Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Book of Generosity and Orphans

Abu Hurayra said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked, 'Which people are the most generous?'' He replied, 'The most generous of them in the sight of Allah are those with the most taqwa.' They said, 'That is not what we are asking about.' He said, 'The most generous of people was Yusuf, the Prophet of Allah, son of the Prophet of Allah, who was the son of the Intimate Friend of Allah (Ibrahim).' They said, 'That is not what we are asking about.' He said, 'Are you asking about those of Arab origin?' 'Yes,' they replied. He said, 'The best of you in the Jahiliyya is the best of you in Islam when you have understanding from Allah)."

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلاَمٍ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدَةُ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللهِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ: أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَكْرَمُ؟ قَالَ: أَكْرَمُهُمْ عِنْدَ اللهِ أَتْقَاهُمْ، قَالُوا: لَيْسَ عَنْ هَذَا نَسْأَلُكَ، قَالَ: فَأَكْرَمُ النَّاسِ يُوسُفُ نَبِيُّ اللهِ ابْنُ نَبِيِّ اللهِ ابْنِ خَلِيلِ اللهِ، قَالُوا: لَيْسَ عَنْ هَذَا نَسْأَلُكَ، قَالَ: فَعَنْ مَعَادِنِ الْعَرَبِ تَسْأَلُونِي؟ قَالُوا: نَعَمْ، قَالَ: فَخِيَارُكُمْ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ خِيَارُكُمْ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ إِذَا فَقِهُوا.

Mundhir at-Tawri reported what Muhammad ibn 'Ali (ibn al-Hanafiyya) said about, "Is the repayment of kindness anything except kindness?" He said, "It is not denied to either the pious or the deviant."

حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سَالِمُ بْنُ أَبِي حَفْصَةَ، عَنْ مُنْذِرٍ الثَّوْرِيِّ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ: {هَلْ جَزَاءُ الإِحْسَانِ إِلاَّ الإِحْسَانُ}، قَالَ: هِيَ مُسَجَّلَةٌ لِلْبَرِّ وَالْفَاجِرِ.

Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet ﷺ said, "The person who strives on behalf of the widows and poor is like those who strive in the way of Allah and like those who fast in the day and pray at night."

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ ثَوْرِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْغَيْثِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ: السَّاعِي عَلَى الأَرْمَلَةِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ كَالْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ، وَكَالَّذِي يَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَيَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ.

'A'isha said, "A woman came to me who had two of her daughters with her. She asked me for something, but I could not find anything except for a single date which I gave her. She divided it between her daughters and then got up and left. The Prophet ﷺ came in and I told him what had happened. He said, 'Whoever looks after these girls in any way and is good to them will have them as a veil from the Fire.'"

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، أَنَّ عُرْوَةَ بْنَ الزُّبَيْرِ أَخْبَرَهُ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَتْ: جَاءَتْنِي امْرَأَةٌ مَعَهَا ابْنَتَانِ لَهَا، فَسَأَلَتْنِي فَلَمْ تَجِدْ عِنْدِي إِلاَّ تَمْرَةً وَاحِدَةً، فَأَعْطَيْتُهَا، فَقَسَمَتْهَا بَيْنَ ابْنَتَيْهَا، ثُمَّ قَامَتْ فَخَرَجَتْ، فَدَخَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَحَدَّثْتُهُ، فَقَالَ: مَنْ يَلِي مِنْ هَذِهِ الْبَنَاتِ شَيْئًا، فَأَحْسَنَ إِلَيْهِنَّ، كُنَّ لَهُ سِتْرًا مِنَ النَّارِ.

Umm Sa'id bint Murra al-Fihri related from her father that the Prophet ﷺ said, "I and the guardian of an orphan will be in the Garden like these two." (His two fingers)

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ قَالَ: حَدَّثَتْنِي أُنَيْسَةُ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَعِيدٍ بِنْتِ مُرَّةَ الْفِهْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهَا، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ: أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ كَهَاتَيْنِ، أَوْ كَهَذِهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ. شَكَّ سُفْيَانُ فِي الْوُسْطَى وَالَّتِي تَلِي الإِبْهَامَ.

Al-Hasan reported that an orphan used to eat with Ibn 'Umar. One day he called for food and looked for this orphan but could not find him. He arrived after Ibn 'Umar had finished. Ibn 'Umar called for more food to be brought to him but they did not have any. So he was brought sawiq and honey. He said, "Here, have this! By Allah, you have not been cheated!" Al-Hasan said, "By Allah, Ibn 'Umar was not cheated!"

حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا مَنْصُورٌ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، أَنَّ يَتِيمًا كَانَ يَحْضُرُ طَعَامَ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، فَدَعَا بِطَعَامٍ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ، فَطَلَبَ يَتِيمَهُ فَلَمْ يَجِدْهُ، فَجَاءَ بَعْدَ مَا فَرَغَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ، فَدَعَا لَهُ ابْنُ عُمَرَ بِطَعَامٍ، لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُمْ، فَجَاءَه بِسَوِيقٍ وَعَسَلٍ، فَقَالَ: دُونَكَ هَذَا، فَوَاللَّهِ مَا غُبِنْتَ يَقُولُ الْحَسَنُ: وَابْنُ عُمَرَ وَاللَّهِ مَا غُبِنَ.

Sahl ibn Sa'd reported that the Prophet ﷺ said, "I and the guardian of the orphan will be in the Garden like that," indicating his forefinger and middle finger.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَهَّابِ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ سَهْلَ بْنَ سَعْدٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ: أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ هَكَذَا، وَقَالَ بِإِصْبَعَيْهِ السَّبَّابَةِ وَالْوُسْطَى.

Abu Bakr ibn Hafs reported that 'Abdullah would not eat unless an orphan was at his table.

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا الْعَلاَءُ بْنُ خَالِدِ بْنِ وَرْدَانَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللهِ كَانَ لاَ يَأْكُلُ طَعَامًا إِلاَّ وَعَلَى خِوَانِهِ يَتِيمٌ.

Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best house among the Muslims is the house in which orphans are well treated. The worst house among the Muslims is the house in which orphans are ill treated. I and the guardian of the orphan will be in the Garden like that," indicating his two fingers.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عَتَّابٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ: خَيْرُ بَيْتٍ فِي الْمُسْلِمِينَ بَيْتٌ فِيهِ يَتِيمٌ يُحْسَنُ إِلَيْهِ، وَشَرُّ بَيْتٍ فِي الْمُسْلِمِينَ بَيْتٌ فِيهِ يَتِيمٌ يُسَاءُ إِلَيْهِ، أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ كَهَاتَيْنِ يُشِيرُ بِإِصْبَعَيْهِ.

Dawud said, "Be like a merciful father towards the orphan. Know that you will reap as you sow. How ugly poverty is after wealth! More than that:
how ugly is misguidance after guidance! When you make a promise to your friend, fulfil your promise. If you do not, it will bring about enmity between you and him. Seek refuge in Allah from a companion who, when you mention something to him, does not help you and who does not remind you when you forget."

حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ أَبْزَى قَالَ: قَالَ دَاوُدُ: كُنَّ لِلْيَتِيمِ كَالأَبِ الرَّحِيمِ، وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّكَ كَمَا تَزْرَعُ كَذَلِكَ تَحْصُدُ، مَا أَقْبَحَ الْفَقْرَ بَعْدَ الْغِنَى، وَأَكْثَرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، أَوْ أَقْبَحُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، الضَّلاَلَةُ بَعْدَ الْهُدَى، وَإِذَا وَعَدْتَ صَاحِبَكَ فَأَنْجِزْ لَهُ مَا وَعَدْتَهُ، فَإِنْ لاَ تَفْعَلْ يُورِثُ بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ، وَتَعَوَّذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ صَاحِبٍ إِنْ ذَكَرْتَ لَمْ يُعِنْكَ، وَإِنْ نَسِيتَ لَمْ يُذَكِّرْكَ.

Al-Hasan said, "I remember a time among the Muslims when their men would shout (to remind their families), 'O family! O family! (Look after) your orphan! Your orphan! O family! O family! (Look after) your orphan! Your poor person! Your poor person! O family! O family! (Look after) your neighbour! Your neighbour!' Time has been swift in taking the best of you while every day you become baser."

نَجِيحٍ أَبُو عُمَارَةَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ الْحَسَنَ يَقُولُ: لَقَدْ عَهِدْتُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ مِنْهُمْ لَيُصْبِحُ فَيَقُولُ: يَا أَهْلِيَهْ، يَا أَهْلِيَهْ، يَتِيمَكُمْ يَتِيمَكُمْ، يَا أَهْلِيَهْ، يَا أَهْلِيَهْ، مِسْكِينَكُمْ مِسْكِينَكُمْ، يَا أَهْلِيَهْ، يَا أَهْلِيَهْ، جَارَكُمْ جَارَكُمْ، وَأُسْرِعَ بِخِيَارِكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ تَرْذُلُونَ. وَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ: وَإِذَا شِئْتَ رَأَيْتَهُ فَاسِقًا يَتَعَمَّقُ بِثَلاَثِينَ أَلْفًا إِلَى النَّارِ مَا لَهُ قَاتَلَهُ اللَّهُ؟ بَاعَ خَلاَقَهُ مِنَ اللهِ بِثَمَنِ عَنْزٍ، وَإِنْ شِئْتَ رَأَيْتَهُ مُضَيِّعًا مُرْبَدًّا فِي سَبِيلِ الشَّيْطَانِ، لاَ وَاعِظَ لَهُ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ وَلاَ مِنَ النَّاسِ.

Asma' bint 'Ubayd said, "I said to Ibn Sirin, 'I have an orphan in my care.' He said, 'Treat him as you would treat your own child. Beat him as you would beat your own child.'"

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سَلاَّمُ بْنُ أَبِي مُطِيعٍ، عَنْ أَسْمَاءَ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِابْنِ سِيرِينَ: عِنْدِي يَتِيمٌ، قَالَ: اصْنَعْ بِهِ مَا تَصْنَعُ بِوَلَدِكَ، اضْرِبْهُ مَا تَضْرِبُ وَلَدَكَ.

'Awf ibn Malik reported that the Prophet ﷺ said, "I and a woman who is widowed and is patient with her child will be like these two fingers in the Garden."

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ نَهَّاسِ بْنِ قَهْمٍ، عَنْ شَدَّادٍ أَبِي عَمَّارٍ، عَنْ عَوْفِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ: أَنَا وَامْرَأَةٌ سَفْعَاءُ الْخَدَّيْنِ، امْرَأَةٌ آمَتْ مِنْ زَوْجِهَا فَصَبَرْتَ عَلَى وَلَدِهَا، كَهَاتَيْنِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ.