Whoever spends more receives more, the one who gives less receives less, while he who holds

back, Allah holds things back from him. Asmaa Radhiallaho anha has said that Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam told her to spend freely and not to count otherwise (if she counted) Allah Taala would give her counted favours; and not to save money, for (if she did so) Allah Taala will also keep away from her (will give her less), therefore, she should give as much as possible. Note: Asmaa Radhiallaho anha was the sister of Aishah Radhiallaho anha. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has, in this Hadith, encouraged us in various ways to spend increasingly. First, there is a clear order for spending liberally. It is obvious that the approved spending is the one according to Shariah, on things pleasing to Allah Taala. Spending against Shariah cannot get anything but misfortune. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has then forbidden counting, which is meant to emphasise the same subject matter. The Ulama have attached two meanings to counting: One, to count for the sake of hoarding, in which case Allah Taalas blessings will be withheld: as you sow so shall you reap; the second meaning is: not to count when giving to the poor, in which case the return and reward from Allah Taala will also be countless. Lastly, the same subject has been further emphasised by forbidding to withhold, stating that if you save instead of spending your wealth in the path of Allah Taala, you will cause Allahs withholding of His bounties, favours and kindness. The point is stressed further by the commandment to spend as much and as well as you can. This means, in fact, not to hesitate in spending what you can genuinely afford; and this is within your power. This very subject is covered extensively in a number of Ahadith which say, "Save yourself from the flames of Jahannam by giving Sadaqah, be it a piece of date which is sufficient to give protection from Jahannam". One of the Ahadith in Bukhari says, "Asmaa Radhiallaho anha enquired from Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam whether she could give as Sadaqah from what her husband Zubair Radhiallaho anho had left with her, as she possessed nothing of her own. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam replied in the affirmative, advising her not to put aside things in the pot, lest Allah Taala should keep away His bounties from her". In this Hadith, if the act of giving something to Asmaa Radhiallaho anha by Zubair Radhiallaho anho amounted to making her the owner of that, she clearly had the right to spend all of it in any way she liked. However, if those things were meant for meeting the household needs, then the advice of Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam was based on his personal knowledge of Zubair's temperament that he would not be displeased by Asmaas Sadaqah. The other reason for pressing her to give as Sadaqah could be that Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam had already strongly advised Zubair Radhiallaho anho to give in Sadaqah. The Sahabah Radhiallaho anhum were willing to sacrifice each and everything because of the general advice in such matters by Rasulullah Sallallahoalaihe wasallam, while in the cause of a specific advice to an individual by him, the enthusiasm to comply was indeed marvellous. Thousands of such examples could be quoted in evidence; a few of these have been mentioned in the Stories of Sahabah. Allama Suyooti has quoted in Durre Manthur the story of Zubair Radhiallaho anho as told by himself, saying that he was specially persuaded by Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam to spend in the path of Allah Taala. Once he visited Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam and sat in front of him. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam got hold of the tail of his turban, as

Whoever spends more receives more, the one who gives less receives less, while he who holds back, Allah holds things back from him. a warning to note carefully, and told him O Zubair! I am the Messenger of Allah especially to you people and generally for all. Do you know what Allah Taala has said?" Zubair Radhiallaho anho replied, "Allah and His Rasul know best!" Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said, "When Allah Taala sat on his Grand Throne (Arsh), He looked at His bondsmen (mankind) with kindness and said, O My slaves, I am your Creator and Sustainer, your livelihood is in My hands; do not put yourself in hardship for that which is My responsibility; approach Me for your living and needs. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam then repeated what Allah Taala had further said, O My slaves, you spend on people and I will spend on you; be magnanimous to people and I will be so to you; do not be stingy in spending on others, I shall not straiten your livelihood for you; do not shut your wealth off from the people, so that I do not shut Mine from you; do not hoard a treasure, so that I do not hoard from you. The door of livelihood is open above all the seven heavens and joined to the Grand Arsh and remains open throughout the day and night; from there Allah Taala sends down daily sustenance for every individual human being, according to that persons own intentions, his spending, his Sadaqah and his expenses; whoever spends more receives more, the one who gives less receives less, while he who holds back, Allah Taala holds things back from him He further said, O Zubair! Eat and spend on yourself and feed others too; do not tie up things to put aside, or else Allah Taalas bounties would be held up and kept away from you; avoid counting lest counting should be made against you; shun being strict in your dealings with others, lest the same is done to you; do not put people to hardship, lest that should happen to you. O Zubair! Allah Taala is pleased with the act of spending and displeased with the close-fisted; generosity comes from having full faith in Allah Taala, while stinginess infests the doubting minds; one who has full faith in Allah Taala, will never go to Jahannam and he who has doubts, will never enter Jannah; Zubair, Allah Taala is pleased with generosity, even with a piece of date. And Allah Taala is pleased with bravery, be it in facing a snake or a scorpion; O Zubair! Allah Taala loves to see patience at the time of an earthquake or any other calamity, and He is pleased with the faith which overpowers every part of the body and obstructs and satisfaction of passionate desires; He loves the perfect wisdom which overpowers moments of doubts in Deen and is pleased with piety at the time of facing forbidden and dirty things; O Zubair, show respects to all brothers, enhance the greatness of the pious and honour good people; have good relations with neighbours and do not be a fellow traveller of immoral people; whosoever remains stead-fast in all these matters will enter Jannah without any reckoning or any fear of punishment. This is the admonishment of Allah Taala to me and mine to you.