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CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME

7

“In the year of the Farewell Pilgrimage, Sa’ad was in so much pain that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, went to visit him. Sa’ad said: 'O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, you can see I am in a lot of pain. I am a wealthy man and my sole heir is my daughter. May I give two-thirds of my wealth in charity?' He replied: 'No.' 'Then one-half, O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him? Again he said: 'No.' 'Well perhaps, one-third, O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him? At this the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said: 'One-third, and one-third is a lot. It is better that you should leave her rich rather than dependent, begging people. Indeed, you will not spend anything seeking the Face of Allah and not receive a reward for it, even that which you put in the mouth of your wife.'

Then Sa’ad said: 'O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, am I to be left behind in Mecca after my Companions leave?' He replied: 'You will not be left behind doing anything seeking the pleasure of Allah which will not cause you to be raised in degree and rank. May you be left in order that some people might benefit from you and that some are harmed by you.' Then the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, supplicated (saying): 'O Allah, complete for my Companions their migration, and do not turn them back on their heels.' But the one to be pitied was Sa’ad, the son of Khawlah who died in Mecca, for whom the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, expressed mercy and compassion.”

Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to (Abu Ishaq) Sa’ad, the son of Abi Wakkas Malik son of Uhaib (one of the ten given the glad tidings of admission into Paradise) said this.