Page 158 - Self-Sacrifice in the Qur'an's Moral Teachings

Self-Sacrifice in the Qur'an's Moral Teachings

found husbands for their widows and paid the debts of the indebted. 45

Abu Talha, who came from one of Madinah's richest families,
gave all he had to win Allah's approval and showed the same fine
moral qualities:
Malik related to me that Ishaq ibn Abdullah ibn Abi Talha heard Anas
ibn Malik say: "Abu Talha had the greatest amount of property in
palm-trees among the Ansar in Madinah. His dearest piece of property
was Bayruha, which was in front of the mosque. The Messenger of
Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to go into it and
drink from the pleasant water that was in it."

Anas continued: "When the verse 'You will not obtain rightness of ac-
tion until you expend of what you love,' (Surat al-Baqara: l76), Abu
Talha went to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant
him peace, and said: 'O Messenger of Allah. Allah, the Blessed, the
Exalted, has said: "You will not obtain rightness of action until you ex-
pend of what you love." The property which I love the best is Bayruha.
It is sadaqa [alms] for Allah. I hope for its good and for it to be stored up
with Allah. Place it wherever you wish, O Messenger of Allah.'" 46
Another Companion noted for his generous spirit was Sa`d ibn
Ubada. When our Prophet (saas) moved to Madinah, he spent seven
months in his house. Sa`d prayed to Allah for the means to be gener-
ous, and his self-sacrifice is related in the following episode:

In the years of famine and drought, Sa`d ibn Ubada provided food for
the people, helped those stranded by the wayside, welcomed guests in
the finest manner, helped in the times of want and need, and assisted
the tribes in reaching their homes. At the Garad expedition, which took
place in 627, he gave the army ten camel loads of dates as provisions,
and gave food to the entire army during its campaign against the Banu

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