Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال خير بيت في المسلمين بيت فيه يتيم يحسن إليه وشر بيت في المسلمين بيت فيه يتيم يساء إليه (سنن ابن ماجه رقم 3679)
Hazrat Abu Hurayrah (Radhiyallahu Anhu) reports that Rasululah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “The best home of the believers is the home wherein an orphan child is taken care of with kindness and compassion and the worst home of the believers is the home wherein an orphan child is ill-treated by the inmates of the home.”
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was an embodiment of compassion, love and mercy. Allah Ta’ala bears testimony towards this fact in the Holy Qur’an. Allah Ta’ala says, “We have not sent you except as a mercy for the worlds.” A young Sahaabi, Hazrat Basheer (Radhiyallahu Anhu) narrates the following incident regarding the mercy Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) showed towards orphans.
“After the battle of Uhud, I met Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and asked, ‘O Rasul of Allah, where is my father?’ Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) informed me that my father had become shaheed during the battle. I then began to cry profusely. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) embraced me, and affectionately placed his mubaarak hand on my head. He then carried me while saying, ‘Are you not happy that from now onwards I am your father, and Aaisha (Radhiyallahu Anha) is your mother.’” (Majma’uz Zawaaid #13517)
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abi Aufa (Radhiyallahu Anhu) narrates: “On one occasion, while we were seated around Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), a young boy came and said, ‘O Rasul of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), may my parents be sacrificed for you, I am an orphan child who has an orphaned sister and a widowed mother. Grant us something to eat from that which you possess and make us happy, and in return may Allah Ta’ala feed you.’ Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said to the boy: ‘You have presented your request in a beautiful manner. O young child go to my household and enquire from them if they have any food to give you. If they present any food to you, then bring it to me.’ After a few moments, Hazrat Bilaal (Radhiyallahu Anhu) appeared with twenty one dates, and placed them in the Mubaarak palm of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) raised his hands in duaa and began supplicating to Allah Ta’ala to place barakah in the dates. Then Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said to the child, ‘Take these dates for yourself and for your mother and sister. Take seven dates for yourself and give seven dates each to your mother and sister. Eat one date in the morning and one date in the evening.’ When the boy left the mubaarak gathering of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), Hazrat Mu’aaz bin Jabal (Radhiyallahu Anhu) followed him and affectionately placed his hand on the child’s head while making the following duaa, ‘May Allah Ta’ala assist you through your difficulty of orphanhood, and may He recompense you for the loss of your father.’ Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) witnessed the action of Hazrat Mu’aaz (Radhiyallahu Anhu) and addressed him saying, ‘O Mu’aaz, I saw you place your hand on the head of the child.’ Hazrat Mu’aaz (Radhiyallahu Anhu) said: ‘O Rasul of Allah, I did so out of compassion for him as I pitied his condition.’ Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) then said: “I swear by the oath of that Being in whose control is my life, the person who takes care of the orphan, shows compassion to him and affectionately places his hand on his head, Allah Ta’ala will forgive his sins and bless him with reward equivalent to the hair on the head of the orphan child which his hand had touched.’” (Shu’abul Imaan #10530)
