Follow in His Footsteps in Ramadan

Ramadan Kareem is a very common greeting used by Muslims, especially the Arabs, during the month of Ramadan. Do you know the meaning of this greeting? It literally means Ramadan is generous, and in application, it is both a prayer and a du`aa' made for you: May the generosity of Ramadan fill your life and your heart with goodness in this life and the Hereafter. Muslims in the Arab world use this phrase as a reminder of the special spiritual moments Ramadan provides; even when there is a sort of argument or heated quarrel, they remind us of this statement, Ramadan Kareem.

Other greetings used by Muslims to describe the blessings of this month are Ramadan Shahrul Khayr (Ramadan is the month of goodness, welfare, and blessings) and Ramadan Mubarak (congratulations on the month of Ramadan). Signs of the blessings of Ramadan manifest themselves in the life of Muslims in the way they choose to display their generosity with one another, and their fellow humans in terms of hospitality, forgiveness and charity. Ramadan is known as the best season for giving and sharing; the most successful fundraising events are held during this blessed month of Ramadan.

As each day draws to an end, fasting people start to feel fatigued due to hunger and thirst. They look dehydrated and completely depleted of energy. They realize how fortunate they are to expect a meal at the end of the day, and, at the same time they remember those who are less fortunate; people who are forced to survive on less than what is necessary.

Such people are forced to fast day and night with little hope to break their fast anytime soon. In such circumstances, Muslims turn to their moral compass seeking ways to help and give. They want to show their appreciation for what they have and so they start looking for opportunities to show their support and display their generosity.

Prophet Muhammad as an Example

We learned this from the most generous of all men, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was the most generous of people, and he was even more generous during Ramadan when Jibreel [Gabriel] (may Allah be pleased with him) met him. Jibreel (may Allah be pleased with him) used to meet him every night in Ramadan until it was over and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would go through the Qur'an with him. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was more generous with good things than the blowing wind (which brings rain and welfare)" (Al-Bukhari).

The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) never turned anyone down if he could afford to help him. It was narrated that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to give him the new garment he (peace and blessings be upon him) was wearing at that time. What did the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) do? With absolutely no hesitation, he gave his garment to the person who wanted it.

`Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that once a needy person came to ask the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for something that he needed. He replied, "I do not have anything at present. Go and purchase something on my behalf. When something arrives I will pay for it."

`Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "O Messenger of Allah, whatever you possessed you have already given away. Allah did not make you responsible for that which is not in your means." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) felt annoyed at what `Umar said.

Thereupon, a person from among the Ansar (Muslims of Madinah) said, "O Messenger of Allah, spend whatever you wish, and do not fear any lessening from the Lord of the 'Arsh [Throne]." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) smiled and the happiness could be seen on his blessed face due to what the man had said. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) then said, "Allah has commanded me to do this" (At-Tirmidhi).

Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was never asked to give for the sake of Islam and did not give. A man once came to him and asked for something, and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) gave him herds of sheep that could fill a valley between two mountains. When the man went to his people, he said, "O my people! Embrace Islam, for Muhammad gives gifts like someone who has no fear of poverty" (Muslim).

The Companions and the Prophet's Example

This trait of generosity became the model for the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) gave all his wealth surrendering the reigns of his affairs and those of his family to Allah the Almighty and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).

`Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) did something similar with half his wealth; `Uthman ibn `Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) supplied the army of Tabuk and donated all his business caravans for the sake of Allah during the time of need and famine.

`A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), who grew up in the house of the two most generous people of all; her husband, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and her father, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), gave away more than a hundred thousand dirhams while she was fasting. When her servant told her she could have left something for their iftar, she said, "If you had reminded me earlier, I could have done that." She did not think so much about herself.

There are many other examples like these of the Companions of the Prophet. Once a person blamed a generous man for giving excessively and he said, "You know, there is no generosity in extravagance." The man replied, "Actually, there is no extravagance in generosity."

Great achievements are recognized because of the exceptional circumstances in which they exist. That was why the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said that the best charity is that which was given while the person who was giving it was in more need of the money that he or she was giving away. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said,

"One dirham surpassed (in reward) a hundred thousand dirhams." A man asked, "How come, O Messenger of Allah?" He replied, "A man who had great wealth and took a hundred thousand from the fringe and gave it away and another who had only two dirhams and gave away one dirham." (An-Nasa'i)

There is no doubt the one dirham was more praiseworthy, because of the fact that it overcame the challenge of giving half of one's wealth when the person was in need of every single dirham.

There is an Arabic poem that says,

If it were not for hardships, leadership would become open for all,

But generosity brings poverty and bravery brings mortality.

Failure to Plan is a Plan for Failure

In the minds of many people, charity is often associated with bloodshed and destruction. If we do not see it happen, we do not give. If there is no catastrophe, there is no need to help. Failure to plan is a plan to fail. If we do not practice preventive medicine, we will pay a great deal for medical bills afterward. The most successful work of da`wah (inviting people to Islam) is that which is most sincere, and then that which is most financially stable.

Be a pioneer donor and join the caravan of the leaders of generosity, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions! Do not hesitate; share the goodness of Ramadan.


* Excerpted with slight modifications from muslimmatters.org.

Yaser Birjas is originally from Palestine. He received his Bachelors degree from the Islamic University of Madinah in 1996 in Fiqh & Usool, graduating as the class valedictorian. After graduating, he went on to work as a youth counselor and relief program aide in war-torn Bosnia. Thereafter, he immigrated to the U.S. and currently resides in El Paso, Texas. He is also an instructor at Al-Maghrib Institute, where he teaches popular seminars such as Fiqh of Love, The Code Evolved, and Heavenly Hues.