Ashab al-Suffa who spent their wealth andthemselves in the wayof Allah are exemplaryfor all Muslims

All the companions of our Prophet (saas) are examplary in their
superior morality and self-sacrifice. However especially those who
were called Ashab al-Suffa devoted 24 hours of their lives to Allah,
never got married,never pursued passions like family, children,
possessions or position; remained within the company of our Prophet
(saas) all the time and were educated by our Prophet (saas)
personally.
The companions of our Prophet (saas) who stayed in the antechamber
later annexed to the north part of Masjid al-Nabawi (the Mosque of our
Prophet (saas)) were referred as Ashab al-Suffa. They were those
blessed people who never married, had no relatives or attachment to a
tribe. They were not involved in trade and devoted all their time to
earn Allah's good pleasure and learn knowledge from our Prophet
(saas). Away from their families, they paid no attention to the
worldly deeds and continuously learned theQur'an and listened to our
Prophet's (saas) lectures and were sent to Muslim tribes to teach them
the Qur'an and the Sunnah. They were around 400-500 people and were
also known as the army of Wisdom.
Our Prophet (saas) was closely interested in their education.
These distinguished people who devoted themselves to Allah's way in
the true sense of the word, never missed the teachings of our Prophet
(saas). They were always ready there, memorized the teachings and
narrated them to other companions. It is told that the following verse
was revealed about Ashab al-Suffa (M.Hamdi Yazir, Hak Dini Kur'an
Dili, The Language of theQur'an, the Righteous Religion , 2/940)
It is for the poor who are held back in the Wayof Allah, unable to
travel in the land. The ignorantconsider them rich because of their
reticence. You will know them by their mark. Theydo not ask from
people insistently. Whatever good you give away, Allah knows it.
(Surat al-Baqara, 273)
The followers of Hazrat Mahdi (as) will, Insha'Allah, also spend
every moment of their lives in the way of Allah, they will never leave
Hazrat Mahdi (as ) and never dread from oppression and hardship.
Indeed, Insha'Allah together with Hazrat Mahdi (as), they will work
very hard to cause the morality of the Qur'an dominate the world.

Does the hadeeth “I am not afraid that you will worship others along with Allah after my death” mean that shirk will never occur among this ummah?.

Narrated 'Uqba bin 'Amir:
Bukhari - Volume 2, book 23, number 428: Narrated 'Uqba bin 'Amir: One
day the Prophet went out and offered the funeral prayers of the
martyrs ofUhud and then went up the pulpit and said, "I will pave the
way for you as your predecessor and will be a witness on you. By
Allah! I see my Fount (Kauthar) just nowand I have been given the keys
of all the treasures of the earth (or the keys of the earth). By
Allah! I am not afraid that you will worship others along with Allah
after my death, but I am afraid that you will fight with one another
for the worldly things." This hadeeth is often used bythose comitting
bidah asjustification for some of the acts which can be labeled as
"shirk" (such as calling out on others besides Allah, grave
worshipping, etc.). The claim is that the Ummah of the Prophet (SAW)
arenot at risk of comitting shirk. What is the correctinterpretation
of this hadeeth.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
The hadeeth was narrated by al-Bukhaari (1344) and Muslim (2296) from
'Uqbah ibn 'Aamir, and says that the Prophet (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) came out one day and prayed for the people of Uhud
as he used to pray for the dead. Then he went to the minbar and said:
"I will be there ahead of you, and I will be your witness. By Allaah,
I can see my Cistern now. I am given the keys to the treasures of the
earth, orthe keys to the earth. By Allaah, I do not fear that you will
associate others with Allaah after I am gone, but I fear that you will
compete with one another for them (the treasures of the earth)."
What is meant by his praying for them (the people of Uhud) as he used
to pray for the dead is his offering supplication for them with the
du'aa' that is recited in the funeral prayer. This was seven years
after they were martyred (may Allah be pleased with them).
There is nothing in the hadeeth to say that shirk(association of
others with Allah) will not happen in this ummah; rather it may be
understood that he did not fear it for the entire ummah, based on the
fact that it has occurred among some of them, as is indicated in other
texts in which he (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) stated
that some of his ummah would fall into shirk.
An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his commentary on
Muslim (Sharh Muslim): In this hadeeth we see the miracles of the
Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), because
what it means isa foretelling that his ummah would be given the
treasures of the earth, which did indeed come to pass; and that they
would not all apostatise because Allah,may He be exalted, protected
them from that; and that they would compete with one another for
worldly gain. And all of that came to pass. End quote.
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar al-'Asqallaani (may Allah have mercy on him)
said:The words "I do not fear that you will associate others with
Allah" mean:(I do not fear that you will do that) en masse, because
that happened with some of them – may Allah protect us. This hadeeth
is one of the miracles of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him), hence the author narrated it under the heading of the signs
of Prophethood.
End quote from Fath al-Baari, 3/211
Secondly:
The saheeh Sunnah indicates that among this ummah will be somewho
associate others with Allah, may He be exalted.
1.
al-Bukhaari (7116) and Muslim (2906) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may
Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him) said: "The Hour will not begin until the
backsides of the women of Daws wobble (as they go) around
Dhu'l-Khalasah."
Dhu'l-Khalasah was a false god of Daws that they used to worship
during the Jaahiliyyah.
2.
Muslim (2907) narrated that 'Aa'ishah said: I heard the Messenger of
Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: "Night and day
will not cease until al-Laat and al-'Uzza are worshipped." I said: O
Messenger of Allaah, when Allaah revealed the words "He it is Who has
sent His Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) with guidance and the
religion of truth (Islamic Monotheism) to make it victorious over all
(other) religions even though the Mushrikoon (polytheists, pagans,
idolaters, and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah and in His
Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) hate (it)" [al-Saff 61:33], I
thought that that had been fulfilled and would never be undone. He
said: "As much of that as Allaah wills will happen, then Allaah will
send a pleasant wind which willcause everyone in whose heart is faith
the size of a grain of mustard seed to die, then there will be left
those in whom there is no good, and they will revert to the religion
of their forefathers."
Thus it becomes clear that some of the Muslimswill fall into shirk and
apostasy, without that affecting the entire ummah, for it is protected
against uniting in misguidance.
How can the Muslim doubt that calling upon the dead, beseeching them
at times of calamity and asking them to relieve distress are acts of
shirk? In fact this is the essence of what the earlier mushrikeen used
to do, seeking to draw close to Allah or seeking intercession with
Him, asAllah says (interpretationof the meaning):
"And those who take Auliya (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say):
"We worship them only that they may bringus near to Allah." Verily,
Allah will judge betweenthem concerning that wherein they differ.
Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever."
[az-Zumar 39:3]
"And they worship besides Allah things that hurt them not, nor
profitthem, and they say: 'These are our intercessors with Allah.'
Say: 'Do you inform Allahof that which He knows not in the heavens and
on the earth?' Glorified and Exalted be He above all that which they
associate as partners with Him!
Mankind were but one community (i.e. on one religion - Islamic
Monotheism), then they differed (later), and had not it been for a
Word that went forth before from your Lord, it would have been settled
between them regarding what they differed"
[Yoonus 10:18, 19]
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:The
one who makes the angels and Prophets mediators on whom he calls and
in whom he puts his trust, and asks them to bring benefits and ward
off harm, such as asking them for forgiveness of sins, guidance of
hearts, relief of distress and meeting his needs, is a kaafir
according to the consensus of the Muslims.
End quote from Majmoo'al-Fataawa, 1/124
This consensus was narrated by more than one of the scholars who
affirmed it, see: al-Furoo'by Ibn Muflih, 6/165; al-Insaaf, 10/327;
Kashshaaf al-Qinaa', 6/169; Mataalib Ooli'n-Nuha, 6/279. These are the
essential reference books of Hanbali fiqh.
In Kashshaaf al-Qinaa' it says, after mentioning this consensus under
theheading of the ruling onthe apostate: Because this is like the
action of the idol worshippers who say, 'We only worship them so that
they might bring us closer to Allah.'
End quote.
More than one of the scholars has clearly stated that what some ofthe
ignorant Muslims do of focusing their devotion on graves is the
essence of what the earlier mushrikeen used to do.
Ar-Raazi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in hiscommentary on the
verse from Soorat Yoonus quoted above, explaining the explanations
that the mushrikeen gave for their worship of idols:
Fourthly: they made these idols and statues in the image of their
Prophets and great men,and claimed that if they devoted themselves to
worshipping these statues, those great men would be intercessors for
them with Allah, may He be exalted. The equivalent to that in our own
times is the devotion of many people to venerating thegraves of great
men, in the belief that if they venerate their graves, they will
intercede for them with Allah.
End quote from Mafaateeh al-Ghayb, 17/49

No Angels or Other Creatures Know Everything in the Heavens and Earth.

My daughter asked me: Who is the angel who knows everything in the
heavens and the earth, the number of drops of water, the number of
grains of sand? Is there any such thing?
Praise be to Allah
The one who knows everything in the heavens and on earth, and knows
the number of drops of water and the number of grains of sand is
Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. There is no angel who is close to Him
or any Prophet who was sent who has this knowledge. Anyone whosays
that there is anyoneamong the angels who knows all of this has
fabricated a lie against Allah, to Whom belongs knowledge of the
unseen of the heavens and the earth.
Allah, may He be exalted,says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And with Him are the keys of the Ghaib (all that is hidden), none
knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in (or on) the earth
and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but he knowsit. There is not a grain
in the darkness of the earth nor anything freshor dry, but is written
in aClear Record" [6:59].
And He, may He be glorified, says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Say: None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghaib (unseen)
except Allah, nor can they perceive when they shall be resurrected"
[27:65].
Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) said:Here Allah, may He be
exalted, is instructing HisMessenger (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him) to tell all of mankind that no one knows the unseen except
Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, and that He alone has that
knowledge, with nopartner or associate. Endquote from Tafseer Ibn
Katheer, (6/207).
Al-Bukhaari (4697) narrated from Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with
him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him) said: "The keys of the Unknown are five, whichno one knows except
Allah: no one knows what will happen tomorrow except Allah; no one
knows what is in the wombs except Allah; no one knows when it will
rain except Allah; no one knows in which land he will die; and no one
knows when the Hour will begin except Allah."
But Allah, may He be exalted, may inform whomever He wills among His
creation about whatever He wills of His unseen. Allah, may He be
exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
"(He Alone) the All-Knower of the Ghaib (unseen), and He reveals to
none His Ghaib (unseen). Except to a Messenger (from mankind) whom He
has chosen (He informs him of the unseen as much asHe likes), and then
He makes a band of watching guards (angels) to march beforehim and
behind him." [72:26, 27].
The scholars of the Standing Committee said: Knowledge of unseen
matters is something that belongs exclusively to Allah, so no one
among His creation, human or jinn, knows anything of it except what
Allah reveals to whomever He wills among His Angels or His Messengers.
End quote from Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa'imah, (1/346).
Yes, there is an angel who is appointed in charge of the rain, and
directs it wherever Allah wills; he is Mikaa'eel (peace be upon him),
who has helpers who dowhatever he instructs them to do. But this only
happens by the will of Allah and in accordance with His wisdom and
knowledge. They do not know anything or do anything; rather they
cannot do anything at allexcept by Allah's leave. Moreover, that does
not mean that they know the number of drops of water, because their
knowledge is restricted to what Allah has taught them, and they say,
as Allah tells us:
"Glory be to You, we have no knowledge except what you have taught us.
Verily, it is You, the All-Knower, the All-Wise"
[2:32].

Shirk and its different forms,- Is there a specific prayerfor increasing provision?

"You pray two rak'ahs, reciting in each rak'ah al-Hamd (i.e.,
al-Faatihah) once and at-Tawheed (i.e., al-Ikhlaas) once, making the
bowing and prostration lengthy. After finishing the prayer, say: 'O
Most Glorious, O One, O Most Generous, I turn to You by virtue of
Muhammad Your Prophet, the Prophet of mercy, (blessings of Allah be
upon him and his family); O Muhammad, O Messenger of Allah, I turn by
virtue of you to Allah, my Lord and your Lord, the Lord of all things.
I ask you, O Allah, to send blessings upon Muhammad and the members of
his household, and I ask Youfor a breath of mercy from You, quick
relief, and abundant provision,so that I may put my affairs in order,
pay off my debts and support my dependents.'".
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
In the saheeh Sunnah there is no known prayer specifically for asking
for increased provision. The prayer described in the question with
this du'aa'(supplication) is an innovated prayer; it comes under the
heading of prescribing in religion something that Allah has not
prescribed, and introducing innovation (bid'ah) that is prohibited.
Al-Haafiz Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Ahl as-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaa'ah say concerning any action orword that is
not proven from the Sahaabah that it is an innovation (bid'ah),
because if it were something good, they would have done it before us.
They did not omit any good attribute but they hastened to do it or
attain it.
End quote from Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 7/278-279
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan (may Allah preserve him) said:
The innovations that have been introduced inthe area of worship
nowadays are many. Butthe basic principle with regard to acts of
worship is tawqeef [i.e., they can only be known through divine
Revelation and sound texts of hadeeth, with no room for personal
opinion], so no acts of worship are prescribed except on the basis of
evidence. Anything for which there is no evidence is an innovation
(bid'ah), because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him) said: "Whoever does an action that is not part of this matter of
ours will have it rejected." (Agreed upon). The acts of worship that
are donenowadays for which there is no evidence are very many.
End quote from Kitaab at-Tawheed, p. 160
Secondly:
The words of the worshipper in this du'aa'after this innovated prayer,
"I turn to You by virtue of Muhammad Your Prophet, the Prophet of
mercy, (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family); O Muhammad, O
Messenger of Allah, I turn by virtue of you to Allah…" are words that
are not permissible, and come under the headingof innovated tawassul
(means of seeking to draw closer to Allah) thatis forbidden.
For more information ontawassul, both prescribed and prohibited,
please see the answer to question no. 3297 .
Anyone who calls upon the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) after his death, or who calls upon anyone else
among the dead to wardoff harm or bring benefits is a mushrik who has
associated someone else with Allah in the sense of major shirk that
puts one beyond the pale of Islam, and he has to repent to Allah, may
He be exalted.
For more information please see the answer toquestion no. 112131 and 114142 .
Thirdly:
There are some means ofincreasing provision thatare prescribed in
Islam, which we shall highlighthere, so as to adopt the means that are
prescribed and warn against innovations in religion. These include:
· Istighfaar (praying for forgiveness)
Allah, may He be exalted,says (interpretation of the meaning):
"I said (to them): Ask forgiveness from your Lord; Verily, He is Oft-Forgiving;
He will send rain to you in abundance;
And give you increase in wealth and children, andbestow on you gardens
and bestow on you rivers"
[Nooh 70:10-12].
· Upholding ties of kinship
Al-Bukhaari (2067) and Muslim (2557) narrated from Anas ibn Maalik
(may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings
and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever would like his rizq
(provision) to be increased and his life to be extended, should uphold
the ties of kinship."
An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
"his rizq (provision) to be increased" means to be expanded and made
abundant or, it was said,to be blessed (barakah). End quote.
· Giving a great deal of charity
Allah, may He be exalted,says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Say: Truly, my Lord enlarges the provision for whom He wills of His
slaves, and (also) restricts (it) for him, and whatsoever you spend of
anything (in Allah's Cause), He will replace it.And He is the Best of
providers"
[Saba' 34:39].
Muslim (2588) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with
him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him) said: "Charity does not decrease wealth."
An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
They (the scholars) mentioned two meanings of this hadeeth, one of
which isthat (the wealth) will be blessed (as a result of giving
charity) and harmwill be warded off from it, so the apparent decrease
will be compensated for by means of hidden blessing (barakah). This is
something that is well known from experience.The second is that even
if it appears to be decreased outwardly, there will be compensation
for that inthe reward that results from it, and it will be increased
manifold. End quote.
· Being mindful of Allah and fearing Him (taqwa)
Allah, may He be exalted,says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a
way for him to get out (from every difficulty).
3. And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine"
[al-Talaaq 65:2-3].
· Performing Hajj and 'Umrah often, following one with the other
At-Tirmidhi (810) narrated that 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ood said: The
Messenger of Allah (sa) said: "Make the Hajj and 'Umrah follow each
other closely, for they remove poverty and sins as the bellows removes
the dross of iron, gold and silver, and an accepted Hajj brings no
less a reward than Paradise.". It was classedas saheeh by al-Albaani.
· Du'aa' (supplication)
It was narrated by Ibn Maajah (925) from Umm Salamah that the
Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to
say, when he said the salaam at the end of Fajrprayer: "Allaahumma
inni as'aluka rizqan tayyiban, wa 'ilman naafi'an, wa 'amalan
mutaqabbalan (O Allaah, I ask you for good (halaal) provision,
beneficial knowledge and accepted good deeds)."
Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah.
And Allah knows best.