Caring for the Orphansand Weak

According to the Holy Traditions the best Muslim's home is the one
wherein anorphan is supportedand is treated in a loving and
affectionate manner, and the worst is that home wherein an orphan
lives and is treated badly or cruelly.
It is related by Sahl ibn Saad (R.A.) that Rasulullah Muhammad (PBUH) said
"Whoever supports an orphan from among his own or any other family, he
will be as close to me in Heaven as these fingers are close to each
other."
Sahl (R.A.) says that Rasulullah (PBUH) made a motion of his index and
middle fingers (while he said this) and there was only a little space
between the two. In another Hadith the Holy Prophet (PBUH) made a
provision: "provided he is not guilty of an unpardonable sin."
This Hadith explains the status, in the hereafter, of that bondsman
who accepts the responsibility of supporting an orphan belonging
either tohis own familyorany other familywith whom he has no
particular blood tie. Which makes the fact clear that the promise of
salvation and entry into paradise is subject to the condition ofnot
committing a misdeed, such aspolytheism,murderetc. which isnot
pardonable.
Abu Hurairah (R.A.) reports that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) stated
"Whoever caresses the head of an orphan (in affection), solely for the
sake of Allah, a good deed will be written to his account for every
hair over which he passed his hand, and whoever treated an orphan (boy
or girl) with goodness and kindness, he and I will be close to
each-other in Heaven as these two fingers"
The Prophet (S.A.W.) made a gesture with his fingers as explained above.
It is therefore clear that the glad tidings onshowing kindnessto
orphans are dependent upon the condition that the loving and kindly
treatment is wholly with theintention of earning the pleasureof Allah
Almighty.
Visiting The Sick And Feeding The Hungry
In a Hadith reported by Abu Moosa Ash'ari (R.A.), The Prophet (S.A.W.)
said "Feed the hungry, visit the sick and free the captives."
Besides mention of feeding the hungry - which is a deed ofcompassion
and kind-heartedness, this Hadith also contains an injunction
forvisiting the sickandobtaining the freedomof those who are
(unlawfully) heldprisoners."
In common terms visiting the sick' simply denotes enquiring after
one's health but here it is used in a broader sense and includes also
thecaring and arrangingof treatment for the sick, if necessary, and if
one is able to do so.
The rewards and blessing for these deeds is (once again) very great,
and enviable indeed is the lot of those who feel for tie less
fortunate brethren and are willing to help them in any possible
manner.

Behavior of Old and Young

In every society there are some members who are senior in age and
others who are junior to them. The Beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) has, also,
explained (in his teachings) what their mutual behavior should be.
Stated below are a few Ahadith regarding this aspect of social
conduct, which may appear insignificant to some people, but plays
animportant partin promoting ahappy and peaceful life, both at family
and community levels.
In one Hadith the Prophet (S.A.W.) is reported to have stated that
"He is not of us, who is not affectionate to those who are younger
than him and is not respectful to those who are older."
In another Hadith he said,
"Whoever does not show affection to the young, and respect to the old,
is not one of us."
The occasion for the stating of the second Hadith, as related by Anas
(R.A.) was once when an elderly person came to meet Rasulullah (PBUH)
and the people present in the gathering took some time to make way
(clear a path in their midst) for him to go up to the Prophet (PBUH)-
i.e. they did not move quickly enough as the old person's age would
have required.
Therefore, these Ahadith show that anyone who wishes to remain
attached to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his faith should treat those
who are younger, to him, withaffection and mercy, and those who are
older withrespect and honor.
It is related by Anas (RA.) that the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) said
"For the young man who will honor an old man because of his age, Allah
will appoint men who will honor him in his old age."
This Hadith explains that, although the reward for showing good
manners and respect to one's elders will be in the Hereafter,
theAlmighty bestows His favorsto such people in this world too.

Attributes of Allah Almighty

Allah is the proper name of God, however, we know Him generally
through His attributes. These attributes describe how Allah manifests
Himself to us. God's attributes are innumerable since human intellect
cannot possibly comprehend every aspect of the Supreme Being. A Hadith
of the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) makes mention of Ninety Nine
names of Allah commonly known asAl-Asmaul Husna,the Most Names. In the
Holy Quran we read:
"And to Allah alone belong all perfect attributes. So call Him by
these.And leave alone those who deviate from the right way with
respect to His Attributes." (7:181)
"Allah - there is no God but He, the Living, the Self-Subsisting and
All-Sustaining. Slumber seizes Him not, nor sleep. To Him belongs
whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he
that will intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what
is before them and what is behind them; and they encompass nothing of
His knowledge except what He pleases. His knowledge extends over the
heavens and the earth; and the care of them burdens Him not;and He is
the High, the Great." (2:256)
"Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of
His light is a lustrous niche, wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a
glass. The glass is as it were a glittering star. It is lit from
blessed tree - an olive - neither of the east nor of the west, whose
oil would well-nigh glow forth even though fire touched it not.Light
upon light! Allah guides to His light whomsoever He will. And Allah
sets forth parables to men, and Allah know all things full well.This
light is now lit in houses with regard to which Allah has ordained
that they be exalted and that His name be remembered in them, Therein
is He glorified in the mornings and the evenings" (24:36-37)
"He is Allah, and there is no God beside Him, the Knower of the unseen
and the seen. He is Gracious, the Merciful.He is Allah, and there is
no God beside Him, the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace,
the Bestower of Security, the Protector, the Mighty, the Subduer, the
Exalted. Holy is Allah far above that which they associate with Him.He
is Allah, the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner. His are the most
Beautiful Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifies
Him, and He is the Mighty the Wise." (59:23-25)
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Holy Prophet
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Allah has ninety
nine Names, one hundred less one; and who memorized them all by heart
will enter Paradise."(Bukhari, The Book of Tauhid)

Dought & clear, - Is his father regarded as a martyr if he died onthe job?

My father died when he was working. He worked as a taxi driver and his
income varied and was modest, and he suffered many illnesses. Is
working regarded as jihad for the sake of Allah? There are some people
who say that he is a martyr. What is the ruling?
Praise be to Allah.
Undoubtedly the efforts of fathers to earn a living in order to spend
on their children and make them independent of means so that they will
not have to ask of people is something for which they will be rewarded
if they seek reward with Allah for that. Al-Bukhaari (56) narrated
from Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqaas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the
Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:
"Verily, you will never spend anything, seeking thereby the
Countenance of Allah, but you will be rewarded for it, even (the food)
that you put in your wife's mouth."
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allah
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:"A dinar that you
spend for the sake of Allaah, a dinar that you spend to free a slave,
a dinar that you give in charity to a needy person and a dinar that
you spend on your family – the greatest of them in reward is the one
that you spend on your family."
Narrated by Muslim (995).
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said: In the hadeeth
of Abu Qilaabah from Abu Asma', from Thawbaan, who attributed it to
the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), it says: "The
best dinar that a man spends is a dinar that he spends on his
dependents, a dinar that he spends on his mount (for jihad) for the
sake of Allah, and a dinar that he spends on his companions (in jihad)
for the sake of Allah." Abu Qilaabah said: He started with dependents,
and what man will earn a greater reward than a man who spends on his
dependents, to preserve their dignity, and Allah benefits them through
him?
At-Tabari said: It starts with spending on dependents, which includes
one's own self, because a man's own self is among his dependents;
indeed, it has a greater right over him than the rest of his
dependents, because no one can keep others alive by neglecting and
destroying himself. Then comes spending on dependents.
End quote fromFath al-Baari, 9/499
For more information, please see the answer to question no. 69960
Based on that, your father died doing a good deed, for which we hope
that he had a good end and acceptance with Allah, may He be exalted.
But that does not necessarily mean that he was engaged in jihad in the
specific sense of fighting the mushrikeen for the sake of Allah.
With regard to jihad in a general sense (which means striving), which
includes every act of obedience to Allah, there is no reason not to
say that in general terms. But this does not mean that he died as a
martyr either, because not everyone who dies doing a righteous deed
dies as a martyr.
And Allah knows best.