One who lives receives

One who lives receives

1992 5 May 13 One who lives receives (34) “Every day, two angels visit the servants of God on earth. One of them prays: “Lord, reward those who spend,” while the other prays, “Lord, destroy the wealth of those who withhold.”

(AI-Bukhari, Muslim)

The Way of the Companions

1992 5 May 13 The Way of the Companions (292) The Qur’an refers to Mariam (Mary) as the sister of Haroun. There are many traditions which make reference to this relationship. One of them is also follows:

Kaab said in the presence of Ayesha, the Prophet’s wife, that Mariam was not the sister of Haroun, the brother of Musa. Ayesha said that this was a lie. He replied, “0 Mother of the Faithful, if the Messenger of Allah had said so, I would have conceded this point, for he was the most truthful and knowledgeable among us. As it is, I find a difference of six hundred years between Mariam and Haroun.”

AI-Qurtubi, 11/100)

There is food for thought in this incident. On the one hand there is Ayesha, harshly criticizing a highly respectable companion, and on the other hand there is the companion, not losing his composure over either her criticism or the harshness ‘of her language. Instead, he merely tells her that whatever he says is a matter of history and that if she can prove him wrong by stronger evidence (like a saying of the Prophet) he will accept this; Ayesha gives in to the weight of his argument and falls silent. (There is a saying of the Prophet which supports Kaab’s stand, but perhaps it was not known to either of them at that time.)

Criticism was commonplace in the early stages of Islam, but no one seemed to be discomfited by it, even if it was couched in harsh language. If criticized, people did not become angry: they simply wanted to know the truth. That is how they lived such virtuous lives. If we were to adopt their ways We too would be able to live, in virtue, even when surrounded by the depravity of our times.