Charity

Once the Holy Prophet (sas) came to Hazrat Juwairiyah (ra) and asked, “Is there anything to eat?” She replied, “O Messenger of Allah (sas), my maid servant received some meat as charity and has given it to me as a gift.Tha tis all I have.”

He responded, “Then bring it. The charity has reached its intended recipient.”1

Hazrat Juwairiyah (ra) remembered this incident and narrated it later. This is a great favour she bestowed upon the Muslims, because this narration makes an issue very clear. The Holy Prophet (sas) had forbidden his family members from eating anything that was charity.

Once the Holy Prophet (sas) received a basket of dates that was to be donated to charity. His little grandson, Hasan, saw the dates and he put one in his mouth. When the Holy Prophet (sas) saw him doing that, he put his finger in the child’s mouth and took out the date, then threw it away. Then he explained to the child that the date was intended for charity, and it was not lawful for him to eat it.

These two incidents appear to contradict each other, but if you pay close attention to them you become amazed at the depth of the wisdom of the Holy Prophet (sas). It is true that the family of the Holy Prophet (sas) was not allowed to accept anything that was charity, however, if a recipient of charity gifted the charity to them, they were permitted to accept it. This is because it became a gift, freely given, not charity. It is a beautiful concept that allows the poor to keep their dignity, and yet it also allows a person who is in difficulty to do what is best for him.

Hazrat Juwairiyah (ra) sympathised with the poor immensely. Giving charity and donating to the poor gave her great pleasure. If she ever got a chance to help another person, she considered it to be a blessing from Allah.