Life during the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) lifetime was often very hard for Muslims. We hear a report that the Prophet provided his wives with stocks that could last them a year and we feel that their life must have flourished to the extent of prosperity. We tend to forget that along with this Hadith there are numerous reports of the dire poverty in which many of the Prophet’s companions lived most of the time. We often think that what they suffered was merely from the persecution of the unbelievers in Makkah, and then the few battles they had to fight. We forget that along with physical persecution and torture they suffered an economic and social boycott for three years in Makkah, while in Madinah they suffered an economic siege for a long time. It is important to learn as much as possible about the conditions in which the Prophet and his companions lived, so that we can face what we have to face in our lives remembering that this life is a test which can take many forms, one of which is poverty.
One day the Prophet went to his daughter Fatimah, and asked her on arrival: “Where are my two grandsons?” He was referring to her sons, Hasan and Husayn. She said: “We got up this morning and we had no food whatsoever. Ali (her husband) said to me: ‘Let me take them out; I fear that they will be crying hard and you have nothing to give them. He, therefore, took them and went to see this Jewish man.’ The Prophet went toward the Jew’s place. He soon found them playing near a basin made for the watering of a palm-date tree, and they had a few dates. He said to Ali (who was nearby): ‘Would you rather take them home before it becomes too hot.’ Ali said: ‘We had no food at all this morning. If you would like to sit down for a few minutes while I gather some dates for Fatimah.’ The Prophet sat down, while Ali could collect the dates, and then he put them in a piece of cloth. Then they went home together, with the Prophet and Ali carrying a child each.” (Related by Al-Tabarani.)
This story must have taken place around year 4 or 5 of the Prophet’s migration to Madinah. Ali and Fatimah got married in Madinah, and it is clear that the younger of the two children was a toddler at the time. Yet there were Jews still living in Madinah, and we know that the last of the Jews left after the encounter at the Moat that took place late in year 5. Yet more than four years into their settlement in Madinah, the Prophet and his companions were in such poverty that his daughter would not find at home anything to feed her two young children. Their father would go out looking for dates under the trees to feed his children and their mother.
This poverty lasted for most of the Prophet’s lifetime, but then things changed, particularly after the battles of Khaybar and Hunayn when Muslims gained much in booty, which lifted their economic conditions. Later on, after the Muslim state expanded into Syria, Iraq, Egypt and even further, the Prophet’s companions became rich. However, they did not forget their earlier times, acknowledged God’s favors and recognized that they were being tested by affluence as they were tested by poverty. Ali reports: “I remember myself tying a stone on my belly to stop the pangs of hunger. Today, my zakah amounts to forty thousand.” (Related by Ahmad.)
In this report, Ali was comparing two situations he experienced. The first is one of extreme poverty and hunger, while the other is the sort of richness that anyone of us would love to have, thinking that it would bring us pure happiness. When Ali mentions this figure as his zakah, it means that his wealth was estimated at 1,600,000. Zakah is charged at the rate of 2.5 percent annually. If he had to pay 40,000 in zakah, then a simple calculation gives us the quoted figure representing his wealth. No matter what currency we are talking about, it is a large amount, representing a wide gulf from Ali’s days of poverty. Ali recognized God’s favor in turning their fortunes and he never forgot the days of poverty.
The Prophet encouraged his companions to endure the poverty they were in. He told them that things could change. However, patient perseverance should be their attitude because they must show that they did not embrace Islam for any immediate gain. They believed in it as it is the true religion, and they had to demonstrate that they would not change their mind whatever happened to them. They accepted whatever God gave them.
Umm Sulaym was close to the Prophet, frequently visiting him. One day he told her: “Remain patient in this adversity. By God! Muhammad’s family had hardly had anything for seven days. No fire was lit under a saucepan in his home for three days. By God! If I were to pray to God to turn the mountains of Tihamah into gold, He would do so.” (Related by Al-Tabarani.)
Thus the Prophet puts the case in its proper perspective. God is able to turn the mountains of Makkah and its surrounding area into mountains of gold. If He were to do so, the whole area would be extremely affluent. God would have granted the Prophet’s prayer to do so, if only he would request that, but the Prophet would not. It is not easy wealth that makes wise and good people. Enduring hardship teaches people the value of a comfortable life.
