narration states that the Beloved Prophetصَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  was once travelling somewhere. On the way, he passed by a wealthy person who had many camels and goats. Despite this, he did not show hospitality to the Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

Then the Prophetصَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  passed near the home of a female Companion رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا. She رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا was not very rich; she only had a few small goats. When she saw the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, she became very happy and felt proud of her fate that the Master of the Universe صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had come to her home.

Consequently, that female Companion رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا quickly had a goat slaughtered and gained the privilege of hosting the Holy Prophetصَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  with a happy heart. When this happened, the Holy Prophetصَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  said: “Look...!! On one side is that man; he has herds of camels and goats, but he did not show hospitality to us. On the other hand is this lady; she only has a few small goats (but she has a big heart) and she has hosted us well.”

Then the Beloved Prophetصَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  said: اِنَّما ہٰذِہِ الْاَخْلَاق ُ بِیَدِ اللہ “These are good characters, which are in the control of Allah Almighty; Allah Almighty grants good character to whomever He wills.”^[1]

Dear Islamic brothers! Just think about this event. This single event shows us two types of people. How many people are there whom Allah Almighty has given so much and granted a lot of wealth, but their hearts are very small? If a guest arrives, their hearts sink, their faces lose colour, they act very stingily in feeding others.

On the other hand, there are many people who might or might not have wealth, whom Allah Almighty has made rich or kept poor, but He has granted them very big hearts. There are many such people; if you visit them once, their style of hospitality, their warm welcome, and their happy way of meeting are remembered for the rest of one's life. This is a gift from Allah Almighty; the Merciful Lord grants a big heart and good character to whomever He wills.

Now we must think about which group we belong to. Am I among those whom