Generosity and altruism (sacrifice for others)

Dear Islamic brothers! Along with possessing traits like piety, asceticism, contentment, righteousness and inviting towards good, our Ghaus-ul-A’zam رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was also second to none in possessing attributes like helping the poor, destitute and needy. Passion for resolving issues faced by the poor, destitute and needy was also a part of his noble character. He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه would not return any needy or destitute person empty handed when they asked him for something. Instead, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه would say: ‘I examined all the deeds. I did not find any deed to be more superior than feeding. If only it was in my hand to feed the hungry.’ (Qalaaid-ul-Jawahir, p. 37)

Shaykh Abdullah Jubba`ee رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states: ‘Once, Sayyiduna Ghaus-ul-A’zam رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه said to me: ‘Feeding the hungry and observing good mannerism towards the people are (the most) accomplished and superior acts to me.’ He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه then said: ‘Money doesn’t stay with me. If I have one thousand Dinars in the morning, I won’t have a single penny left by the evening, as I would distribute them among the poor and needy, and spend it on feeding the hungry.’’ (Qalaaid-ul-Jawahir, p. 8, summarised)

Let us listen to a beautiful account of Ghaus-ul-A’zam’s رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه generosity and helping the poor. 

This is all the blessing of that night

His son, ‘Allamah Sayyid Abdul Razzaq رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states: ‘When my honourable father became renowned, he performed Hajj only once. During the travel of that Hajj journey, I would hold the rein of his animal (that he mounted upon to travel). When we reached a city situated in the south of Baghdad, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه told me to look for the poorest house in the city. Hence, we saw a desolated area which had a woollen tent. In that tent lived an elderly man, an elderly woman and a girl.

He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه sought permission from the elderly person and dismounted in that desolated area along with his companions. The Mashaaikh and wealthy people of that city came in the court of my father and humbly said: ‘Please