Our Esteemed Prophet ﷺ

Our Prophet: The Most Sublime, The Most Great

Our esteemed Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

(Part 12)

Abu al-Noor Rashid Ali Attari Madani

23.   Saying of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم:

انمااَنَا قَاسِمٌ وَ الـلّٰـهُ يُعْطِی

I am the one who distributes, and Allah Almighty bestows.^[1]

24.   Saying of the Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم:

أَنَا أَجْوَدُ وَلَدِ آدَمَ

I am the most generous from the offspring of Adam.^[2]

The abovementioned sayings mention two names of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم: ‘Qasim’ and ‘Ajwad.’

These two names denote the meaning of the one who grants and who distributes, and the one who is generous and benevolent, respectively.

If one studies the biography of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم to learn about his generosity and benevolence, one will come to know that the topic of him being a generous, distributor of blessings can be divided into four parts:

1.   Being the owner of divine treasures and having complete authority over them.

2.   Not turning away anyone who asked for something.

3.   Giving generously.

4.   Not hoarding goods.

1. Being the owner of divine treasures and having complete authority over them.

It is an accepted and basic belief of Muslims that it is Allah Almighty who bestows and has ultimate authority and power, and it is the Almighty who has granted complete authority to His beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم which is understood from the words of the Hadith: ‘انمااَنَا قَاسِمٌ وَ الـلّٰـهُ يُعْطِی’

Allamah Ahmad Khateeb al-Qastalani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه in his al-Mawahib al-Ladunniyyah has spoken of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم being the owner of everything in the following way:

ھُوَ صَلَّی الـلّٰـهُ عَلَیْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمَ خِزَانَةُ السِّرِّ وَمَوْضِعُ نُفُوْذِالْاَمْرِ فَلَا یَنْقُلُ خَیْرٌ اِلَّا عَنْهُ وَلَا یَنْفُذُ اَمْرٌ اِلَّا مِنْهُ صَلَّی الـلّٰـهُ عَلَیْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمَ

Translation: ‘He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is a secret of Allah Almighty and the nucleus from which divine laws are implemented. No goodness is conveyed except that it is from him, and a matter is only implemented through him.’

Hakeem-ul-Ummah Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Na’eemi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه states: ‘All religious and worldly blessings—knowledge, faith, wealth, children, etc.—are granted by Allah and distributed by the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Whosoever attained anything did so through the hands of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, as neither is there a restriction in the giving of Allah, nor is there a restriction on the distribution of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Hence, [based on the Hadith cited above,] it is incorrect to think that the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم only distributes knowledge, otherwise this would necessitate that Allah only grants knowledge too.’^[3]

After narrating numerous hadith about the bestowals of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, the Imam of the Ahl Al-Sunnah, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه writes: ‘There is no such wealth, blessing or respect—which is actually classed as wealth and respect—that has been granted to anyone by Allah Almighty except that it has also been granted to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم too. Whatever has been or will be granted to anyone in the world or the Hereafter, it is all for the sake of and by virtue of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and is granted through his hands.’^[4]

In another place, he wrote:

جعل سبحنه و تعالی خزائن رحمته ونعمه وموائد جودہ وکرمه طوع یدیه،و مفوضة الیه صَلَّی الـلّٰـهُ عَلَیْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمَ ینفق کیف یشاء الـلّٰـه تَعَالٰی

Translation: ‘Allah Almighty has placed the treasure of His mercy, entire blessings, His generosity and benevolence at the disposal of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. He has handed over all this to him; he may bestow it as he pleases.’^[5]

The Imam further states: ‘Every blessing that a person has received, is receiving and will continue to receive until eternity—be it religious or worldly—all have been attained, are still being attained and will forever be attained by virtue of and through the noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, the greatest vicegerent of Allah Almighty.’  

2. Not turning away anyone who asked for something

The state of many generous people in the world is that they will grant something if they have it; they will save and hoard for themselves and give to others; and there are hundreds of thousands of people across the world who earn large amounts, save it but also show generosity. However, there is also no shortage of people who only spend when they have savings, and as soon as it appears to them that their income is low, they stop spending (which, nonetheless, is not reprehensible). However, may we be sacrificed upon the generous and benevolent Prophet, for he neither accumulated wealth, nor did he consider the increase or decrease of wealth, instead he gave in abundance. Moreover, even if he did not have anything with him, he would not turn someone away. The companions رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُم have even narrated that the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم never said ‘no’ to a beggar. It is mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari:

مَا سُئِلَ النَّبِیُّ صَلَّی الـلّٰـهُ عَلَیْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ شَیْءٍ قَطّ فَقَالَ” لَا“

Translation: ‘The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was never asked for anything to which he replied with ‘no.’^[6]

This implies that the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was never asked for any worldly wealth to which he responded saying ‘no’. If he approved of giving, he would give, and if he did not, he would remain silent and turn his face away.^[7]

Once, a beggar came to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. At the time, no wealth was present, and so the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم permitted him to take a loan on his behalf and said that when some wealth comes, he will repay the debt. Sayyiduna Umar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said: ‘O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Allah Almighty has not obligated you with more than you can bear.’ The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم did not like this statement. An individual from the Ansar said: ‘O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Bestow, and do not fear diminishment from the Lord of the Throne.’ Upon hearing this, he smiled, and signs of happiness could be seen on his face. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then said: ‘This is what I have been commanded.’^[1]

The discussion regarding the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم giving generously and not hoarding goods will be included in next month’s issue.