Bismihi Ta`ala
*Enjoy what you have-2nd part.*
*Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam used to turn poverty scale into a joyful one. He himself lived a life of simplicity(Ibn Majah) and refused a mountain of gold(Hayatus Sahabah) and used to fast when there was no food at home.(Bukhari) One of the main core proof that Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam was a true prophet is that he did not accumulate wealth to privilege himself, his family or his children. On the contrary he commanded simplicity to Fatimah ra, refused her a helper for her home chores, refused to enter her house when she decorated it with beautiful cloth, aware that his daughter`s house was gnawed by famine he sent for a bread of meat from a friend, endured silently famine for months and yet never complained to anyone nor did he made public his lack of food. And at the end, when Hazrat Fatimah ra brought her 2 sons Hassan and Hussein ra in front of Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam so that Rasouloullah may gift them something useful for their lives before His depart, He majestically refused and then answered: ‘’Rather, I have gifted Hassan my quality of high character and my nobility. And as for Hussein ra, I have gifted him my bravery and my generosity!’’(Tabrani/Ibn Asakir*
المعجم الكبير – الطبراني – (16 / 279)
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بن أَحْمَدَ بن حَنْبَلٍ، حَدَّثَنِي يَعْقُوبُ بن حُمَيْدِ بن كَاسِبٍ، ثنا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بن حَسَنِ بن عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَتْنِي زَيْنَبُ بنتُ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، عَنْ فَاطِمَةَ بنتِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَنَّهَا أَتَتْ بِالْحَسَنِ وَالْحُسَيْنِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي شَكْوَاهُ الَّذِي تُوُفِّيَ فِيهِ، فَقَالَتْ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ! هَذَانِ ابْنَاكَ فَوَرِّثْهُمَا شَيْئًا، فَقَالَ:أَمَّا الْحَسَنُ فَلَهُ هَيْبَتِي وَسُؤْدُدِي، وَأَمَّا حُسَيْنٌ فَلَهُ جُرْأَتِي وَجُودِي.
الْمَرَاسِيلُ عَنْ فَاطِمَةَ
*In fact Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam comforted his family during the extreme poverty they endured. Once He came home and asked if there was food. The wife answered that there was nothing except vinegar. So Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam said that is fine, he will eat. While eating, he said: ‘’Indeed vinegar is very good curry. Really it is very tasty.’’(Musnad Ahmad)*
مسند أحمد ط الرسالة – (23 / 370)
حَدَّثَنَا سُرَيْجٌ يَعْنِي ابْنَ النُّعْمَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَأَلَ أَهْلَهُ الْإِدَامَ، قَالُوا: مَا عِنْدَنَا إِلَّا الْخَلُّ، قَالَ: فَدَعَا بِهِ، فَجَعَلَ يَأْكُلُ وَيَقُولُ: ” نِعْمَ الْإِدَامُ الْخَلُّ، نِعْمَ الْإِدَامُ الْخَلُّ “
*On another occasion he said that poverty is not in the house that has vinegar. In reality he comforted his family and made poverty an enjoyment and satisfied himself with the bare famine standard. Because when he invited guests, he served meat and not vinegar.*
*This sunnah teaches us that should wealth be available, then make use of it and be comfortable.*
*Nonetheless, competition was never in wealth. The Quran exhorts us to compete rather in heights in the hereafter:*
خِتَامُهُ مِسْكٌ وَفِي ذَلِكَ فَلْيَتَنَافَسِ الْمُتَنَافِسُونَ [المطففين : 26]
‘’*The seal top (of the wine in Jannah) will be musk*. *And it is indeed for that, that competitors are called to compete.’’(83:26)*
Mufti Mackoojee