Ruhul Adab
Commentary of Imam Hassan Cisse
15. Generosity with owned Possessions
Allah the Most Magnificent and Magnanimous, blesses His servants in different ways, to test each with what he has been blessed with. Though you love the possessions (that) Allah blesses you with, it is important that you are generous with them for the sake of Allah. Allah says in the (3:92) “Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allah] from that which you love. And whatever you spend – indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.”
In any community, Allah will bless some with riches to test their modesty, humility and generosity. He makes others poor, to test their patience, restraint and persevering. Allah makes some knowledgeable, strong, young, healthy and beautiful while some others may be ignorant, weak, old, sick and ugly. He creates all to test them. But the Shaykh as a leader is a head to all of them and hence the Balancing Pendulum that everyone runs to, to receive blessings or be relieved of their distress. This is why a disciple should give freely out of his possessions of either money, strength or health to the Shaykh who redistributes these to the poor, weak and sick. Allah commands the Prophet SAW in the Qur’an thus: (9:103) “Take, [O, Muhammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase and invoke [ Allah ‘s blessings] upon them. Indeed, your invocations are reassurance for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.”
16. Shedding Tears
Painful steps that will cause distress and sometimes tears are sometimes necessary in the purification of the soul. A doctor that cuts open the stomach of his patient during an operation wishes him recovery. A goldsmith that puts gold into the fire wishes to purify it. Therefore, even though harshness and wickedness is manifested, the intelligent one knows that it may be needed if one is to obtain a good result.
To be continued in sha Allah…
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