Abu Bakar r.a daily allowance from the Baitulmal.

Abu Bakar r.a was a cloth merchant and live by that trade. On the death of the Prophet s.a.w , people selected him as the Khalifah. Next day with some cloth slung on his arm, he was proceeding to the market as usual when Umar r.a met him in the way.

Umar : “Where are you going to Abu Bakar ?”

Abu Bakar : “To Market !”

Umar: “If you get bussy with your trade, who will carry out the duties of the caliphate ?”

Abu Bakar: “How am I to feed my family then ?”

Umar: “Let’s go to Abu Ubaidah (incharge of Baitulmal), who will fix some daily allowance for you from the Baitulmal”

They both went Abu Ubaidah. He fixed for Abu Bakar an allowance equal to that usually paid to an average Muhajirin.

Once Abu Bakar wife said to him: “I would like to have a sweet dish.”

Abu Bakar : “I have no money to arrange for the dish.”

His wife: “If you permit, I shall to try to save something daily from our allowance which will some day make enough to enable us to prepare the sweet dish.”

He agreed. A little money was saved in many days. When his wife brought the money to make purchases for the sweet dish, he said :

“It seems that we received so much over and above our needs.”

He deposited the saving in the Baitulmal and for future got his allowance cut down by amount saved by his wife.

Rewards of two, three and four sentences of Quran

From Uqbah ibni Amir r.a has said : “Rasullullah s.a.w came to us while we were sitting on the suffah and asked if any one of us would like to go the market of Buthan or Aqiq and fetch from there two she-camels of the finest breed without committing any sin or severing a tie of kinship. We replied that everyone of us would love to do so. Rasullullah s.a.w then said that going to the mosque and reciting of teaching two ayat (sentence) of Quran is more precious than two she-camels, three ayat are more precious than three she-camels, and that similarly reciting or teaching of four ayat is better than four she-camels and an equal number of camels.”



Suffah is the name of particular raised platform in the Mosque of the Holy Prophet s.a.w in Medina. It used to be occupied by the poor muslim muhajirin (plural of emigrant from Mecca to Medina) who are know as “Ashab usSuffah” (men of suffah). The number of these men varied from time to time. Allamah Suyuti (Rahmatullahalaih) has listed one hundred and one names and also written an independent booklet about their names.

Buthan and Aqiq were the two market-place for camels near Medina. The camel, more particularly a she-camel having a fat hump, was favourite of the Arabs.

The expression “without sin” is significant. A thing can be acquired without labour either by extortion, through illegal inheritance (by forcefully taking over the property of some relative) or by theft. Rasullulah s.a.w thus ruled out all such acquisitions. Acquiring a thing without labour and without any sin is certainly preferred by all, but much more valuable is the learning of a few ayat.

It is a clear fact that let alone one or two camels, even if one acquires the kingdom of all the seven Aqlim (continents) one will be forced to leave it, if not today surely tomorrow (at the time of death), but the reward of one ayat will be ever-lasting. We see even in this life that a man feels happier when he is given only one rupee (without the condition of returning it), rather than if he is given one thousand rupees for keeping in this safe custody for a while only. In the latter case, he is merely burdened with a trust without getting any benefit out of it. In fact, this hadith implies an admonition not to compare something temporary with something external. Whether in action or at rest, man should consider if his efforts are being wasted on acquiring the temporary gains of this world, or are directed towards achieving the everlasting ones. Woe be the waste of effort for which we earn eternal misery. The last phrase of the hadith, “superior to an equal number of camels” contains three meanings. First, up to the number four, the reward has been mentioned in detail. Beyond this, it is briefly mentioned that the more ayat a person acquires, the greater will be their superiority over the number of camels. In this case, the word “camels” at the end refers to the species either he-camels or she-camels and the number implied is more than four because up to the number four, the reward has been mentioned in detail.

The second meaning is that the numbers mentioned are the same as referred to ealier, the significance being that inclinations are always different; some are fond of she-camels, others prefer a he-camel. Therefore, Rasullullah s.a.w has used this expression to signify that every ayat is superior to a she-camel. And if one prefers a he-camel, an ayat is also superior to a he-camel.

The third meaning is that the numbers mentioned are the same as referred to before and not more than four. According to the second meaning, the explanation that an ayat is superior to a she-camel or he-camel does not hold good, but it implies a collection, i.e., one ayat is superior to a he-camel and a she-camel considered together, and likewise every ayat is superior to the combination of an equal number of he-camels or she-camels. Thus a single ayat has been compared to a pair or couple (of camels). (May Allah bless his grave with Divine light) has preferred the latter interpretation because it points to a superior virtue. This however, does not meaning that the reward on an ayat, can be equaled to a camel or two camels. All this is for inducement and illustration. It has been clearly written before that an ayat whose reward is permanent and enduring is superior and preferable even to a kingdom over the seven aqlim (continents), which is bound to disintegrate.

Mulla Ali Qari has written an account of a pious Shaikh who went to Mecca for Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca on the 9th day of Zulhijah – the 12th month of Islamic calendar). When he landed at Jeddah, some of his friend in business requested him to prolong his stay in Jeddah, so that they could earn more profit for their merchandise by virtue of his presence. In fact they wanted that some of the servant of the Sahaik be benefited by the profits of their business. At first the Shaikh expressed his inability to prolong his stay, but when they insisted the Shaikh asked them as to the maximum profit was not the same in all cases; but the maximum that they could expert was hundred percent. The Shaikh said, “you have taken all this trouble for such a petty gain; such an insignificant gain. I cannot miss the solat (prayer) in the respected ‘Haram’ ( the most Scared Mosque), where the rewards of solat gets multiplied one hundred thousand times.” In fact, we muslims should consider how, for petty worldly gains, we sometimes sacrifice great spiritual benefits.

The strories of Rasullullah s.a.w and his companions

We glorify Allah and ask blessings and salutations of peace for the noble Prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his companions and those who follow him in up-holding the cause of the right religion.

All the stories of the companion of the Holy Prophet Muhammad s.a.w in this blog are mainly for telling the true tales of the golden age of Islam that would create in them an Islamic spirit of love and esteem for Sahabah r.a, and thereby improve their “Iman”.

It is an admitted fact that the stories of the godly people deserve to be studied rather deeply, in order to derive proper benefit from them. This is more important in case of sahabah, who were chosen by Allah for the company of His beloved and our dear Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. Their stories not only serve as a beacon of Faith and Practice but also caused Allah’s blessing and mercy to descend on the reader.

“And all that we related unto thee of the stories of the messenger is in order that thereby We may make the heart firm. And herein hath come unto thee the truth and exhortation and a reminder for belivers.” (XI : 120)


Story 1 – The Prophet’s Journey to Taif

For nine years, since his selection by Allah for His mission, the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w had been delivering the message of Allah in Mecca and making all out efforts to guide and reform his community. Excepting a few persons who had either embraced Islam or who helped him though not accepting his creed, all the rest in Mecca left no stone unturned in persecuting and deriding him and his followers. His uncle Abu Talib was one of those good hearted people who help him, in spite of his not entering into the fold of Islam.

The following year, on the death of Abu Talib, the Quraish got a free hand and therefore accelerated their sinister pursuits without check and hindrance. At Taif, the second biggest town of Hijjaz (Peninsular of Arab Land), there lived Bani Thaqif – a clan strong in number. The Prophet s.a.w left for Taif with hope of winning them over to Islam, thus giving quarter to Muslims from the persecution of the Quraish and also establishing a base for the future propagation of Islam.

On reaching Taif he visited the three chieftains of the clan separately, and placed before each of them the message of Allah, and called upon him to stand by his (Prophet’s) side. Instead of accepting his message, they refused even to listen to him and notwithstanding the proverbial Arab hospitality, each of them treated him most contemptuously and rudely. They plainly told him that they did not like his stay in their town. The Prophet s.a.w had expected a civil, even a cordial treatment and due courtesy in speech from them, as they were the heads of the clan. But one of them sneered:

“Hey, Allah has made you Prophet !”

The others exclaimed with derision “

“Could Allah not lay His hand on anyone else, beside you to make him His Prophet ?”

The third one gibed at him.

“I do not want to talk to you, for if you are in fact a Prophets, then to oppose you is invite trouble, and if you, only pretend to be one, why should I talk with an imposter ?”

The Prophet s.a.w, was a rock of steadfastness and perseverance, did not lose heart over this check from the chieftains, and tried to approach the common people: but nobody would listen to him. Instead they asked him to clear off from their own town and go wherever else he liked. When he realized that further efforts were in vain, he decided to leave the town. But they would not let him depart in peace, and set the street urchins after him, to hiss, to hoot, to jeer at and stone him.

He was so much pelted with stones that his whole body was covered with blood and his shoes were clogged to his feet. He left the town in this woeful plight. When he was far out of the town and safe from the rabble, he prayed to Allah thus:

“Oh..my Allah ! To Thee I complain of the feebleness of my strength, of my lack of resources and my being unimportant in the eyes of people. Oh.., Most Merciful of all those capable of showing mercy ! Thou art the Lord of the weak, and Thou art my own Lord. To whom art Thou to entrust me; to an unsympathetic foe who would sullenly frown at me, or to an alien to whom Thou hast given control over my affairs ? Not in the least do I care for anything except that I may have Thy protection for my self. I seek shelter in your light – the light which illuminates the Heavens and dispels all sort of darkness and which controls all affair in this world as well as in the Hereafter. May it never be that I should incur Thy wrath, or that Thou should be displeased with me. I must remove the cause of Thy displeasure till Thou art pleased. There is no strength nor power but through Thee.”

The Heaven were moved by prayer and Jibrail a.s (Alayhis Salam) appreared before the Prophet s.a.w greeting him with Assalamualiakum and said:

“Allah knows all that has passed between you and these people. He has deputed an angle incharge of the mountains to be at your command.”

Saying Jibrail a.s ushered the angle before Prophet. The angle greeted the Prophet s.a.w and said:

“O, Prophet of Allah! I am at your service. If you wish, I can cause the mountains overlooking this town on both sides to collide with each other, so that all the people therein would be crushed to death, or you may suggest any punishment for them.”

The merciful and noble Prothet s.a.w said :

“Even if these people do not accept Islam, I do hope from Allah that there will be persons from among their progeny who would worship Allah and serve His cause.”

Behold the conduct of our noble Prophet s.a.w, whom we profess to follow! We get so much irritated over a little trouble or a mere abuse from somebody that we keep on torturing and taking our revenge throughout our live in every possible manner. Does it become people who claim to follow the magnanimous Prophet s.a.w? Look, even after so much suffering at the hands of the Taif mob, he neither curses the nor does he work for any revenge, even when he has the full opportunity to do do.

Blessings of recitation and virtues of the Word of Allah

From Abu Said r.a narrates that Rasullullah s.a.w said: Almighty Allah says, “if anybody finds no time for My remembrance and for begging favours of Me, because of his remaining busy with the Holy Quran, I shall give him more than what I give to all those who beg favours of Me. The Superiority of the Word of Allah over all other words is like the superiority of Allah over the entire creation.”

In other words, compared to those who are begging favours of Allah, He will surely confer some better reward on a person who remains so occupied with committing the Quran to memory or learning and understanding it that he hardly gets time for Dhuha prayer.

It is commonly know that when a man distributes sweets, or something else amongst others, a share is set aside for the person who cannot attend the function because of the task of distribution give him by the distributor himself. In another hadith, in the same context, it is mentioned that Allah would give such a person a better reward than what He would give to His ever grateful servants.

Who is the best person?

From Uthman r.a narrates that Rasullulah s.a.w said: “The best amongst you is he who learns the quran and teaches it.”

In the most of the books, this hadith is quoted with the worth “and” between “learns” and “teaches” as above. Thus the greatest reward would be for him who learns the Holly Quran and thereafter teaches it to others.

But some of the books this hadith is narrated with the word “or” in which case the meaning would be “the best amongst you is he who learns Quran or teaches it.”

According to this version, the reward is general, i.e equally great whether one learns himself or teaches to others. Thus there would be equal virtue for both.

The Quran is the basis of the religion of islam and on the preservation and propagation of the Quran depends the very existence of this faith. Hence the virtue of learning and teaching the quran is self evident and does not need further elucidation.

There are however various degrees of excellent. The highest is to learn the quran along with its meanings and purport and the least is to learn its words only.

The hadith mentioned above is supported also by another saying of Rasullullah s.a.w as reported by Said ibni Salim r.a :

“ If a person who has acquired knowledge of the Holy Quran considers another person who has been gifted with something else to be more fortunate that himself, he was show disrespect to the blessings of Allah bestowed on him on account of his learning the Quran. It is evident that since the Quran, being the word of Allah, is superior to all other discourses as mentioned in some of the hadith quoted later, its reading and teaching must be superior to everyting else.

Mullah Ali Qari quotes from another hadith that whoever acquires the knowledge of Holy Quran stores the knowledge of Prophethood in his forehead.

Sahl Tastari r.a says that the proof of love for Allah is the existence of love the word of Allah in one’s heart.

In Sharah Ihya, the list of people who will be given shelter in the shade of “Arsh” (throne of Allah) on the fearful Day of Judgement includes those persons who teach the Quran to the children of muslims and also those who learn the Holy Quran in their childhood and are devoted to its recitation when grown up.