has run short in my journey and there is none to take me to my destination but I do hope in the mercy of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and I need your help. For the sake of the One Who has blessed you with a beautiful skin, give me a camel so that I may get to my destination.’ Listening to this, he refused and said, ‘I have already got many responsibilities and rights.’ The angel then said, ‘I do know you. Are you not the one who was suffering from leprosy? People used to detest you and you were a poor and needy person. Did Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ not grant you wealth?’ He replied, ‘I have inherited all of this wealth from my forefathers.’ The angel replied, ‘If you are a liar, may Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ turn you back into what you were.’

The angel then came to the one who was bald-headed and had the same conversation to him, he also responded in the same manner. The angel said, ‘If you are a liar, may Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ turn you back in the condition that you were before.’

And then the angel came to the blind person and said, ‘I am a poor person and a traveller. My provisions are finished. In this state I cannot get to my destination but I have hope in Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and after Him you are my best hope. For the sake of the One Who has blessed you with eyesight, I beg you to give me a goat so that I may get to my destination.’ He replied, ‘I was blind and Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ granted me sight. I was poor, and Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ made me rich. You may take whatever you need from my wealth. By Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, however much you want you may take for the sake of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ; I will not stop you.’ Upon hearing this, the angel said, ‘keep what you have (in your possession). Actually, you three were put to a test and Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is well pleased with you and He عَزَّوَجَلَّ is displeased with both of your friends (i.e. leper and the bald person).’ (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab-uz-Zuhd, pp. 2/463, Hadees 3464)

Dear Islamic brothers! From the above-mentioned parable not only has it been learnt that helping the needy and fulfilling their needs with the wealth that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has granted us, is a source of Allah’s pleasure, but it has also been learnt that if someone does not give Sadaqah and charity, in particular, his Wajib Sadaqat such as Zakah and Fitrah etc. despite having the ability to do so, then he indeed incurs Allah’s displeasure and is ungrateful to His