Pearls from the Prophet (pbuh)

Prohibitions: Wine & Intoxi­cants

Anas said: "I was giving drink to people In the abode of Abu Talhah, and their wine at that time was made from dates. Then the Messenger of Allah, ordered a crier to make it known that wine was forbidden" He added: "Abu Talhah said to me, 'Get out and pour it out.' I poured it out and it flowed in the streets of Medina.'

`A'ishah said: "The Messenger of Allah was asked about it" It is a drink made of honey and the people of Yemen used to drink it. So the Messenger of Allah said, "Every drink that intoxi­cates is prohibited"

Of whatever thing a large quantity intoxicates, even a small quantity is prohibited. Do not drink wine, for it is the root of all evil.

Abu Hurayrah relates that a drun­kard was brought to the Holy Prophet who ordered people to beat him. Abu Hurayrah says: "Some of us beat him with hands and others with shoes and still others with their clothes. When he was gone some people cried; 'May God harm him! The Holy Prophet said: 'Do not say like that, and let not Satan overpower him.'

Begging:

Whosoever is able and fit and does not work for himself or for others, God is not gracious to him.

God is gracious to him who earns his living by his own labor and not by begging.

Verily, it is better for any of you to take your rope and bring a bundle of wood upon your back and sell it, in which case God guards your honor, than to beg of people, whether they give or not; if they do not give, your reputation suffers, and you return disappointed; and if they give, it is worse than that; for it makes you under obligation.

The Messenger of Allah (when he was on the pulpit, and was describing the rewards of alms, and the advan­tages of avoiding begging) said: "The upper hand is better than the lower," and he said, "the upper hand is the giver of alms, and the lower is the beggar."

Whoever has food for a day and night, it is prohibited for him to beg.

Usury & Interest:

The taker of usury and the giver of it, and the writer of its papers and the witness to it, are equal in wrong.

The Holy Prophet said: "A time will come over people when none will remain who will not devour usury. If he does not devour it, its vapor will overtake him."

Bilal had old dates with him and sold out of them two Sa`s for one. The Prophet said: "Alas! Veritable Interest: Do not do it, but when you intend to purchase, sell the dates for purchasing another kind, and then purchase there­with."

Treatment of Orphans:

I and the guardian of orphans (whether the orphan be of his near or distant relation, or of strangers) will be in one place in the next world, like my two fingers," said the Prophet and his fingers were nearly touching each other at the time.

The best Muslim house is that in which is an orphan is benefited; and the worst Muslim house is that in which an orphan is ill-treated.

Of Women:

One day a woman asked the Prophet what were her duties towards her husband. To her he replied: "A wife should not leave her home without her husband's permission. Women are the twin halves of men."

The world and all things in it are valuable; and one of the most valuable in the world is a virtuous women.

God enjoins you to treat women well, for they are your mothers, daughters and aunts.

The rights of women are sacred. See that women are maintained in the rights assigned to them.

When a woman performs the five daily prayers, and fasts in the month of Ramadan, and is chaste, and is not disobedient to her husband, then tell her that she can enter Paradise by whichever door she chooses.

Of Widows:

A giver of maintenance to widows and the poor is like O bestower in the way of God, an utterer of prayers all the night, and a keeper of constant Fast.

One who strives for the widows and the poor is like one who fights in the way of Allah. Abu Hurayrah relates that the Holy Prophet said: "The one who does good to the widow and the poor is like the warrior in Allah's way or like the one who stands praying all night and keeps fasting all day."

Of Wives:

Admonish your wives with kindness. A Muslim must not hate his wife; and if he were displeased with one bad quality in her, then let him be pleased with another, which is good.

Give your wife good counsel; and if she has goodness in her, she will soon

take it, and leave off idle talking; and do not beat your noble wife like a slave.

A virtuous wife is a man's best treasure.

Of Parents:

Heaven lies at the feet of mothers. God's pleasure is in a father's pleasure; and a father's displeasure also displeases God.

A man is bound to do good to his parents, although they may have injured him.

He who wishes to enter Paradise through the best door must please his father and mother.

Of Servants:

To those of your servants who please you, give them eat what you eat yourself; and clothe them as yourself; but those who do not please you, part with them; and punish not God's creatures.

"He will not enter Paradise who behaves ill toward his slaves," said the Prophet. The companions said, "O Messenger of God! Have you not told us that there will be a great many slaves and orphans amongst your disciples?" He said, "Yes, then be kind to them and to your own children, and give them to eat of what you eat your­selves.

The slaves who say their prayers are your brothers.'

Of the Sick:

Whosoever visits the sick, an angel proclaims from heaven: 'May you be happy, may your walking be pleasant and may you be accommodated in a house in Paradise.'

Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and Free the captive if he were unjustly confined. Assist any person oppressed, whether Muslim or non-Muslim. When you go to visit the sick, comfort him in his grief, and say, 'You will get well and live long' because this saying will not prevent what is predestined, but it will solace his soul.

Verily, when a Muslim is taken ill, after which God restores him to health, his illness had been a cover for his former faults, and it is on admonition to him of what comes in future times; and verily, when a hypocrite is taken ill, and afterwards restored to health, he is like a cornel which had been tied up, and afterwards set free; for the camel did not know, for want of discrimina­tion, why they tied him up and why they let him loose; such is the hypocrite; on the contrary a believer knows that this Indisposition was to cover his faults.