(61) Fulfilling people’s needs
When I began my Masters degree thesis, I read a great number of heresiographical works. One of the philosophical schools I read about was known as pragmatism.
When I studied this thought deeply, I realised why we hear that in Europe and America the son abandons his father, and if he sees him in a restaurant, each of them pay for their own meal.
Their philosophy says, “If you are not serving my interests, why should I serve you?
Why should I spend my money on you? Why should I spend my time on you and struggle without any material gain?”
Islam turned this idea upside down. Allah said, “Be good to others, for Allah loves those who are good.”
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, “For me to walk with my brother to fulfil his need until it is fulfilled is more beloved to me than making it’ikaf in this mosque of mine for a month!” He also said, “The one who helps his brother in need, Allah helps him when he is in need.”
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) would be walking in the street and a slavegirl would stop him, saying, “I need your help.” He would remain with her until he would hear her needs. He would then go with her to her master to fulfil her needs.
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In fact, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) used to mix with people and have patience over their harms. He used to treat them all with a merciful soul, tearful eyes, a preaching tongue and a loving heart. He would feel that he and others were one body. He would feel the poor man’s poverty, the sad person’s grief, the ill man’s disease and the needy one’s needs.
Just look at how, as he s sat in his mosque speaking to his Companions, he would see a group of people coming to him from afar. He (Peace be upon him) would notice that they were a group of poor people coming from Mudhar in the direction of Najd. Due to their extreme poverty, they were wearing garments made of wool having white and black stripes. Some of them would find a piece of cloth, but wouldn’t have the money to buy a needle and thread in order to stitch it together. Therefore, they would tear it from the middle, poke their heads through the hole, and allow the garment to fall and cover their bodies. They had come wearing such garments, with their swords hanging around their necks.
They did not have any lower garments, turbans, or cloaks.
When the Prophet (Peace be upon him) saw how they hard they were struggling and that they had nothing to wear or eat, his complexion changed. He stood up and went off to his house but couldn’t find anything to give in charity. He left and entered another one of his houses, looking for something to give, but couldn’t find anything there either.
He then went to the mosque, prayed the Dhuhr prayer and climbed up to the pulpit. He thanked and praised Allah and said, “To proceed, Allah has said in His Book:
‘O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who cre-ated you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from them two has spread abroad a multitude of men and women.
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Be careful of your duty toward Allah in Whom you claim (your rights) of one another, and toward the wombs (that bear you).
Indeed! Allah has been a watcher over you.’
He then recited:
‘O you who believe! Observe your duty to Allah. And let every soul look to that which it sends on before for the morrow.
And observe your duty to Allah. Indeed! Allah is Aware of what you do.’
He recited more verses, admonished the believers and said in a loud voice, “Give in charity before you are unable to give it anymore! Give in charity before you are prevented from doing so!” A man gave charity from his Dinar, another gave from his Dirham, another gave from his wheat and another gave from his barley. He further said, “Let no one of you belittle whatever you give in charity.” He began to mention the various items people may give in charity until he mentioned, “… even if it were a piece of date.” A man from the Ansaar rose with a package in his hand, and the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) took hold of it while he was on the pulpit. When the Prophet (Peace be upon him) took it, a sense of joy was apparent on his face.
He said, “Whoever initiates a good practice and acts accordingly he will have its reward along with the reward of anyone who acts according to that practice, without there being any decrease in their reward. And whoever initiates a bad practice and acts accordingly, he will bear its burden along with the burden of all those who act according to it, without there being any decrease in their burdens.”
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The people got up, left for their homes and returned with charity. One came with a Dinar, another came with a Dirham, another came with dates whilst another came with clothes, until two piles accumulated in front of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) - a pile of food and a pile of clothes. When the Prophet (Peace be upon him) saw this, his face brightened like the moon. He then divided it up amongst the poor people. (Muslim)
Yes! The Prophet (Peace be upon him) used to enter people’s hearts by fulfilling their needs. He would spend his strength, time and his wealth for their sake.
When ‘A’ishah was asked about the Prophet’s behaviour at home, she said, “He would either be fulfilling the needs of his family members, or serving them.”
Wouldn’t you like to make your way into people’s hearts by fulfilling their needs?
If a person needs to go to the hospital, you should take him to the hospital. If another asks for your help in a problem, you should help him out. Let him see you fulfilling his needs and standing by him during his mishaps, whilst he knows that you do not hope for any reward or even thanks! Due to this he would love you and pray for you. He would also always be ready to help you if you were ever in need.

An opinion
The one who lives for others surely has a hard life, but he will live nobly and die nobly.
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