Someone
inquired of Bilal (Radhiyallaho anho) how the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) met his expenses. He replied:
"He
never kept back anything for future use. I arranged money for him. Whenever a
needy person, whether hungry or naked, came to him, he would make him over to
me and I would then arrange for his needs by borrowing money from somebody.
This is what usually happened. Once a Mushrik came to me and said: 'Look here!
I have a lot of money to spare. Don't borrow money from anybody else. Whenever
you need it, come straight to me.' I exclaimed: 'This is indeed fine.' I began
to borrow money from him to meet the needs of the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam). One day, after I had taken my Wudhu and was about to call Azaan, the
same Mushrik accompanied by some people came and shouted, '0, Negro!' When I
attended to him, he began to abuse me, using filthy language and said: 'How
many days are left of this month? 'I said: 'It is about to finish. 'He said
most insolently: `Look here! there are only four days left of this month. If
you fail to clear up your debts by the end of the month, I shall take you as my
slave for my money and then you will be grazing sheep as you have been doing
before.' After saying this he went away. I remained melancholy and full of
grief throughout the day. After Isha when the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) was alone, I went and narrated the story to him, saying: 'O, Prophet
of Allah! you have nothing with you, nor can I arrange any money from somewhere
so quickly. I am afraid the Muslirik will disgrace me. I therefore intend to
keep away for such time as you get sufficient money to clear the debts.' I went
home, took my sword, shield, and shoes, and waited for the morning to make for
some other place. Just before dawn, somebody came to me and said. 'Hurry up.
The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) wants you.' I hurried to the musjid and
found four loaded camels sitting near the Prophet. He said: 'Good news, Bilal.
Allah has made arrangements for clearing your debts. Take these camels with
their load. The Chief of Fidak has sent them as a gift to me.' I thanked Allah
and took the camels and cleared up all the debts. In the meantime, the Prophet
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) kept sitting in the musjid. When I returned, I
said: 'Alhamdulillah.' All the debts are now clear, O, Prophet of Allah' He inquired:
'Is there anything left from the gift?" I said. "Yes, something is
still left." He said, "Go and spend that as well. I shall not go home
until the whole lot is spent.' The Prophet kept sitting in the musjid all day
long. After Isha he inquired again if everything had been spent. I said: 'Something
is still left unspent. A few of the poor have not turned up so far.' He slept
in the musjid that night. Next day after Isha'a he again called me to him and said:
'Bilal! Is everything finished now?" I said: 'Yes, Allah has blessed you
with peace. Everything is now spent and gone.' The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) began to hymn the Glory of Allah over this news, for he did not like
death to overtake him while any of the riches were in his possession. He then
went home and met his family."
It
is common with pious people that they do not like to keep any wealth with them.
How could the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), being the fountain-head of
all piety, like to keep anything in his possession? It is said of Maulana Abdur
Rahim (May Allah have mercy on him), a Saint of our time, that all that he
received as gifts from the people was immediately spent by him and he did not
keep anything for himself. A few days before his death, he gave over all his
clothes to one of his attendants and said: "If I need to wear any clothes
in my life, I shall borrow them from you." And I also know about my late
father, who whenever had any money left after Maghrib, would give it to someone
of his creditors (he was several thousand rupees in debt) and would say 'I
would not like to keep this source of trouble with me for the night.'
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