Earliest Return for Silah Rehmi

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Of all
good deeds, the earliest returnone gets is on Silah Rehmi (caring for
relatives); to the point that even if the members of a bad and
disobedientfamily (rebellious to Allah) practice Silah Rehmi their
wealth is increased. A person who practices Silah Rehmi never has any
member ofhis clan become dependent." [Saheeh Ibn Hibban]
Some people think that Silah Rehmi (taking care of relatives) can only
be done with money. This is a defective understanding. Silah Rehmi is
the effort one undertakes to bring any good and to prevent anything
bad from reaching your near and distant relatives.
Silah Rehmi is rewarded even if done by a Kaafir or Munaafiq. Of
course, their reward is limited to returns in this world only, for
they have no share in the Hereafter.

Protection from Wealth and Poverty

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) taught us this
Dua: "O Allah! I seek Your protection from the trial of wealth and I
seek Yourprotection from the trial of poverty." [Bukhaari]
In this dua we ask Allah to protect us from the trials of both
excessive wealth and excessive need.
Wealth in itself is not bad. Rather, it is a blessing from Allah
(subhana wa ta'ala) if a person is able to fulfill its dues and spend
it in the way prescribed by Allah. It was through his excessive
spending in thePath of Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) that Uthman (radi
Allahu anhu) was able to earn for himself the rank and station that he
did.
In the same way, if poverty is accompanied by patience, sufficiency
and gratitude (Sabr and Shukr) then this is also a great blessing from
Allah (subhana wa ta'ala). This is what the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi
wa sallam) chose for himself and his family members and extolled the
virtues of poverty and those in poverty.
If wealth and prosperity result in pride and arrogance taking over a
person's attitude and theperson does not spend his possessions
accordingto the will of Allah (subhana wa ta'ala), thenhe is like
Qaroon and his destination is Hell-Fire.
In the same way if a person afflicted with poverty does not display
patience, and due to this deficiency becomes disobedient to Allah
(subhana wa ta'ala), thenthis is a punishment fromAllah.
Thus, in this Dua we seek protection from any condition that brings on
us Allah's wrath.

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Islamic Stories - Junaid Baghdadi and Love for Allah

Once at the time of Hajj, there was a gathering inMecca of some
friends ofAllah; the youngest among whom was Junaid Baghdadi (ra). In
that gathering, there was a discussion on the subject of 'Love for
Allah'and as to who is the lover of Allah. Many of them expressed
their views on the subject, butJunaid (ra) kept quiet. He was pressed
to say something.
With his head bowed down and tears in his eyes, he said, "The lover of
Allah is he who forgets his own self, remains engaged in Allah's
remembrance with due regard to all itsrequirements; sees Allah with
the eyes of his heart, which is burnt by the heat of Allah's fear;
Allah's remembrance affects him like a cup of wine, he speaks the word
of Allah as if All-Mighty Allah speaks through his mouth; if he moves,
he does so underthe command of Allah; he gets peace of mind only
through the obedience of Allah; and when such a stage is reached, his
eating, drinking, sleeping, awakening and, in short,all his actions
are for thepleasure of Allah; he neither pays heed to the worldly
customs, nor does he attach any importance to unfriendly criticism by
people."

Islamic Stories - The Pious Man and theShopkeeper

There lived a pious man all by himself, who spentmost of his time in
praying, fasting and praising Allah. Almost all his waking hours were
utilised in meditation and devotions. He was very happy with his
spiritual progress. No wicked thoughts came to his mind and no evil
temptations entered his heart.
One night, he dreamt a rather disturbing dream.He saw that a
shopkeeper in the town was far superior to him in spirituality and
that he must go to him to learn the basics of true spiritual life.
In the morning, the pious man went in search of the shopkeeper. He
found him busy with his customers, selling goods and collecting money
with a cheerful face. He sat there in a corner of the shop and watched
the shopkeeper carefully. No signs of anyspiritual life at all, he
said to himself. His dream could not be true.But then he saw the
shopkeeper disappear topray his Salah. When he returned, he was busy
dealing with money matters again.
The shopkeeper noticed the pious man sitting in the corner and
asked:"As Salamu Alaikum, would you like something, brother?"
"Wa Alaikum As Salam. Oh! No! No!" said the pious man. "I don't wantto
buy anything, but I want to ask you a question." He then related his
dream.
"Well, that is very simple to explain," said the shopkeeper, "but you
will have to do something for me beforeI answer your question."
"I will do anything for you," replied the pious man.
"All right! Take this saucer; there is some mercury in it. Go to the
other end of the street and come back fast within half an hour. If the
mercury falls out of the saucer, you will hear nothing from me. There
you go now."
The pious man took the saucer and started running. The mercury nearly
wobbled out of the saucer. He saved it just in time, and slowed down.
Then he remembered he had to return within half an hour, so he started
walking at a fast pace. Atlong last he returned puffing and
panting."Here is your mercury, safe and sound," he told the
shopkeeper. "Now tell me the true interpretation of my dream."
The shopkeeper looked at the pious man's wearycondition and asked him:
"Well, friend, how many times did you remember Allah while you were
going from this end of the street to the other?"
"Remember Allah!" exclaimed the pious man. "I did not remember Him at
all. I was so worried about the mercury in the saucer."
"But I do remember Him all the time," said the shopkeeper. "When I
amdoing my business, I am also carrying mercury in a saucer. I am
fair, honest and kind to my customers. I never forgetAllah Ta'ala in
my dealings with other men."
"Men whom neither trade nor sale (business) diverts from the
remembrance of Allaah (with heart and tongue) nor from performing
As-Salaah (Iqaamat-as-Salaah) norfrom giving the Zakaah. They fear a
Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned (out of the horror of the
torment of the Day of Resurrection).That Allaah may reward them
according to the best of their deeds, and add even more for them out
of His Grace. And Allaah provides without measure to whom He wills"
[Al Quran, Surah an-Noor 24:37-38]

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