It is related by Abdullah bin Abbas that the Apostle of God said: “Even if a man possesses two fields and two forests full of worldly goods, he will like to have a third, and man’s belly will get filled up only with earth [i.e., his insatiable appetite for wealth will end only in the grave], and God shows compassion to the bondsman who turns his face towards Him.”
Bukhari and Muslim

Commentary:- Excessive desire for wealth is a common human failing to the extent that if a man’s fields and forests are overflowing with riches he will still not be satisfied and go on wanting an increase in them till the last moment of his life.

Fondness for wealth ends only with death. There is a special favour of the Lord on those who make Him, and not the material world, the object of their adoration. God grants them contentment and they lead a happy and peaceful life here in this world too.

8 ways to earn even after your death.

1. Give a copy of the Qur’an to someone. Every time they read from it, you
   gain.
2. Donate a wheelchair to a hospital. Each time a sick person uses it, you
   gain.
3. Teach someone to recite a Dua.
4. Share a Qur’anic CD.
5. Participate in building a Mosque.
6. Place a water cooler/ well in a public place.
7. Plant a tree. You gain whenever a person or animal sits in its shade or
   eats from it.
8. Share this message with other people. Even if only one person applies any of the
   above, you gain.

6.1 THE IMPORTANCE OF EATING MANNERS
Eating manners are very important since it is repeated many times every day. It must be done properly whether eating alone, with family, or with friends. To avoid pretenses, you should train yourself in proper eating manners, whether alone or with your family. It will then become a natural part of your behaviour, and you will be at ease at the table.

6.2 THE MANNERS OF EATING
There are certain table manners that are indispensable. Say ‘Bismillah’ when starting, to thank Allah and say ‘Alhamdulilah’ when finished. Eat what is in front of you. Eat using your right hand. A hypocrite was eating with his left hand when the Prophet saw him and advised him to eat with his right. The man falsely said ‘But I cannot’ The Prophet said ‘May it be so’ and the hypocrite was not able to lift his right hand again.

The companions of the Prophet followed his example in stressing the use of the right hand while eating. Omar was Khalifa when he saw a man eating with his left hand and similarly advised him to eat with his right. The man answered ‘My right is busy’ Omar repeated his request and the man repeated his answer. Omar asked him ‘What is it busy with?’ The man answered that it had been severed in one of the battles. Omar blamed himself for neglecting such handicap and ordered the treasurer to provide the man with a servant to help him.

If eating with your hand, use three fingers with small bites, lifting it gently with ease to your mouth. Close your mouth while eating to avoid unnecessary noises. To eat on the floor is nearer to what the Prophet used to do. However, there is no problem to eat at a table. Imam Ghazali said, ‘To eat at a table is to make eating easier and there is nothing against that.’ Do not start eating ahead of the elders or the nobles. If you are the elder, do not commence eating before everyone is at the table.

It is preferred that eating should not be conducted in silence. It is good manners to talk during meals. Topics should be nice stories suitable for eating. At the end of the meal, if hands are to be washed, the elder or the noble should be asked to proceed first.

At the end of a meal, thank Allah as in the Hadith reported by Abo Dawood and Nasa’i in ‘the deeds of day and night.’ Thank Allah who fed us and provided us with drink. It is very appropriate to make a prayer for your hosts as it is reported by Muslim that Al-Migdad ibn Al-Aswad reported that the Prophet said, ‘May Allah feed those who have fed us, and provide drinks to those who provided us with it.’

Do not express your disapproval or dislike of certain foods. Either eat it or pass it over quietly. Abu Huraira reported that ‘the Prophet never expressed his dislike of a food. If he liked it he will eat it. If he disliked it, he will set aside.’

Do not put in your plate more than can eat. Leftovers could be thrown out, it shouldn’t, and wasted. Put smaller portions twice rather than one large portion that you will not eat. The Prophet did not approve of leaving any food in a plate since as he said ‘You don’t know which portion is blessed’. Food is a blessing of Allah, to misuse it is contrary to Islam. Do not forget the poor and the needy who do not have the portion you are throwing away

6.3 THE MANNERS OF DRINKING
Drinking manners are no less important. To start in the name of Allah is a must. Use your right hand to drink. Abo Dawood and Tirmizi related that Hafsa (RA) said ‘the Prophet used his right hand for eating and drinking. He used his left for other things [such as personal hygiene].’ Do not pour your drink down your throat in one gulp. Drink it in three sips. Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet said ‘Do not drink like a camel. Drink twice or thrice. Say the name of Allah before drinking. Thank Allah after finishing.

Do not exhale in your glass. This will irritate others and will smudge the glass or the cup. Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet forbade exhaling in a glass or puffing into it.

Do not drink directly from the jug or the container. Beside being unhygienic behaviour, others may want to drink after you who could be irritated. Abo Huraira narrated that the Prophet forbade drinking directly from the mouth of the sheepskin or the flask.

6.4 AVOID GLUTTONY
Modesty is the crown (hallmark) of the common people. Keep this crown on your head if invited to a feast or if you are presented with food or drink. Do not be gluttonous devouring food as if you have not eaten for a long time, or as if you have not seen such excellent food before. Do not sample every dish on the table. People, even generous hosts disapprove of greedy eaters. Be reasonable and moderate in enjoying the generosity of your hosts.

6.5 GOLD AND SILVER CUTLERY
Do not eat using golden or silver plates or cutlery. This goes against the spirit of Islamic modesty. Pomposity is not an Islamic trait. Bukhari narrated that Huzaifa said the Prophet said ‘Do not drink in golden or silver cups nor eat in such plates.’ If you were a guest, simply ask your host to replace it with another one.

from the book ISLAMIC MANNERS
By Shaykh Abdul-Fattaah Abu Ghuddah (RA)

O Allah, my yearning for You is even more intense than constant thirst for cool water on a very hot day.

Ka’ab relates, once at the time of Prophet Musa (AS), there was a drought. The Bani Israeel aked him to pray for rain. Prophet Musa told them to come with him to the mountain. When they climbed the mountain he said to his People, “Whoever has committe a sin, then do not follow me ” They all turned and walked back down the mountain except one man. He was blind from one eye and known to the people as Barkh.

Prophet Musa asked him, “Did you not hear what I said?” “Yes” he replied. Prophet Musa again asked, “Have you never committed a sin?” Barkh paused and then replied, I cannot remember committing a sin except for one, but I do not know whether it is regarded a sin. I will mention it to you and if it is a sin I shall return.”

Prophet Musa enquired, “What is it?” Barkh replied, “Once I happened to pass the door of a house which was open. I glanced in and saw somebody, but I was not able to tell whether it was a man or woman. I said to my eye, ‘Out of my whole body you hurried to commit a sin, you cannot remain with me anymore’, so I plucked out my eye. If this is a sin I will return.” Prophet Musa assured him that he had not sinned and then told him to pray for rain.

They prayed to Allah, “Oh Almighty, whatever You have does not finish. There is no end to your treasures you cannot be accused of being miserly. Oh Allah show us your mercy and send forth rain.” The narrator states that they both walked home in the mud.

Whoever has Allah in his heart,
His helper in both worlds is Allah;
And whoever has other than Allah in his heart,
His opponent in both worlds is Allah.

Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi

By Shaykh Sayyid Abul Hasan Aboo Nadwi
Sincere Muslims invariably act upon Qur’aanic injunctions like the following:

“0 you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or (your) parents or (your) kin…” (surah 4;verse 35)

“And let not the hatred of any people make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice; be just, that is next to piety; and fear Allah…” (surah 5; verse 8 )

And when you judge between mankind (Allah does command), that you judge with justice. ” (surah 4;verse 58)

“Whatever you say, speak justly, even if near relative is concerned…” (surah 6;verse 152)

Once, during the early days of the British administration, in India, there arose in Kandhla, in the Muzaffarnagar District (ie. in the State of Uttar Pradesh), a dispute between the Hindus and the Muslims over a plot of land which both of them claimed as their place of worship. The English Collector of the district privately inquired from the Muslims if they could name a Hindu in whose honesty they had full confidence, so that that the case might be decided on the basis of his evidence. The Muslims said that they knew of no such Hindu.

The collector then asked the Hindus whether there was a Muslim upon whose word they would be willing to let the decision of the dispute be made. The Hindus said that, grave as the matter was, there was a Muslim divine who had never uttered a falsehood and it could be hoped that he would not compromise his integrity over the issue in hand. The Divine came from the family of Mufti Ilahi Bakhsh, who was a pupil of Shah Abdul Aziz and a Khalifah of Sayyid Ahmed Shahid.

The Collector, thereupon, summoned him to his court, but he declined, saying that he had sworn never to look at the face of an Englishman. The Collector said that he need not look at his face if he did not want to, but come he must, because the matter in dispute was serious and its settlement hinged on whether he came or not. At last, the Moulana agreed. He came with his face covered with a mask and stood in the court, his back turned towards the Collector so that there could be no possibility of his vow being broken. The case was explained to him, and he was asked to state whether he knew anything about the ownership of the plot. The Moulana declared that the plot in dispute belonged to the Hindus; the Muslims had nothing to do with it. The Collector decided accordingly. The Muslims lost the case, but ‘truth’ scored a magnificent victory. A number of Hindus embraced Islam on that very day at the hand of the Moulana.

Learning and wisdom were held sacrosanct in those days. Those who occupied a high place in the field of learning were not disposed to sell their intellectual wealth at any price, because it was regarded by them as a precious gift and a sacred trust of Allah. To lend one’s ability or knowledge, directly or indirectly, to serve the cause of injustice and unbelief was in their view tantamount to an open betrayal of religion.

Source: Riyadul Jannah Magazine