Tuesday, June 02, 2020

Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) – Part Five

Firm Faith in Allah




On one occasion, a beggar came to the home of Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) and asked for some food. At that time, Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was fasting, and besides a loaf of bread, she had no other food in her home.


Nevertheless, on seeing the beggar, she instructed her freed slave, “Give the bread to him.” The freed slave responded, “There is nothing else for you to eat as iftaar (to break your fast).” However, Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) insisted, “Give the bread to him.” The freed slave thus obliged and gave the bread to the beggar.


That evening, a person who would not generally send food for Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) unexpectedly sent her some goat meat covered in bread. On receiving the meat and bread, Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) called her freed slave and said to her, “Eat this, for it is better than the bread that you wanted.”


(Muwatta Imaam Maalik #3655)


Lessons:


1. From the fact that the food came from a person who was not in the habit of sending food for Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), we realize that she was not expecting this food to arrive. Hence, when she gave her bread to the beggar, she did so with complete reliance and trust in Allah Ta‘ala to provide for her.


2. When Allah Ta‘ala sent food for her, He sent her food that was far better than that which she had given the beggar. Hence, Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) addressed her freed slave and taught her that when a person sacrifices something for the sake of Allah Ta‘ala, then Allah Ta‘ala will always give him something far better in return.


3. In our current situation, where many of us are undergoing financial constraints, 
we need to constantly remind ourselves that it is Allah Ta‘ala who provided for us till this point, and it is He alone that will provide for us in the future as well. The more we entrench this belief in our hearts and minds, the greater the peace of mind and calmness we will experience.  

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