An Islamic Treasury of Virtues
3. Worship
~ 102 ~
asked him if he had left anything for his family, he
said that he had. The Prophet then asked him what
he had left for them and he said, “Something of
greater value and more excellent than what I have
donated.” The Prophet then enquired as to the exact
value. “Whatever provision and good fortune God
and His Prophet have promised” was Abdul
Rahman ibn Auf’s reply. Abu Aqeel Ansari,
however, had brought only one
sa ‘as
of dates. He
told of how he had spent the whole night hauling
water for a Jew, for which he earned two
sa’as
of
dates. One
sa ‘a
he had left for his household. The
other he had brought with him. He felt ashamed of
his paltry contribution and excused himself on the
grounds that he had nothing else to give. Such was
the open-hearted sincerity of the true Muslims.
There were hypocrites of Madinah, however, who
used to decry the contributors of substantial sums
as being ostentatious. They scoffed likewise at those
who donated small amounts: “They are more in
need of their
sa ‘as
than anybody.”
(KANZ AL-UMMAL)
