Textual Studies of the Hadith - National Open University of Nigeria

ISL222 TEXTUAL STUDIES OF THE HADITH
Translation
Hadith 25
From Abū Dharri (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that some
people among the companions of the messenger of Allah said to the
Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace).
“Oh! Messenger of Allah, the rich people have gone with all the
rewards, they pray as we pray, they fast as we fast and they give alms
out of the super-abundance of their wealth (and so surpass us in storing
up merit that will bring rewards)” He (the Prophet) said: “has not Allah
provided you with what you should give in charitable alms? Truly in
every tasbīh (saying subhāna Allah – glory be to god) there is such an
alm, in every takbīr (saying Allah akbar – god is very great), in every
tahmīd (saying alhamdulillah – praise be to god), in enjoining what is
reputable, in forbidding what is objectionable, and in a man’s sexual
intercourse, there is an alms (in that). They said: Oh! Messenger of
Allah, (do you mean to say that) when one of us satisfies his desires (he
will still get reward)? He answered: “tell me, had he put it among the
things forbidden, would it have been a sin on his part? (Yes it would
have been sinful for one) so when he puts it among the lawful there is a
reward for it also”. Muslim relates this.
Commentary
This tradition says that men are not equally talented. But whichever way
one finds himself he should give praise to Allah.
Some men may be blessed with wealth while some may be blessed with
wisdom. Some may be blessed with health, while some may have sound
knowledge. In Islam, those who are blessed with wealth are enjoined to
render assistance for the benefit of all and for social good. Those blessed
with wisdom should let people around them tap from it, they should
endeavour to give wise counsels and settle rifts between them.
The poor ones should not lose hope. If they have nothing to give out as
alms, there are other things they could do to get better reward. These, as
mentioned in this hadith, include giving praises, thanks and
glorifications to Allah and doing of all other righteous deeds. The
Qur’an mentions some of the deeds that man can engage in to earn
rewards as contained in the following verse:
“There is no good in most of their secret talks save (in) him who orders
Sadaqah (charity in Allah’s cause), or Ma‘rūf (Islamic Monotheism and
all the good and righteous deeds which Allah has ordained), or
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