When Allah Ta‘ala revealed the verse:
مَّن ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً
“Who is there that will loan Allah a good loan (by spending his wealth in sadaqah), for then He will multiply it for him many times over?” (Surah Baqarah v245)
Sayyiduna Abud Dahdaah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Does Allah Ta‘ala want a loan from us, whereas He is not in need of taking a loan?” “Yes, O Abud Dahdaah!” replied Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). “He wishes to thereby enter you into Jannah”.
Sayyiduna Abud Dahdaah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “I have two orchards; one of them is located in the lower part of Madeenah and the other in the upper part. By the oath of Allah, I do not possess any property besides these. I have given them both as a ‘loan’ to Allah Ta‘ala!” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied to him saying, “Give one of them to Allah Ta‘ala (in sadaqah), and keep the other for your livelihood and that of your dependants.” Sayyiduna Abud Dahdaah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) held the blessed hand of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and said, “I have made you a witness O Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that I have made over to Allah Ta‘ala the better of the two orchards.” This orchard contained no less than six hundred date palms. In lieu of his tremendous generosity, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) conferred upon him the glad tidings of Jannah saying, “In that case, Allah Ta‘ala will reward you with Jannah in exchange of it (the orchard).”
Sayyiduna Abud Dahdaah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) proceeded (to the orchard) where he found his wife, Sayyidah Ummud Dahdaah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), and the children strolling around beneath the date palms. He addressed his wife in the following verses of poetry:
“My Rabb has led you to the path of guidance; to the path of goodness and correctness.
Separate (come out) from the orchard with the love (of Allah Ta‘ala), for it has already become a loan till the day wherein people will call out (to one another for help, i.e. the Day of Qiyaamah).
I have given it to Allah Ta‘ala as a loan, based on my reliance (on Him), happily, not to remind (anyone) of my favour (to them), nor with (the intention of) taking (it) back.
(I have given it in sadaqah for no other reason) Except out of hope of it being multiplied in the Hereafter, so leave (the orchard) yourself as well as with the children.
And piety no doubt is the best of provisions, which a man can send forth to the Hereafter.”
Sayyidah Ummud Dahdaah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) replied saying: “Your trade was greatly profitable! May Allah Ta‘ala bless you in that which you have purchased.” Thereafter she also responded with the following words of poetry:
“Allah Ta‘ala has given you the glad tidings of goodness and happiness. A person such as yourself gives what he possesses (for the sake of Allah Ta‘ala), and is sincere.
Allah Ta‘ala has granted my family great enjoyment, and has conferred (upon us abundant bounties), with black ‘ajwah (a superior quality of dates) and ripened dates.
The slave (of Allah Ta‘ala) strives and will receive what he had toiled for during the nights, and against him is what he had committed (of sin).”
Thereafter Sayyidah Ummud Dahdaah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) not only left and proceeded to the other orchard, but also removed the dates which were in her children’s mouths and shook out that which was in their pockets, considering that it had now been given to Allah Ta‘ala. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thereafter exclaimed, “How many clusters of hanging dates and vast palaces await Abud Dahdaah (in Jannah)!”
(Majm‘uz Zawaaid #4690 and #15767, At-Targheeb wat Tarheeb lil Asbahaani #2320, and Tafseer Qurtubi vol. 4, pg. 220)
Lessons:
1. Hearing just a single verse of the Quraan Majeed was sufficient for the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) to give everything that they possessed in the path of Allah Ta‘ala. This was undoubtedly fueled by their conviction in the words of Allah Ta‘ala and the Hereafter. Hence, we too need to ponder over the promises of Allah Ta‘ala in the Quraan Majeed with full conviction in them, conscientizing ourselves that the Hereafter is our final and everlasting abode. This will enable us to give preference to the rewards and comforts of the Hereafter over the temporary gains and pleasures of this life.
2. Such was the willingness of Sayyiduna Abud Dahdaah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to spend in path of Allah Ta‘ala, that he gave the better one of his gardens in sadaqah. In the Quraan Majeed, Allah Ta‘ala cautions against looking for inferior and defective goods to spend in sadaqah, and encourages spending one’s prized possessions instead. Rather than looking at the poor person receiving the sadaqah, one should consider that this is being given to Allah Ta‘ala Himself, which demands that one presents the best that one can manage.
3. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) advised Sayyiduna Abud Dahdaah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to keep one of his orchards as an income for him and his children. This speaks volumes of the balanced and comprehensive nature of the teachings of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and of our Deen. Whilst we are encouraged to spend in sadaqah, we are discouraged from spending everything and thereafter becoming dependent on hand outs from others.
4. The wife of Sayyiduna Abud Dahdaah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was a loyal wife, who supported her husband in his Deeni endeavour. Hence, let alone complaining about him spending this valuable orchard which she and her children were enjoying, she even praised him for this great action. It is also extremely important for us to support our spouses in their Deeni endeavours and acts of righteousness.
5. Such was the commitment and enthusiasm for sadaqah in the wife of Sayyiduna Abud Dahdaah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), that once the orchard was given in sadaqah, she could not tolerate any personal use of the items in question. Hence, she forced her own children to remove the dates from their mouths and pockets. We as well need to be extremely careful when dealing with public funds, ensuring that no personal gain is sought therefrom.
