Helping those in need

Salaams all -

For the many poor and homeless people that live on our city streets, the winter months can be very trying. As difficult as it is to try to get by without food, water or shelter, it is just that much harder during the cold winter months. With the economy in recession, I've noticed more and more people on the streets of Baltimore asking for money or food. With this is in mind, I would like to share some hadith about the importance of giving food and charity to the needy.

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "Feed the hungry, visit the sick and set free the captives." - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Hadith 552. "(The righteous are those) who feed the poor, the orphan and the captive for the love of God, saying: 'We feed you for the sake of God Alone; we seek from you neither reward nor thanks.'" - (Quran, 76:8-9).

'Uthman an-Nahdi reported that 'Abdurrahman ibn Abi Bakr as-Siddiq informed him that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: "He who has enough food for two, let him invite a third, and he who has food for four, let him invite a fifth or a sixth."

It is related from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri that the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, said: "He whose holdings exceed his needs, let him support the one whose holdings do not, and he whose food exceeds his needs, let him share it with him who does not have food."

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri says: "Then he mentioned so many kinds of property that we thought no one of us had the right to have anything surplus with us." Concerning this tradition, it is reported on the authority of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari that the Prophet (pbuh), said: "Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and ransom the prisoner."

'Umar says: "If I were to live again the past which I have already lived, I would take the surplus from the rich and distribute it among the poor immigrants (mujhajirun)."

'Ali said: "Allah, the Exalted One, has placed a due upon the properties of the rich to meet the needs of the poor. Thus, if the poor go hungry or naked or struggle because of the neglect of the rich, then Allah will hold them [the rich] accountable on the Day of Judgment and will punish them."

It is related from 'Aishah (the mother of the believers), al-Hasan ibn 'Ali, Ibn 'Umar that all of them replied to those who had asked them: "If you are asked for help in cases of blood money, heavy debt, or desperate poverty, then it is a must for you to give them from your holdings."

InshaAllah, we will remember these hadith the next time we cross someone in need.

Wa-Salaams,
Azim