The poor

19. Khutbat alal miskeen wa yateem

اَلْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ وَ عَلَّمَالْاِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

وَ الصَّلَاتُ وَ السَّلَامُ عَلٰى نَبِيِّهِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلٰى اٰلِهِ وَ اَصْحَابِهِ وَ اَتْبَاعِهِ اَجْمَعِيْنَ

وَاَشْهَدُ اَنْ لَااِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُوْلُهُ

وَ بَعْدُ

فَأَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيْمِ

(1

1) Surah Insan V. 8

And they give food in spite of love for it: to the needy, the orphan, and the captive,

V. 9

[Saying], "We feed you only for the sake of Allah . We wish not from you reward or gratitude.

They gave food even though they had need for it to the aforementioned catargories. Here they are explaining how sincerity in actions should be. They are not asking for reward rather they are doing for the sake Allah (the Exalted) and they are not even concerned about thanks! How many times have we done something good just to be thanked! This is not the way of the sincere.

(2

2) Surah Maa'oon V. 3

And does not encourage the feeding of the poor.

This is one of the worst attributes of the wealth that they do not feed the poor even though they have the means to do so. Encouraging others to feed the poor and of course good actions is itself as good as doing it according to another hadith.

(3

3) Surah Mudaththir V. 44

Nor did we used to feed the poor.

This is one of the things that those who go to hell are accused of. That they did not feed the poor when they had the means.

(4

4) Surah Fajr V.18

And you do not encourage one another to feed the poor.

Nor did they encourage others to feed the poor.

(5

5) Surah Baqarah V. 215

They ask you, [O Muhammad], what they should spend. Say, "Whatever you spend of good is [to be] for parents, relatives, orphans, needy and the traveller. Whatever you do of good - indeed, Allah knows it all."

This verse is explaining those who are in need of support. The first being our families then to the wider society.

V.219

They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and [little] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they should spend. Say, "The excess [beyond needs]." Thus Allah makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought.

Here the verse is explaining that people should spend their excess wealth upon the needs of others. It is also a warning to spend their excess wealth on haram items that only bring punishment.

V. 220

To this world and the Hereafter they will ask you about orphans. Say, "Improvement for them is better. And if you mix your affairs with theirs - they are your brothers. And Allah knows the corrupter from the amender. And if Allah had willed, He could have put you in difficulty. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Mighty and Wise.

It is a great sin to steal the wealth of the orphans, in fact its a great sin to steal anyones wealth or take anyones rights. Investing the wealth of the orphan and then returning it when they are mature enough to handle the responsibility is a praiseworthy action.

Hadith

1) يُسَلِّمُ الصَّغِيرُ عَلَى الْكَبِيرِ، وَالْمَارُّ عَلَى الْقَاعِدِ، وَالْقَلِيلُ عَلَى الْكَثِيرِ

1) The young should greet the old, the passerby should greet the sitting one, and the small group of persons should greet the large group (of people).

This is the order in which the greeting should be, the young to the elders, the passing by for the seated and the small group to the larger group.

2) أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِسَبْعٍ بِعِيَادَةِ الْمَرِيضِ، وَاتِّبَاعِ الْجَنَائِزِ، وَتَشْمِيتِ الْعَاطِسِ، وَنَصْرِ الضَّعِيفِ، وَعَوْنِ الْمَظْلُومِ، وَإِفْشَاءِ السَّلاَمِ، وَإِبْرَارِ الْمُقْسِمِ، وَنَهَى عَنِ الشُّرْبِ فِي الْفِضَّةِ، وَنَهَانَا عَنْ تَخَتُّمِ الذَّهَبِ، وَعَنْ رُكُوبِ الْمَيَاثِرِ، وَعَنْ لُبْسِ الْحَرِيرِ، وَالدِّيبَاجِ، وَالْقَسِّيِّ، وَالإِسْتَبْرَقِ

2) The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) ordered us to seven things: visit the sick, attend funerals, bless after sneezing, help the weak, support the oppressed, spread peace, be just in division, he forbade from drinking in silver containers and blowing in gold containers, riding upon silk, wearing silk, brocade, qasiyi and istabraq (two fabrics made from pure silk).

These are different forms of charity that are not just about giving money.

3) تُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ، وَتَقْرَأُ السَّلاَمَ عَلَى مَنْ عَرَفْتَ، وَعَلَى مَنْ لَمْ تَعْرِفْ

3) Feed the people, and greet those whom you know and those whom you do not know.

One of the signs of the day of judgement is when people only greet those they know.

4) أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ، فِي الْجَنَّةِ هَكَذَا

4) I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in Paradise like this," putting his index and middle fingers together.

Looking after an orphan means one is closer to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) than others. Sponsoring an orphan is very easy to do and it does not cost a lot.

5) عَلَى الأَرْمَلَةِ وَالْمِسْكِينِ كَالْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ

5) The one who looks after and works for a widow and for a poor person is like a warrior fighting for Allah's Cause.

If you can support a widow or give money to a poor person then do so. You can give money to foodbanks.

6)اعْبُدُوا الرَّحْمَنَ وَأَطْعِمُوا الطَّعَامَ وَأَفْشُوا السَّلاَمَ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِسَلاَمٍ

6) "(All of you) worship Ar-Rahman, feed others, spread the (greeting of) Salam, then you will enter Paradise in security.

Again this is encourage to feed othters and spread peace.

 7)السَّاعِي عَلَى الأَرْمَلَةِ وَالْمِسْكِينِ كَالْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ، أَوِ الْقَائِمِ اللَّيْلَ الصَّائِمِ النَّهَارَ

7) The one who looks after a widow or a poor person is like a Mujahid (warrior) who fights for Allah's Cause, or like him who performs prayers all the night and fasts all the day.

8)مَنْ قَبَضَ يَتِيمًا بَيْنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلَى طَعَامِهِ وَشَرَابِهِ أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ الْبَتَّةَ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ ذَنْبًا لاَ يُغْفَرُ لَهُ

8) Whoever takes in an orphan among the Muslims to raise, to feed him and give him drink, Allah admits him into Paradise without a doubt, unless he has done a sin for which he is not forgiven.

This is so important to give to charity, help the orphans and the widows. There is a great reward for those who do these wonderful acts.