بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
WHO CAN BE LIKE ABU DAM-DAM?
Have you heard of Abu Dam-Dam radiallahu anhu? He was a Sahaabi (companion) of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam. It was his daily habit to tell Allah in the morning: “O Allah! I do not possess any wealth which I could donate to the people as charity. I therefore donate my honour to them. Thus I forgive anybody who will swear me or falsely accuse me of something that I did not do.” Knowing of this practice of Abu Dam-Dam, Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam would ask his Sahaabah radiallahu anhum: “Who among you can be like Abu Dam-Dam?”
Subhaanallah! He was generous with his honour. This means that generosity is not confined to the wealthy and financial donation. Do you recall the occasion when the Muhajireen complained to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam that: “The wealthy (i.e. the Ansaar) have acquired lofty stages and eternal comfort. They perform salaah and fast like us. However, they have excess wealth. Thus they go on Haj, ‘Umrah and Jihaad and they give charity.” Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam asked them if he could inform them of method by which they could achieve the same status as the Ansaar and excel others. Their answer was obviously “yes”. Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam then advised them to say Subhaanallah, Al-Hamdulillah, and Allahu-Akbar thirty three times each after every salaah. Some time later, the poor Muhajireen returned to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam and complained that: “Our wealthy brothers heard of what we were doing and began doing the same.” Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam replied, “That is the bounty of Allah which He bestows to whomever He desires.” What about the Hadith that “every Subhaanallah is sadaqah, every Al-Hamdulillah is sadaqah, every Laa ilaaha illallah is sadaqah, every Allahu-Akbar is sadaqah”? In short, dhikr (the remembrance) of Allah is a form of charity. There is therefore no need for the less fortunate to despair; they too can be charitable – they can engage in the dhikr (the remembrance) of Allah, follow the example of Abu Dam-Dam or engage in some of the many other forms of generosity in Islam. This incorporates:
1. Sacrificing one’s life for the sake of Allah. Ibn-ul-Qayyim rahimahullah described this as the noblest form of generosity.
يجود بالنفس اذ ضن البخيل بها – و الجود بالنفس أقصى غاية الجود
“He is generous with his life when the miser is stingy with it.
Generosity with one’s life is the highest level of generosity.”
2. Fulfilling the needs of others by engaging in an action that may seem beyond one’s status as a leader. The example of Abu Bakr radiallahu anhu may be cited in this regard. Prior to his appointment as khaleefah (head of state) he would milk the goats for the people in his locality. At the time of his appointment as khaleefah it was feared that he would no longer assist his neighbours in this task. However, Abu Bakr radiallahu anhu proved that these fears were unfounded. Despite becoming the khaleefah, he continued to milk the goats until his demise. Similarly, he would often meet a slave-girl taking her animals to the pasture or the pen. On such occasions he would not hesitate to offer his assistance to the slave-girl. He would thus be seen taking the animals to the pasture or pen even though he was the khaleefah.
3. Sacrificing one’s comfort (for example, sleep, a family get-together or a long anticipated fishing trip) in order to fulfill the needs of others.
متيم بالندى لو قال سائله – هب لى كرى عينيك لم ينمِ
“Enthralled with being generous, if the beggar tell him:
‘Give me your sleep!’ he will not sleep.”
4. Using one’s integrity to assist people. One way of doing this could be to intercede on behalf of a needy person with somebody who may be able to fulfill his need. If the needy person approaches the other person on his own, his request may not be granted. However, his request stands a greater chance of being granted if you speak on his behalf. You therefore pay the other person a visit or merely telephone him and intercede on behalf of the person in need. Actions of this nature have been described as the zakaah of one’s jaah (integrity).
5. Sharing one’s knowledge with others. This includes:
Answering the queries of the people (provided one is qualified to do so).
To give a detailed answer instead of a mere yes or no.
To answer more than the actual question. For example, when the Sahaabah radiallahu anhum asked Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam whether it is permissible to make wudoo with seawater, he did not suffice with answering the actual question. Instead he replied that just as seawater is suitable for wudoo, the fish that die in the sea are halaal (suitable for Muslim consumption).
Sharing one’s knowledge with others is described as the zakaah of one’s knowledge.
6. Rendering manual assistance to others. Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said in this regard that helping a man mount his conveyance or load his goods thereon are acts of charity.
7. Exercising patience and tolerance and overlooking the inconvenience caused by others. Ibn-ul-Qayyim quoted two aayaat in this regard:
و الجروح قصاص فمن تصدق به فهو كفارة له
“And there is retribution in wounds. However, whoever is charitable in this regard (overlooks the crime done to him and does not demand retribution), it will be an atonement for him.”
و جزاؤا سيئة سيئة مثله فمن عفا و أصلح فأجره على الله
“The compensation of an injustice is an equal amount of injustice. However, the one who forgives and rectifies (his own actions), his reward is by Allah.”
Ibn-ul-Qayyim writes that a person who experiences difficulty in being generous with his wealth should engage in this type of generosity because he will be able to pluck its praiseworthy fruits in this world already (i.e. before the Hereafter). He also comments that this is a very noble type of generosity; it is more beneficial than generosity with one’s wealth. However, it can only be achieved by people who have big hearts.
8. Displaying good character when dealing with others. This is also a form of generosity. In fact, it is even greater than the previous type. It allows those who observe it to attain the ranks of the pious servants of Allah who fast everyday of their lives (excluding the five days in the year during which fasting is impermissible) and spend their nights in optional salaah. On the Day of Qiyaamah it will be the weightiest item to be placed on the scale of the Mu’min (believer). Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said, “Do not look down on any good action even if it be meeting your brother with a smiling face.” There is tremendous benefit and much pleasure in this type of generosity. Remember, man’s wealth is limited. It cannot suffice all the people. However, he can benefit all of them with his good character.
9. Abstention from the wealth of others. Thus you neither desire their wealth in your heart nor do you engage in any physical activity (speech or otherwise) to gain it. Abdullah bin Mubaarak said regarding this type of generosity:
انه أفضل من سخاء النفس بالبذل
“It is greater than sacrificing one’s life (for a good cause).”
It is as if the pauper is being told that although he does not possess wealth, he too can be generous. All that he has to do is abstain from the wealth of others. If he does that, he will be able to excel them because while he will be able to compete with them in generosity, he will enjoy comfort.
Before concluding let us ask ourselves: Can we be like Abu Dam-Dam? I hope that reading the above different types of generosity, you have not forgotten who Abu Dam-Dam was. I also hope that you and I will never forget the question of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam: “Who among you can be like Abu Dam-Dam?”
We conclude beseeching Allah to guide us to implement all of the above traits in our lives.
و صلى الله على نبيه المصطفى و على آله و أصحابه أجمعين
برحمتك يا أرحم الراحمين
Abu Hudhaifa Muhammed Karolia
02 Sha’baan 1431 \ 14 July 2010
Al-Jaami’ah Al-Mahmoodiah
Persida, Springs