribs and raised it erect and then saddled the biggest of the camels we had with us and it passed through it (the arched rib), and we carried large pieces of meat for use in our journey. When we came back to Al-Madeenah we went to Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam and told him about that, whereupon he said, "That was a sustenance Allaah had brought forth for you. Do you have any piece of meat left with you, for us to eat." Jabeer radhiallaahu` anhu said: We sent to Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam some of that (meat) and he ate it. [Muslim].

Commentary: This Hadeeth also points to the economic pinch from which the Companions suffered in the early phase of Islam. They braved it patiently. Secondly, The blessing came to them in the sense that each one of them was patient enough to live on a single date-fruit and water in twenty-four hours. Thirdly, it emphasizes that according to the circumstances, there is always room for Ijtihad (independent juristic reasoning). First Aboo 'Ubaidah radhiallaahu` anhu hesitated, but later he established a different opinion on the basis of his Ijtihad and decided to use the body of the giant fish as food. Fourthly, it provides us a proof of the sacrifice of the Companions that Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala miraculously granted them such a huge sea-fish that a group of three hundred people kept eating for one month. Fifthly, it tells us that a sea-carrion is a lawful food as indicated in another Hadeeth: "The water of the sea and its carrion are both Halaal." Sixthly, this particular fish, like the whale, is a gigantic phenomenon which is normally about 50 feet long."

519. Asma' bint Yazid radhiallaahu` anha reported: The sleeves of the shirt of the Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam reached his wrists. [At-Tirmidhi] .

Commentary:  Wearing long clothes is commonly known to be a sign of arrogance. Moreover, such type of dress retreads physical movement, whereas short clothes cause inconvenience to the wearer in summer and winter. Moderation, therefore, is the best way and therefore, the Prophetic example.