What the Prophet said about the poor

Dubai - Those made wealthy by Allah have to pay the Zakat of their wealth

One of the great reforms that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) brought was the rights and treatment of the poor.
Prior to the advent of Islam, pagan Arabs used to disregard the poor. They would look down on them, and could care less about them; the poor people were basically an insignificant portion of society.
However so, with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) all that changed. Muslims were now obliged to look after the poor, and were required to spend their wealth to help out the poor.
Some of the Prophet's sayings on the subject are given below for the guidance of Muslims during this month of piety:
Narrated by Syedana Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "Allah said, 'O son of Adam! Spend, and I shall spend on you." (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Volume 7, Book 64, Number 264.
This teaching of the Prophet to spend and to give in charity, was a very common message that he would often give as we read in another hadith:
Narrated by Syedana Haritha bin Wahab: I heard the Prophet saying, "O people! Give in charity as a time will come upon you when a person will wander about with his object of charity and will not find anybody to accept it, and one (who will be requested to take it) will say, "If you had brought it yesterday, would have taken it, but today I am not in need of it." (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Volume 2, Book 24, Number 492.
Narrated by Syedana Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said: "Whoever is made wealthy by Allah and does not pay the Zakat of his wealth, then on the Day of Resurrection his wealth will be made like a bald-headed poisonous male snake with two black spots over the eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and say, 'I am your wealth, I am your treasure.'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Volume 2, Book 24, Number 486.
Narrated by Syedana Abu Huraira: The Prophet said: "The best charity is that which is practiced by a wealthy person. And start giving first to your dependents." (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Volume 2, Book 24, Number 507.
We also read in another hadith, what the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would do when he encountered poor people:
Narrated Syedana Abu Burda bin Abu Musa: That his father said: "Whenever a beggar came to Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) or he was asked for something, he (peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) used to say (to his companions), "Help and recommend him and you will receive the reward for it; and Allah will bring about what He will through His Prophet's tongue." (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Volume 2, Book 24, Number 512:
And in another hadith we also read the following;
Narrated by Syedana Abu Huraira: The Prophet said: "The one who looks after a widow or a poor person is like a Mujahid (warrior) who fights for Allah's cause, or like him who performs prayers all the night and fasts all the day." (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Volume 7, Book 64, Number 265.
So the Prophet Muhammad compared the one who looks after a poor person, with the one who fights in the cause of Allah. As everyone knows, the one who fights in the cause of Allah has a very high place and status in Islam, it is one of the highest honors one can have, yet the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) explicitly states that a person who looks after a poor person is like the one who fights in the cause of Allah.
Thus one can see the very high value and importance Islam attaches to helping and looking after the poor. This teaching is a major incentive and motivation for the people to take care, and to look after the poor.
Indeed what a great reform the Prophet Muhammad brought! Now if all of us around the world could follow these teachings in regards to the poor people, then this would be a much better place! -KMZ (Source: from the writing of SaÍmi Zaatari)
 
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What the Prophet said about the poor
 
One of the great reforms that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) brought was the rights and treatment of the poor.
Prior to the advent of Islam, pagan Arabs used to disregard the poor. They would look down on them, and could care less about them; the poor people were basically an insignificant portion of society.
However so, with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) all that changed. Muslims were now obliged to look after the poor, and were required to spend their wealth to help out the poor.
Some of the Prophet's sayings on the subject are given below for the guidance of Muslims during this month of piety:
Narrated by Syedana Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "Allah said, 'O son of Adam! Spend, and I shall spend on you." (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Volume 7, Book 64, Number 264.
This teaching of the Prophet to spend and to give in charity, was a very common message that he would often give as we read in another hadith:
Narrated by Syedana Haritha bin Wahab: I heard the Prophet saying, "O people! Give in charity as a time will come upon you when a person will wander about with his object of charity and will not find anybody to accept it, and one (who will be requested to take it) will say, "If you had brought it yesterday, would have taken it, but today I am not in need of it." (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Volume 2, Book 24, Number 492.
Narrated by Syedana Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said: "Whoever is made wealthy by Allah and does not pay the Zakat of his wealth, then on the Day of Resurrection his wealth will be made like a bald-headed poisonous male snake with two black spots over the eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and say, 'I am your wealth, I am your treasure.'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Volume 2, Book 24, Number 486.
Narrated by Syedana Abu Huraira: The Prophet said: "The best charity is that which is practiced by a wealthy person. And start giving first to your dependents." (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Volume 2, Book 24, Number 507.
We also read in another hadith, what the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would do when he encountered poor people:
Narrated Syedana Abu Burda bin Abu Musa: That his father said: "Whenever a beggar came to Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) or he was asked for something, he (peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) used to say (to his companions), "Help and recommend him and you will receive the reward for it; and Allah will bring about what He will through His Prophet's tongue." (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Volume 2, Book 24, Number 512:
And in another hadith we also read the following;
Narrated by Syedana Abu Huraira: The Prophet said: "The one who looks after a widow or a poor person is like a Mujahid (warrior) who fights for Allah's cause, or like him who performs prayers all the night and fasts all the day." (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Volume 7, Book 64, Number 265.
So the Prophet Muhammad compared the one who looks after a poor person, with the one who fights in the cause of Allah. As everyone knows, the one who fights in the cause of Allah has a very high place and status in Islam, it is one of the highest honors one can have, yet the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) explicitly states that a person who looks after a poor person is like the one who fights in the cause of Allah.
Thus one can see the very high value and importance Islam attaches to helping and looking after the poor. This teaching is a major incentive and motivation for the people to take care, and to look after the poor.
Indeed what a great reform the Prophet Muhammad brought! Now if all of us around the world could follow these teachings in regards to the poor people, then this would be a much better place! -KMZ (Source: from the writing of SaÍmi Zaatari)

• Ramadan 2021