Transcribed from the Islaahi Majlis conducted on 28/12/2023
Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “That person who takes care of a widow, or an orphan, receives the reward like the one who made Jihad in the Path of Allah Ta’ala.”
عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ سُلَيْمٍ، يَرْفَعُهُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «السَّاعِي عَلَى الأَرْمَلَةِ وَالمِسْكِينِ كَالمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَوْ كَالَّذِي يَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَيَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ» (سنن الترمذي)
We understand the magnanimity in making the decision of going out in the Path of Allah Ta’ala (Jihad), that one might not return home. One who assists a widow, or an orphan will receive the same reward as Jihad.
“…or (the one who assists a widow or orphan) will be like one who fasts during the day, or like the one who stands up in prayer at night for the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala.” We all know how difficult it is to wake up during the night to make Ibaadah, or to keep fast daily. Here Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is giving us an easy alternative to achieving the same reward.
Sometimes it happens that the wife predeceases the husband. For the husband,whether he has children or not, it is easier for him to remarry and move on with his life. On the other hand, if the husband passes away first, in the case of a woman who has no children or has someone to take care of her children, she will easily be able to remarry and move on. But if a woman is elderly and has no one to take care of her; or she has children and no one to take care of them, in these cases it is difficult for her to remarry. Therefore, the Fadheelat mentioned in the Hadith is general but is particularly for this latter type of women.
For these women, the community should rally together and assist her. It shouldn’t be that she must approach the Jamiat or wait in queues at some welfare organization to receive assistance. We should offer to help her before she even requests assistance. Allah Ta’ala grant us the Taufeeq to encourage a few brothers to contribute R200/R300 a month towards assisting a woman in need and in this way her needs will be fulfilled.
The Grand Mufti of Darul Uloom Deoband, Mufti Azeez-ur-Rahman Saheb every morning before going to Madrassah to write Fataawa, would to visit the homes of the widows in his locality and request their grocery lists. He would go to the market and buy their items and would return to deliver their goods. Sometimes, they were unhappy with some items, so Hadrat would go back and exchange it and then return to deliver it for the second time. Thereafter, he would proceed to Darul Uloom Deoband to attend to his daily chores.
Today however, it’s a time of Fitnah. But, we have grocery stores who offer a delivery service, making it convenient to shop. So we can buy the groceries and have it delivered, or we can EFT the money to the widow and she can shop online and have it delivered. In this way, we can take care of the Masaakeen (orphans in this context) and Widows.
Forgiveness Due to Caring for an Orphan
Our Sheikh made mention of an evil person who was an alcoholic amongst other vices. On his demise, nobody came forward for his Janaazah and his body stayed at home for three days. His wife then called some labourers and offered to pay them if they would see to his Ghusl and Burial. She told them to do as they knew how to, to give Ghusl, put his Kafn and then bury him. So the labourers took him. But before they carried out any action out, Allah Ta’ala inspired the Wali (saint) of the time to go and see to this man’s last rites. When he set out to attend to the burial, all the people of the town joined him. After the burial he goes to the wife and enquires of any special actions that he may have carried out in his life which was pleasing to Allah Ta’ala. She said that he was an evil person but had two qualities; when he would return home at night in an intoxicated state, he would make Ghusl in cold water and then make Taubah to Allah Ta’ala saying ‘O Allah, which corner of Jahannam have you reserved for me”, and secondly, he kept an orphan with him in his home always. Before he ate, he would feed the orphan, before he clothed himself, he bought clothes for the orphan. On this, Allah Ta’ala pardoned him and elevated him.
It is noteworthy in our day to see the younger generation actively involved in contributing to orphanages and widows. They make the effort to verify the authenticity of institutions before giving their money there. A person from Pretoria had the practice of not enjoying his Eid meal until he brought an orphan to join them at the table. Allah Ta’ala blessed him in return with a beautiful death.
It is also not necessary to inform them of your charity. We can deposit anonymously into their accounts (which is an indication of sincerity), or give it to someone to pass on to them on our behalf. Once, we went out to distribute locally in the poorer areas. A widow came out crying, telling us she had no money for water and lights. Allah Ta’ala fulfilled her need. So, these people are among us but we have to go out and look for them.
The Effect of the Environment on a Mu’min
Currently, we are all on holiday in the December period. However, we should appreciate that in our Masjid, Hifdh class is still being conducted over the public holidays. Allah Ta’ala is aware of everyone’s A’maal and these are actions which draw the Mercy of Allah Ta’ala. Our Sheikh recounted how in the past, mothers would not serve their children breakfast until Surah Yaseen was recited. Hadrat says when he visited Mombasa, after Fajr you could hear Quraan being recited from every home.
In Mombasa, there was a wealthy Yemeni Sheikh who owned a number of businesses and the income from many of these businesses were donated to different organizations such as Masjids and Madrasahs. He was financially independent, so he was able to teach Quraan Sharif to children daily, from Maghrib to Isha.
Hajee Yusuf Rawat Sahib of Reunion would sponsor the Madrassah Falaah-e-Daarain in Tadkeshwar. He owned perhaps more than half of Reunion and had contact with many government officials. From Maghrib to Isha he would sit with his children and grandchildren himself in the Masjid and teach them the Quraan Sharif.
As Muslims, we shouldn’t allow the environment around us to have an effect on us. We have fashioned our lives according to what is happening around us. When it’s holidays, then we are also on holiday and we become negligent in matters of Deen. We are on holiday from Salaah, proper Islamic dressing, Tilaawat, etc. We should be proper Muslims at all times and in all places.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us Taufeeq, Aameen!
