Charity to own relatives first
A woman lost her husband through death. She decided to give charity on his behalf. One Friday night she prepared some food and sent her son to give it to a poor man who lived near her house. While sending the food the dead man's son felt very hungry but he controlled himself and after having given the charity, he returned home hungry and went to bed.
The next Friday the same sequence of events took place. On the third Friday, the orphan while sending the food to the poor, could not control himself and ate the food on the way. That night the widow of the dead man dreamt her husband who told her that: "That night was the first night whence he received the reward of the charity she had given, while the charities she had given before had not reached him."
The widow got up and doubting that her son had committed a blunder went to investigate the matter. Her little orphan said that contrary to her suspicion he had sent the charity the two Friday's to the poor man, and it was on the third Friday that he had eaten the food.
It was then that the widow understood that her son deserved the food more than the poor neighbor. Thus we need to give charity to our near kith and kin before we look further.
Almighty Allah (SWT) says in the Noble Qur'an: "But he would not attempt the uphill road, and what will make you comprehend what the uphill road is? (It is) the setting free of a slave, or the giving of food in a day of hunger. To an orphan, having relationship, or to the poor man lying in the dust." (90:11-16)
Prophet Muhammad (S) also said: "Charity given to a relative it serves a double purpose, being both charity and a connecting link." (Tirmidhi)
How we wish we could be one of those who will be walking to Mina this evening...
How we wish we could echo the labbaik with the melodious crowd....
How we wish we could take our pebbles & pelt the hated-one...
How we wish we could lay our head on the blessed ground of Muzdalifah....
How we wish we could let our tears fall on the plains of Arafat...
How we wish we could see the ka'bah and perform tawaaful ziyarat....
Oh ALLAH, with this ache in my heart to be amongst those whom You have called this year 1432...
Let our names be amongst those whom You will call next year 1433...Ameen
Oh ALLAH! be with us at every step we take,
Oh ALLAH! guide us in each decision we make,
Oh ALLAH! help us when life gets rough,
Oh ALLAH! bless us with more than enough,
Oh ALLAH! protect us when we fall,
... Oh ALLAH! hear us when we call,
Oh ALLAH! sooth our heart when we dnt understand,
May we Always be in ALLAH's loving hand. Ameen
A woman named Maryam once knew a young person at mosque named Aisha. Aisha always seemed effervescent and happy, although Maryam knew she had faced struggles in her life. Her long-awaited marriage had quickly ended in divorce.
She had struggled to get a grip on her single life. She hadn't chosen it, but she decided she would live it with utmost enjoyment and satisfaction. Aisha was active in the madressah, in the day trips out, as a leader of the womans sports club, and in the da'wah movement. Maryam enjoyed knowing Aisha. Aisha's whole face seemed to smile and she always greeted Maryam with a hug.
One day she asked Aisha, "How is it that you are always so happy - you have so much energy, and you never seem to get down?"
With her eyes smiling, Aisha said, "I know the secret!"
"What secret is that? What are you talking about?" Maryam asked. Aisha replied, "I'll tell you all about it, but you have to promise to share the 'secret' with others."
Maryam agreed, "Okay, now what is it?"
"The secret is this: I have learned there is little I can do in my life that will make me truly happy. I must depend on ALLAH to make me happy and meet my needs. When a need arises in my life, I have to trust Allah to supply according to HIS riches. I have learned most of the time I don't need half of what I think I do. HE has never let me down. Since I learned that secret-I am happy."
Maryam's first thought was, That's too simple! But upon reflecting over her own life she recalled how she thought a bigger house would make her happy - but it didn't! She thought a better-paying job would make her happy - but it hadn't. When did she realize her greatest happiness? Sitting on the floor with her grandchildren, eating pizza - a simple gift from ALLAH.
"God suffices for anyone who relies on Him"
[65: 3]
May I never get too busy (Kindness in Islam, Story of Kindness)
It was a bitter, cold evening. The old man's beard was glazed by winter's frost while he waited for a ride across the river. The wait seemed endless. His body became numb and stiff from the frigid north wind. He heard the faint, steady rhythm of approaching hooves galloping along the frozen path.
Anxiously, he watched as several horsemen rounded the bend. He let the first one pass by without an effort to get his attention. Then another passed by... and another. Finally, the last rider neared the spot where the old man sat like a snow statue.
As this one drew near, the old man caught the rider's eye and said, "Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side? There doesn't appear to be a passageway by foot."
Reining his horse, the rider replied, "Sure thing. Hop aboard."
Seeing the old man was unable to lift his half-frozen body from the ground, the horseman dismounted and helped the old man onto the horse. The horseman took the old man not just across the river, but to his destination, which was just a few miles away.
As they neared the tiny but cozy cottage, the horseman's curiosity caused him to inquire, "Sir, I notice that you let several other riders pass by without making an effort to secure a ride. Then I came up and you immediately asked me for a ride. I'm curious why, on such a bitter winter night; you would wait and ask the last rider. What if I had refused and left you there?"
The old man lowered himself slowly down from the horse, looked the rider straight in the eyes, and replied, "I've been around here for some time. I reckon I know people pretty good."
The old-timer continued, "I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately saw there was no concern for my situation. It would have been useless even to ask them for a ride. But when I looked into your eyes, kindness and compassion were evident. I knew, then and there, that your gentle spirit would welcome the opportunity to give me assistance in my time of need."
Those heartwarming comments touched the horseman deeply.
"I'm most grateful for what you have said," he told the old man. "May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion."
Ya Allah, Make me among those about whom the Noble Qur'an has said: "And they give them preference over their own selves even though they are in need". (Hashr 59:9)
Moral: Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
It was a bitter, cold evening. The old man's beard was glazed by winter's frost while he waited for a ride across the river. The wait seemed endless. His body became numb and stiff from the frigid north wind. He heard the faint, steady rhythm of approaching hooves galloping along the frozen path.
Anxiously, he watched as several horsemen rounded the bend. He let the first one pass by without an effort to get his attention. Then another passed by... and another. Finally, the last rider neared the spot where the old man sat like a snow statue.
As this one drew near, the old man caught the rider's eye and said, "Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side? There doesn't appear to be a passageway by foot."
Reining his horse, the rider replied, "Sure thing. Hop aboard."
Seeing the old man was unable to lift his half-frozen body from the ground, the horseman dismounted and helped the old man onto the horse. The horseman took the old man not just across the river, but to his destination, which was just a few miles away.
As they neared the tiny but cozy cottage, the horseman's curiosity caused him to inquire, "Sir, I notice that you let several other riders pass by without making an effort to secure a ride. Then I came up and you immediately asked me for a ride. I'm curious why, on such a bitter winter night; you would wait and ask the last rider. What if I had refused and left you there?"
The old man lowered himself slowly down from the horse, looked the rider straight in the eyes, and replied, "I've been around here for some time. I reckon I know people pretty good."
The old-timer continued, "I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately saw there was no concern for my situation. It would have been useless even to ask them for a ride. But when I looked into your eyes, kindness and compassion were evident. I knew, then and there, that your gentle spirit would welcome the opportunity to give me assistance in my time of need."
Those heartwarming comments touched the horseman deeply.
"I'm most grateful for what you have said," he told the old man. "May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion."
Ya Allah, Make me among those about whom the Noble Qur'an has said: "And they give them preference over their own selves even though they are in need". (Hashr 59:9)
Moral: Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
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