The Generosity of the Prophet

the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was the most generous and openhanded person ever. he possessed the most purified soul and was more generous than the blowing wind.

there is no wonder that the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,was the most generous person ever for he was the one who had the incredible magnanimous manners, and he was the one who was sent to perfect the best noble manners [al-haakim; al-albaani: saheeh (authentic)]

he was the one whom allaah the almighty testified to his sublime morality and refined manners. allaah the almighty says (what means): {so i swear by what you see. and what you do not see. [that] indeed, the quran is the word of a noble messenger.} [quran 69:38-40]

as can be observed, allaah the almighty gave him this description especially as it includes all refined manners such as truthfulness and sincerity. so, all of the manners of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, were noble and great and those who lived around him knew this fact well - even before he received the divine message.

his wife, khadeejah, may allaah be pleased with her, described him when he came to her terrified after the first time the angel jibreel (gabriel), may allaah exalt his mention, came to him; she said, “you keep good relations with your kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the calamity-afflicted.” [al-bukhaari and muslim]

such was the description of khadeejah, may allaah be pleased with her, which indicates the great generosity of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

if the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, possessed such noble traits before receiving the revelation, then what would his generosity have been like after becoming a prophet? what would his generosity be like when his lord had disciplined him in the finest manner? what would his generosity be like after receiving the noble quran which was his moral character?

there is no wonder in finding that the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was the most generous and noblest person for he never denied anyone who asked him anything. rather, he would spend and give in charity even if he had nothing to keep for himself. in fact, he would give so much in charity that it seemed as if he had no fear of want. indeed, he was the absolute master of the generous.

it was not only the companions of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, who acknowledged such generosity, but even his enemies acknowledged it. one of his former enemies, safwaan ibn umayyah, whose surprise at the generosity of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, led him to embrace islam, said, “the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave me (a lot) on the day of hunayn and he was at the time the most detested person amongst people in my eyes. but he continued giving me until now he is the dearest of people to me.” [at- tirmithi; al-albaani: saheeh (authentic)]

the generosity of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was well-known to his companions. it was they who narrated and recorded its incidents.

it was narrated that anas, may allaah be pleased with him, who his servant, described him saying, “the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was the best of people, the most generous of people, and the bravest of people.” [al-bukhaari and muslim]

it was also narrated that ‘abdullaah ibn ‘umar, may allaah be pleased with him and his father, said, “i have never seen someone who is braver, more generous, more courageous, or more handsome than the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.” [ad-daarimi]

it was narrated that jaabir ibn ‘abdullaah, may allaah be pleased with him, said, “never was the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, asked for a thing to be given to which his answer was 'no'.” [al-bukhaari and muslim]

in fact, the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, never abstained from giving to anyone who requested from him even if he himself was in need of it.

let us contemplate the following wonderful example of the great generosity and openhandedness of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. let my mother and father be sacrificed for him, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam:

it was narrated that sahl ibn sa‘d, may allaah be pleased with him, said, a woman brought a woven burdah (cloak) to the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said, "i have woven it with my own hands and i have brought it so that you may wear it." the prophet accepted it, and at that time he was in need of it. so he came out wearing it as his waist-sheet. a man among his companions, seeing him wearing it, said, "o messenger of allaah, please, give it to me to wear." the prophet said: "yes." when the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, left the gathering, he folded the burdah and sent it to the man. the people then rebuked the man, saying, "it was not nice on your part to ask the prophet for it when you know that he took it only because he was in need of it, and you also know that he never turns down anybody's request." the man said, "by allaah, i have not asked for it to wear it but to make it my shroud." (sahl added): “later, it indeed was his shroud.” [al-bukhaari]

if such was the generosity of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, at times of dire need, then what would his generosity have been like during times of ease?

in fact, the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was happier when giving in charity than the one who received it. he would urge people to spend their money, praised generosity, and rebuked stinginess and withholding charity.

had the mountain of uhud become gold for him, he would not have been pleased unless he had spent all of it in the cause of allaah the almighty. it was narrated that abu tharr, may allaah be pleased with him, said, while i was walking with the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in the harra area of madeenah, uhud came in sight. the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, "o abu tharr!" i said, "at your service, o messenger of allaah!" he said: "i would not like to have gold equal to this mountain of uhud, unless nothing of it, not even a single dinar of it remained with me for more than three days, except something which i will

keep for repaying debts. i would have spent all of it (distributed it) among the slaves of allaah like this, and like this, and like this." the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, pointed with his hand towards his right, his left and his back. he resumed walking and said: "the rich are in fact the poor (little rewarded) on the day of resurrection except those who spend their wealth like this, and like this, and like this,(and he gestured to the right, left and back) but such people are few in number..." [al- bukhaari and muslim]

the companions of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, recorded this fact for us as it is and far removed from any exaggeration. in fact, he received treasures of gold and silver and immediately spent them in the cause of allaah the almighty in only one session. he kept nothing of it.

it was narrated that when the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, received money from bahrain, and it was the largest amount of money he had ever received, he said:

“spread it in the mosque.” al-‘abbaas, may allaah be pleased with him, came to him and said, "o messenger of allaah, give me (something) because i paid ransom for myself and for (my servant) ‘aqeel." the messenger of allaah said: “take (what you like).” so he stuffed his garment with money and tried to carry it away but he failed to do so. he said, "o messenger of allaah! order someone to help me lift it." the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, “no”. he then said to the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,: “will you help me to lift it?"

the messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “no.” then al-‘abbaas discarded some of it and again tried to lift it (but failed). he again said, "o messenger of allaah, order someone to help me lift it." the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, again said: “no.” al- ‘abbaas then again said to the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, "will you help me to lift it?" he again said: “no.” then al-‘abbaas discarded some of it, and lifted it on his shoulders and went away. the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, kept on watching him till he disappeared from sight, astonished at his keenness to have as much as he could of it . the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not get up till the last coin had been distributed. [al-bukhaari and muslim]

he would collect the booty of the battle and distribute all of it within an hour and take nothing of it. he once gave away a large flock (of sheep and goats) that filled the area between two mountains. [muslim]

additionally, the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not wait until people came to ask him; rather, he would give before he was asked whenever he had something to give. in fact, the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would feel annoyed because of the money he had and which he had not yet had the chance to give out .

it was narrated that umm salamah, may allaah be pleased with her, said, “once the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came to me with a worried look on his face, and i thought that he was ill, so i said, ‘o messenger of allaah, what is the matter with you, you look worried? he replied: ‘it is because of the seven dinars that we received yesterday. the night passed and we did not distribute them, and they were in the corner of the bed.’” [ahmad and al-bayhaqi]

it was narrated that jubayr ibn mut‘im, may allaah be pleased with him, said, “while i was in the company of the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, with the people returning from hunayn, some bedouins caught hold of the prophet and started begging of him so much so that they pushed him against a tree and his cloak was snatched away. the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘give me my cloak. if i had as many camels as these thorny trees, i would have distributed them among you. you will not find me a miser, a liar or a coward.’" [al-bukhaari]

this was just part of the generosity of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. his table was laid out for every guest, and his house was a destination for every comer. he spent wealth for the purpose of hospitality, fed the hungry, preferred the needy and the stranger to himself and sent gifts to his kin.

thus, the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was an ideal example in generosity and openhandedness.

he would spend whatever he had in the cause of his lord. assuredly, no person could ever equal the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in terms of generosity. all his companions, loved ones and followers, and even his enemies, greatly benefited from his generosity.

jews, bedouins and hypocrites ate at his table, and it was never mentioned that he complained about any of his guests, or from any questioner. rather, it was narrated that a bedouin overtook the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and pulled his burdah (cloak) forcibly such that the edge it left a mark on his neck (because of the force of the pull). the bedouin said, "o muhammad, order some of the property of allaah which you have and give it to me, for you do not give me anything from your father's or mother's property." the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, turned towards him, smiled and ordered that he be given something. [al-bukhaari and muslim]

along with the generousity of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in giving money or other material items, he also had an unprecedented and unique example of generosity with regards to self-exertion, good companionship and true affection. he would be cheerful and smile in the face of anyone he met to the extent that one would believe that he was the most beloved of the companions to the prophet. sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

the benevolence of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, encompassed all people. his food was offered to everyone, his palm was outstretched to give, and he had a pleasant personality and a cheerful countenance with everyone.

it was narrated that anas, may allaah be pleased with him, the servant of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said describing his unmatchable magnanimous manners that can not be found in anyone else, “the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was the kindest person ever. no one asked him something but he listened to him. he never left until the one who asked had already done so. no one would come to shake hands with him but that he would extend and stretch his hand to welcome him, and he would never pull his hand away until the other man had pulled his hand away already.” [abu nu‘aym al-asbahaani in dalaa’il an- nubuwwah]

as a matter of fact, the generosity of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, has been decisively proven to be superior to that of anyone else. he was generous with his noble honor, time and comfort for the good of his ummah, whether males or females, freemen or slaves. it was narrated that anas, may allaah be pleased with him, said, “any of the girl-slaves of madeenah would take hold of the hand of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and take him wherever she wished.” [al-bukhaari]

the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would urge people to intercede on behalf of those who were in need and gave glad tidings of intercession according to the verse in which allaah the almighty says (what means): {whoever intercedes for a good cause will have a reward therefrom.} [quran 4: 85] he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, recommended such actions saying:

“intercede and you will gain a reward for it.” [al-bukhaari and muslim] he also promised that a person who intercedes in favor of others will receive a great reward: “whoever goes with his muslim brother to fulfill his needs, allaah will make him stand firm on the day when all (other’s) feet will slip.” [at-tabaraani; al-albaani: saheeh (authentic)]

such intercession was practically proved when the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, interceded for mugheeth, the black slave, whose wife chose to annul her marriage to him when she was set free. mugheeth would follow her on the streets of madeenah with tears flowing down his cheeks. he asked the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to intercede for him with her. out of the sublime morality and generosity of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, he himself went to her to intercede for this slave and said: “o bareerah, fear allaah, for he is your husband and the father of your child.” she knew well how to differentiate between the command and the intercession of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, so she said, “o messenger of allaah, are you commanding me to do that?” he said, “no, i am simply interceding.” she said, “i have no need of him.” she refused to accept the intercession of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for she disliked her husband very much. then the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to al-‘abbaas: “are you not astonished at the love of mugheeth for bareerah and the hatred of bareerah for mugheeth?” [abu daawood, an- nasaa’i and ibn maajah; al-albaani: saheeh (authentic)]

the notable point here is that the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, presented his honor in interceding, however, his request was turned down and yet he found nothing wrong with the matter. rather, he gave himself up to the ummah of islam. he exerted his time and energy striving in the cause of allaah the almighty. on the battlefield, he was the bravest and the nearest to the enemy. the most skillful fighters used to seek shelter with him.

despite his unmatched generosity and exertion, he would belittle his efforts, saying, for example, when his finger was wounded a holy battles in the cause of allaah: “you are just a finger that bled, and in the cause of allaah is what you met.” [al-bukhaari and muslim]

does the like of such unique generosity exist elsewhere?

allaah the almighty, the most truthful says (what means) describing him: {and indeed, you are of a great moral character.} [quran 68:4]