Ramaḍhān Benefits (7)

I was reading the introduction to "Dhamm Al-Mas’alah" earlier today to remind myself of the blameworthy nature of begging; something quite prevalent during Ramaḍhān, and I noticed that Sheikh Muqbil addressed two types of people (rich and poor students of knowledge) and the fitnah each group faces. So, we will dedicate tonight’s benefit to advising these two groups. Advice for Group 1 – The Wealthy: Narrated ibn ’Abbās (may Allāh be pleased with him): كانَ رَسولُ الله ﷺ أجْوَدَ النَّاسِ، وكانَ أجوَدُ ما يَكونُ في رَمَضَانَ حِينَ يَلْقَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ، وكانَ جِبْرِيلُ يَلْقَاهُ في كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ مِن رَمَضَانَ، فيُدَارِسُهُ القُرْآنَ. "The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ was the most generous of people, and he was at his most generous during Ramaḍhān when he would meet with Jibrīl. Jibrīl would meet him every night during Ramaḍhān, and they would review the Qur'ān together." [Reported by Bukhāri and Muslim] Likewise, Abū Hurayrah (may Allāh be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: ((إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عمله إلا من ثلاث: صدقة جارية، أو علم ينتفع به، أو ولد صالح يدعو له)) "When a human being dies, all their deeds come to an end except for three: a continuous charity (ṣadaqah jāriyah), beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for them." [Reported by Muslim, no. 1631] The term ṣadaqah jāriyah (continuous charity) in this narration refers to Waqf. The Companions realised that waqf is the best form of charity. For this reason, Jābir ibn ’Abdullāh (may Allāh be pleased with them both) said: «لم يكن أحدٌ من أصحاب النبي ﷺ ذو مقدرة إلا وقّف» "There was no one among the companions of the Prophet ﷺ who had the means but that they established a waqf." Moreover, one of the best forms of waqf is to build a masjid, as the Prophet ﷺ said: ((من بنى لله مسجدًا بنى الله له به بيتًا في الجنة)) "Whoever builds a masjid for the sake of Allāh, Allāh will build for him a house in Paradise." [Muslim] Note: If you plan to build a masjid, ensure that it is operated in accordance with the Sunnah! Advice for Group 2 – Poor Students of Knowledge Seeking to Establish Centres/Masājid: Advice 1: Be Patient! Narrated Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri (may Allāh be pleased with him): Some people from the Anṣār asked the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ, and he gave them. Then they asked him again, and he gave them. They continued to ask until all he had was exhausted. He then said: ((مَا يَكُونُ عِنْدِي مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلَنْ أَدَّخِرَهُ عَنْكُمْ، وَمَنْ يَسْتَعْفِفْ يُعِفَّهُ اللهُ، وَمَنْ يَسْتَغْنِ يُغْنِهِ اللهُ، وَمَنْ يَتَصَبَّرْ يُصَبِّرْهُ اللهُ، وَمَا أُعْطِيَ أَحَدٌ عَطَاءً خَيْرًا وَأَوْسَعَ مِنْ الصَّبْرِ)) "Whatever good I have, I will not withhold from you. Whoever seeks chastity, Allāh will grant them chastity. Whoever seeks self-sufficiency, Allāh will make them self-sufficient. Whoever shows patience, Allāh will grant them patience. No one has been given a better gift or a more expansive one than patience." [Reported by Bukhāri and Muslim] Advice 2: Follow the Approach of the Prophet ﷺ and the Early Salaf in Constructing Masājid. Narrated Anas: When the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Madīnah, he dismounted at ’Awāli Madīnah amongst a tribe called Banū ’Amr ibn ’Awf. He stayed there for fourteen nights. Then he sent for Bani An-Najjār, and they came armed with their swords. The Prophet ﷺ then said to them: ((يَا بَنِي النَّجَّارِ ثَامِنُونِي بِحَائِطِكُمْ هَذَا)) "O Banu An-Najjār! Tell me the price of this (walled) piece of land of yours." They replied: ((لاَ وَاللهِ، لاَ نَطْلُبُ ثَمَنَهُ إِلاَّ إِلَى الله)) "No! By Allāh! We do not demand its price except from Allāh." Anas added: There were graves of pagans in it, and some of it was uneven, with some date-palm trees. The Prophet ﷺ ordered the graves to be dug out, the land to be levelled, and the date-palm trees to be cut down. These cut date-palm trees were used to build a wall for the masjid, with the help of the companions, who recited poetic verses as they worked.