The Poor And Weak Amoung Us
Yahya Abdul Rahman - January 17, 2005
All around us we see them. The poor, the weak, the sick and the destitute. It is no fault of their own that they are in their current situation, but it is what the destiny of Allah has handed out to them. If it were not for the mercy of Allah we too would be in their situation. But that does not mean that those who are better off do not have a responsibilty towards those less fortunate in life. In fact, according to the noble teachings of Islam, Muslims have a great responsibility in this regard and that the weak and poor may even be the source of our provision and utlimate salvation from the fire!
Let me share with you a hadeeth (saying) of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Narrated Abud- Darda: Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said, "Seek me amoung your weak ones, for you are given provision and help only because of the weak amoungst you (Abu Dawud)
In seems counter intuitive that the weak and the poor would be the source of our provision, as with our human thinking we may be inclinded to see them as a burden or a hinderence in our life's goals. But the Prophet (phuh) clearly stated that we are given provision and help only because of the weak amoungst us. This simple sentence implies many things including: 1) That we should seek Allah amoung the weak and the poor, which means that we have to seek them out and not wait for them to come to us for help, 2) that we have a moral and religious responsibilty towards them, and 3) that Allah's help and provision only comes as as we fulfill our duty to the them and help them to the best of our abilities.
There are numerous a-hadeeth and Quranic verses about helping the poor and the weak amoungst us and we read them on a regular basis, but yet we continue to fail to grasp their true meanings. If we are looking for the forgiveness and mercy of Allah, however, then we must first remember the weak and poor in all of our efforts.
Narrated Abu Hurariah: Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said, The one who strives to help the widows and the poor is like the one who fights in the way of Allah." The narrator said: I think he also said: "I shall regard him as the one who stands up (for prayer) without rest and as the one who observes fasts continuously." (Bukhari and Muslim)
In a world where getting more means sucess, Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) reminds us that our provisions will come only as we help the poor and weak amoung us. Just read the two following a-hadeeth as a reminder of this fact:
Ibn `Umar (May Allah bepleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "A Muslim is a brother of (another) Muslim, he neither wrongs him nor does hand him over to one who does him wrong. If anyone fulfills his brother's needs, Allah will fulfill his needs; if one relieves a Muslim of his troubles, Allah will relieve his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and if anyone covers up a Muslim (his sins), Allah will cover him up (his sins) on the Resurrection Day". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
And............
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "He who removes from a believer one of his difficulties of this world, Allah will remove one of his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and he who finds relief for a hard-pressed person, Allah will make things easy for him on the Day of Resurrection; he who covers up (the faults and sins) of a Muslim, Allah will cover up (his faults and sins) in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah supports His slave as long as the slave is supportive of his brother; and he who treads the path in search of knowledge, Allah makes that path easy, leading to Jannah for him; the people who assemble in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah, learning it and teaching, there descends upon them the tranquillity, and mercy covers them, the angels flock around them, and Allah mentions them in the presence of those near Him; and he who lags behind in doing good deeds, his noble lineage will not make him go ahead.'' [Muslim]
Maybe, my dear brothers and sisters, we may at times be inclined to associate ourselves with those possessing wealth and status in this life and fail to grasp the reality that in helping the poor and distitute this is where will will find Allah and the source of our eternal salvation.
Oh Allah, help us to remember the weak and disadvantaged amoung us and may we do all we can to help them to ease their discomfort, sufferings and sources of worry and forgive us for any shortcomings we have committed in this matter. Oh Allah, help us to be compassionate towards others less fortunate than us and never let us forget the source of our provisions.
Allah says in the Holy Quran:" O
ye who believe! bow down, prostrate yourselves, and adore your Lord; and do good; that ye
may prosper." (Quran 22:77)