Among the good deeds that will make us happy in the afterlife is theThe
greatness of our charity by giving food and drink to those in need.
The Episode of the King of the Generous
Hadrat Ibn ‘Abbas (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) is reported to have said that once Hadrat Hasan (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and Hadrat Husain (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) fell seriously ill. Hadrat ‘Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and Hadrat Fatimah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) made an avowal to the effect that if their sons recovered, they would keep three fasts. By the grace ot God, their sons recovered and in fulfillment of their vow, they started keeping fasts. Since there was nothing in their house to eat, they had to keep the first fast without food. In the morning, Hadrat ‘Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) approached a Jew, called Sham‘un, with the request that if he should give some spinning wool in consideration of some wages, the daughter of the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would spin it.
It was settled that the Jew would give a bundle of spinning wool in consideration of three sacks of barley. Hadrat Fatimah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) spanned one-third of wool and received one sa‘ of barley. She ground them and prepared five breads—one bread for the husband and wife each, one for the two boys each, and one for the maid-servant called Fazzab. Hadrat ‘Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) worked hard all day long, and after saying his sunset prayer with the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) he returned home. The dinner was arranged, and he had hardly broken a loaf of bread, when a beggar knocked at their door.
The begga,r addressing them as the members of the family of the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) begged for food saying that he was poor and needy. He prayed that Almighty might provide them with the food of Paradise. Hadrat ‘Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) stopped eating. He consulted Hadrat Fatimah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) who teadily agreed to give pieces of bread to the beggar. As all breads were given to the beggar, they could not satisfy their hunger.
They had to keep the second fast without food. In the morning, Hadrat Fatimah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) span one-third of wool and obtained one sa‘ of barley. She ground them and cooked loaves of bread. When Hadrat ‘Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) returned home after saying his sunset prayer with the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), they sat together to take meal. Instantly, an orphan knocked at their door saying that he was lonely and destitute. They gave all breads to him. On the third day, they drank water and kept a fast.
In the morning, Hadrat Fatimah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) spun the rest of the wool and obtained one sa‘ of barley. After grinding them, she cooked bread. They offered their sunset prayer and sat together to take a meal. Instantly, a prisoner knocked at their door, saying that he had fallen on evil days and was needy. They gave all bread to him and did not eat anything. On the fourth day, they were under no obligation to observe a fast but they had nothing to eat. Hadrat ‘Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), accompanied by his sons, visited the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Hunger and weakness had made it difficult for him to walk.
The Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) told Hadrat ‘Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) that he was deeply moved to see him and desired to see Fatimah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا). When the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) visited Hadrat Fatimah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) she was saying her prayer. Due to hunger, her eyes did not roll in the sockets and her belly had squeezed. The Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) embraced her and prayed for her.
On that occasion, the verses of Sura Dahr “And they feed the food to the needy, the orphan and the prisoner, for love of Him’ were revealed through Hadrat Gabriel (رحمة للعالمين) who congratulated them on that glad tidings. Allama Sayuti (mercy of Allah be upon him) has written a brief note in Dur Manthur with reference to Ibn Marduwiya who reported on the authority of Hadrat Ibn. ‘Abbas (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)) that these verses were revealed in honour of Hadrat ‘Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and Hadrat Fatimah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا).
رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ
صلى الله عليه وسلم
رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا
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