Excellence of Simple Living and Being Content with Little
“…The reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds’.” [Surah Al-Qasas (The Stories) 28:80]
“Then, on that Day, you shall be asked about the delights (you indulged in, in this world)!” [Surah At-Taqathur (The Piling Up) 102:8]
“Whoever desires the quick-passing (transitory enjoyment of this world), We readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then, afterwards, We have appointed for him Hell; he will burn therein disgraced and rejected (far away from Allah’s Mercy).” [Surah Al-Isra (The Night Journey) 17:18]
Aishah (RA) reported: The family of Muhammad (SAW) never ate to the fill the bread of barley for two successive days until he died [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to supplicate: “O Allah, make the provisions of family of Muhammad (SAW) bare subsistence.” [Al Bukhari and Muslim]
COMMENTARY:
These Hadiths tells us about the extreme piety, contentment and simplicity of the Prophet (SAW). This mode of his life continued to his last days when he had started storing provision for one year for the maintenance of his wives. But he would always distribute it among the needy, so much so that nothing was left with him. Thus, the statement of the wives of the Prophet (SAW) that the family of Muhammad (SAW) had never taken bellyful of food for two days is absolutely true. If they had it on one day they did not have it on the next day. This is how they lived their whole life in the companionship of the Prophet (SAW)
PERSONAL NOTE:
Subhannallah, I find this topic very profound simply because at one point or another, this is how YOU AND I feel sometimes. We have the tendency to want to work so hard and do our best to move our way up to the highest echelon of good life, living and success. And we all know a pocket full of gold ain’t so bad either. For some who have reached that stratum already, they need a reality check. For others that are still in Fantasy Island trying to work up the ladder so to be a part of the achievers and dreamers, they too need a reality check as well as some guidance before they reach their comfort zone.
What this topic is basically talking about is the neediness to live a simple life, and work towards achieving a better and more stress-free life in the Hereafter. I completely understand that we all need to make a living to support our daily necessities for survival purposes and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, alhamdullilah. However, I do believe that we need to realize the importance of charity and giving what extra we have towards a better cause in support of our less fortunate ummahs.
In this Holy month of Ramadan, at this time of need, life is about sharing. Life is about living to a bare minimum, keeping away from meaningless spending and so forth. Most importantly LIFE IS ABOUT GIVING. In this Holy Month of Ramadan, we should gather what we have and let us start thinking about our Brothers and Sisters all over the world who are striving to find a good decent meal to put on the table for their children EVERY SINGLE DAY. They are, without a doubt, the afflicted ones. We can’t just sit there and watch their world unravel before our eyes; we can’t just sit there and and continue to pity or sympathize for them; we must GIVE what we can to the best of our ability.
As someone who’s lived a very comfortable and stable life [alhamdullilah]; seeing my brothers and sisters go through life with pain, poverty, intolerance, injustice, and bias is MY REALITY CHECK!! May Allah provide us the strength to GIVE and may Allah guide us all to a righteous path, amin.
************************************************************************–Hadiths No. 491 and 501 from “Riyadh-us-Saliheen: Volume One” compiled by Al-imam Abu Zakariyah Yahya bin Sharaf An-Nawawi Ad-Dimashqi.
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