The Holy Quran has repeatedly reminded\nus about helping the poor, and it has taught us that our help should be only\nfor the sake of Allah (SWT). Muslims are told that when giving in charity, they\nmust not follow up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with\ninjury, since this act voids their charity. In this regards verse 264 of Surah\nBaqarah says, \u201cO you who believe! Do not render in vain your Sadaqah (charity)\nby reminders of your generosity or by injury, like him who spends his wealth to\nbe seen of men, and he does not believe in Allah, nor in the Last Day.\u201d(1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So how should we help the poor? Allah\n(SWT) answers this in verse 271 of Surah Baqarah, \u201cIf you give alms openly, it\nis good, and if you hide it and give it to the poor, it is better for you.\u201d (2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ali ibn Isa narrates the following\nfrom Ibn Aisha, \u201cI heard the people of Medina saying: \u201cWe lost hidden charity\nafter Ali ibn Hussain (PBUH) passed away.\u201d (3)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There were several families in Medina\nwho received help from Imam Sajjad (PBUH), yet they were not aware where the\nhelp was coming from. Once Imam Sajjad (PBUH) was martyred, those helps were\nalso cut. (4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ibn Sa\u2019ad, a famous Sunni scholar,\nwrites, \u201cWhen a poor or needy would approach (Ali ibn Hussain (PBUT)) he would\nrise immediately, help the person, and say, \u2018Charity first reaches Allah before\nreaching the one who asked for it\u201d (5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imam Ali Ibn Hussain (PBUT) had a poor\ncousin. Imam used to go to visit him every night and give him some money while\nhe could not see Imam\u2019s face. That man used to say, \u201cAli Ibn al-Hussain (PBUT)\ndoes not consider his poor family members; may Allah (SWT) punish him.\u201d Imam\nheard these words many times and never said anything; he continued to be\nanonymous with his patience. After Imam’s martyrdom, his cousin did not receive\nany charity and then realized that the generous man who used to help him was\nAli Ibn al-Hussain (PBUT). Thus, he went to Imam’s cemetery and cried there…\n(6)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abu Na’eim, another Sunni scholar,\nwrites, \u201cWhenever a poor approached him, he used to say, \u2018Blessing of Allah\nupon the one who takes bounties for me to hereafter.\u2019(7) After he passed away,\npeople realized that Imam Sajjad (PBUH) paid for expenses of one hundred\nfamilies. (8)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He sacrificed a lamb and asked it to\nbe cooked whenever he fasted; then he would go to the kitchen near the sunset\nand say, \u201cTake this plate to this home and that to another.” Once the food\nwas completely distributed, then he would break his fast with bread and dates.\n(9)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indeed, Imam Sajjad (PBUH) did all of\nthis for the sake of Allah (SWT) and hence Allah (SWT) improved his image to an\nunsurpassed level amongst the people. Imam\u2019s enemies tried their best to hide\nhis image in the society; but he became far more popular than they could\nimagine. Certainly, no one can cover the sun from shining\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Selection taken\nfrom \u201cLife of Ali Ibn al-Hussain (PBUT)\u201d by Late Dr. Sayyed Ja\u2019far Shahidi)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Roshd website offers condolences upon\nthe 25th of Muharram al-Haram, the martyrdom anniversary of the symbol of\ngenerosity, Imam Ali ibn al-Hussain (PBUT) to the Muslims of the world and\nespecially you dear friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. The Holy\nQuran, (2:264)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. The Holy\nQuran, (2:271)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Kashf\nal-Ghummah, vol. 2, p. 78 & p. 101 \u2013 Manaqib, vol. 4, p. 153 \u2013 Safwat\nul-Safwah, vol. 2, p. 54.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Irshaad ,\nvol. 2, p. 148 – Kashf al-Ghummah, vol. 2, p. 77 & 92 – Manaqib, vol. 4,\npv.153 \u2013 Khisaal p. 616 \u2013 I’laam al-Waraa p. 262.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Tabaghaat,\nVol. 5, p. 160<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Kashf\nal-Ghummah, vol. 2, p. 107 \u2013 Hilyat al-Awliaa\u2019, vol. 3, p. 140<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Safwat\nul-safwah, vol. 2, p. 54 – Hilyat al-Awliaa\u2019, vol. 3, p. 136 – Tabaghaat, vol.\n5, p. 164<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8. Bihaar al-Anwaar,\nvol. 46, p. 72<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Holy Quran has repeatedly reminded us about helping the poor, and it has taught us that our help should be only for the sake of Allah (SWT). Muslims are told that when giving in charity, they must not follow up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury, since this act voids […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28248],"tags":[20966,17778,18060,20967,19421,20965,18131,20431,22,18418,17943],"class_list":["post-4332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","tag-2009-01-22","tag-allah","tag-believe","tag-charity","tag-help","tag-hidden-charity","tag-holy","tag-imam-sajjad","tag-muslims","tag-occasion-letters","tag-quran"],"yoast_head":"\n