Passion to Spend in the Path of Allah​

(Ummul Baneen [rahimahallah] — Part Two)

Hailing from the ruling family and being married to the ruler of the time, Ummul Baneen (rahimahallah) had no shortage of wealth at her disposal. Nevertheless, when it came to wealth and spending, it was her passion to spend in the path of Allah Ta‘ala — not on herself. Hence, she was renowned for her charity and her spirit for assisting people in need.

In this regard, it seems as though Ummul Baneen (rahimahallah) followed in her father’s footsteps and perhaps acquired this quality from him. The following statement of her father, ‘Abdul ‘Azeez bin Marwaan, sufficiently highlights his spirit for charity. He says: “How surprising it is that a person has imaan, and is convinced that Allah Ta‘ala provides for him and will replace that which he spends in His path, yet he still holds back his wealth from spending and thus deprives himself of abundant rewards!”

As for Ummul Baneen (rahimahullah), her own statement speaks volumes for the spirit of charity that burnt in her heart. She mentioned: “Every person has a passion in life, and my passion is to spend on people. By Allah! Spending on people and showing compassion and sympathy to others is more beloved to me than delicious food at the time of hunger, and a cool drink at the time of thirst.”

Some examples of her spending in the path of Allah Ta‘ala are:

- She would free one slave every week.

- She would donate one horse to be used in the path of Allah Ta‘ala every week. (Some narrations mention that she would free a slave and donate a horse every day, not every week!).

- When she would call her friends to spend time with her, then before they would leave, she would give them exquisite garments to wear. She would also hand gold coins to them and say, “The clothing is for you to keep, and the gold coins are for you to distribute among the poor among you.”

Similarly, she condemned miserliness saying, “How despicable is miserliness! If miserliness was a path, I would not tread it, and even if it was the finest clothing, I would not wear it.” She also mentioned, “The height of miserliness is where a person is too miserly to even purchase Jannah for himself.”

(Al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah vol. 9, pg. 207, Sifatus Safwah vol. 2, pg. 430 and Al-Mahaasin wal Masaawi vol. 1, pg. 144)

Lessons:

1. One of the greatest challenges is that of protecting our hearts so that they are not overcome by the love of wealth. If our hearts remain protected, we will spend the wealth in the correct avenues and thus become closer to Allah Ta‘ala. However, if our hearts become saturated with the love of wealth, then this very same wealth will propel us towards sin through spending it in impermissible avenues and using it to show off, etc.

2. It is an undeniable reality that children are a reflection of their parents, in their features and in their ways as well. Hence, if the children grow up in a home where the parents are always giving sadaqah, engaged in the recitation of the Quraan Majeed, performing salaah, etc., then these very same qualities rub off onto the children. Hence, we need to be practical examples for our children.

3. Spending in the path of Allah Ta‘ala is an action that earns one ongoing rewards. To earn these rewards, we do not need to be millionaires. Rather, each person can spend and contribute according to his own means — even if they be little. Allah Ta‘ala looks at the heart with which the contribution is given. Hence, when there is an opportunity to spend in His path, we should hasten to spend whatever we can manage.