Sunday, June 21, 2026

Charity in the way of Allah Almighty

One day, a poor man was walking through the streets of Madinah, when he arrived at the home of Sayyidunā Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. He knocked on the door, and recited some verses of poetry:

Whoever hoped in you and knocked on your door has never been disappointed. You are the possessor of generosity and benevolence, rather, you are the fountainhead of generosity and munificence.

Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was praying inside at the time. After completing his prayer, he came to the door and saw a villager standing there, whose appearance clearly indicated poverty and hunger. Sayyidunā Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ asked his servant Qanbar رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه, "How much wealth is left for our expenses?"

He replied, "There are two hundred dirhams remaining, which are to be spent on your household according to your command."

Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said, "Go and bring it all, because the person who has come is currently more in need of these dirhams than my household."

So, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ gave the money to that poor man and said, "Take these, and accept my apologies for their small amount, because we are commanded to show kindness in all circumstances. These are few; if there were more, I would have given those to you too." The poor man took the dirhams and departed happily, supplicating for him. Ibn ʿAsakir, vol. 14, p. 185 Summarised

سُبْحٰنَ الـلّٰـه! Look at the generosity of Sayyidunā Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. His entire household is generous. The holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم never said "no"; whatever was asked of him, he granted it. Just as Imam Aḥmad Razā Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه beautifully says in his poetry:

Meaning, whoever came to ask the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, he never said "no"; rather, he granted whatever was available.

Introduction to the second Prince

The blessed name of Sayyid al-Shuhadāʾ, Sayyidunā Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, is Ḥusayn. His teknonym is Abū ʿAbdullāh, and his titles include Sibṭ Rasūlillāh and Rayḥānat al-Rasūl (i.e., the flower of the holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم).

His blessed birth took place in Madinah al-Munawwarah on the 5$^{th}$ of Shaʿbān, in 4 Hijrī. The noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم named him "Ḥusayn" and "Shabbīr", and called him his son.Usd Al-Ghābah, vol. 2, pp. 25-26, selected

Taḥnīk, Adhan, and ʿAqīqah

The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم recited azan in the right ear of his beloved grandson, Sayyidunā Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, recited the takbīr in his left ear, and blessed him with supplications while giving him taḥnīk from his blessed mouth. Usd Al-Ghābah, vol. 2, p. 25, summarized

In our society, people rush to name a child, whereas it is mustaḥabb (recommended) to name the child on the seventh day and also perform ʿaqīqah on the seventh day.

Worship of the Prophet’s grandson

O devotees of Imam Ḥusayn! Our Master, the Martyr of Karbala, Sayyidunā Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was also an ardent worshipper, ascetic, and one who prostrated abundantly. Accordingly, on the night of ʿĀshūrāʾ (i.e., the night of 10th Muḥarram), Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said to Sayyidunā ʿAbbās رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, the Flag-bearer (who was his brother): "May this battle be postponed until tomorrow somehow, so that we may have this night to worship Allah Almighty. Allah Almighty knows well that I have great love for prayer, recitation of the noble Quran, making abundant supplications, and seeking forgiveness. Al-Kāmil fī al-Tārīkh, vol. 3, p. 415

اللهُ اَکْبَر! This is a matter of reflection for us, the devotees of the noble Companions and Ahl al-Bayt, and especially the devotees of Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, that whilst we cannot even wake up for Fajr, our Imam faced an army of evil enemies who were thirsty for blood, and water was scarce, yet he showed such zeal for prayer in this state of hunger and thirst. He wished for one more night to worship his Lord. The truth is that love leads to obedience.

If only we could attain true love, so that we also obey and follow them.

Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was very pious, righteous, and one who prostrated a lot.

His mother, Sayyidah Fāṭimah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُمَا, was also a devoted worshipper; this entire household is a source of pride for us. We seek blessings through their acts of worship, so that Allah Almighty also grants us the blessing of Imam Ḥusayn’s worship, which causes our hearts to also be inclined towards prayer, recitation of the noble Quran, remembrance of Allah Almighty, and ṣalāt upon the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

Reflect! The night of the 10th of Muḥarram was the last night of Imam Ḥusayn's physical life, yet his zeal and devotion for the worship of Allah Almighty was such that even at the very moment of martyrdom, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was in a state of prostration in the court of Allah Almighty.

If only we too would worship, travel in the way of Allah Almighty to spread the invitation to righteousness and dedicate its reward to the martyrs of Karbala and learn and teach many sunan.

Would that we, the humble servants of Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, would also spend the days and nights of our lives in worship and spiritual exertions, following in the footsteps of Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. Remember! It is stated in a blessed Hadith: “A person will be with whom he loves.” Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, vol. 4, p. 147, Hadith 6169.

If we continue to claim love for Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ verbally but do not adopt his blessed character, then our love can be challenged. However, following in the footsteps of those whom one loves is the highest degree of love.

Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ had adorned his blessed face with the noble beard, which was the Sunnah of his grandfather صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. His respected father, Sayyidunā ʿAlī رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ also had a dense (i.e., full) beard. Let us reflect on what kind of devotees of Ahl al-Bayt and al-Ḥasanayn (i.e., Imam Ḥasan and Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُمَا) we are, when Sayyidunā Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ performed his last Fajr prayer in congregation in his tent while the enemies were brandishing swords from all four sides, and holding up spears and shields.

The true love for Ahl al-Bayt رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُمْ lies in following them. The blessed life of Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ teaches us that we should also perform all five prayers in congregation and be ready to offer every kind of sacrifice for the sake of Islam when the time comes.

May Allah grant us true and sincere love for the noble Companions and Ahl al-Bayt رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُمْ.

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