Muwasaat: A forgotten chapter of welfare [Archives:2006/993/Business & Economy]
Dr. Qazi Shaikh Abbas Borhany
Muwasaat means sharing with needy and extending material support to them and it has a great value in Islam because it plays a vital role in the betterment of depressed class and builds love amongst community at large. It is considered as an investment of Barakaat. Imam Jafar Assadiq explained: “Seek Qurbat to Allah through helping your (Muslim) brothers. Rasulullah in one of his testaments to Amir al Mumeneen, Ali Ibn Abi Talib said: “The most commendable are three deeds: First is being just to the people even against yourself. Secondly, Muwasaat and material help to (Muslim) brothers. Thirdly, Zikar of Allah in all circumstances. Ali explained: Muwasaat is the cause to increases in Rizaq. Al Waqidi, the famous historian narrates: “I had two very close friends, one of whom was a Hashimi. Truly speaking, we were similar like one spirit in three bodies. Once, on the occasion of Eid, I faced poverty. My wife advised me that we could face together all the hardships boldly, but her heart was burning for the children. They were looking at other children's new dresses and making jubilant preparation for Eid; whereas they have worn and torn clothes. She asked me, if possible, to arrange some money for dresses for them I thought again and again but could not find any source of obtaining money. At last, I wrote a letter to my Hashimi friend for help. My friend sent me a sealed packet containing one thousand Darahim. Before I could open the packet, a message came from my second friend with a request of help; I sent him the same packet intact and went to the Masjid, with broken heart. I passed the whole night in the Masjid as I was not in a position to face my wife. When I went home next morning, to my great surprise, my wife welcomed me with a smiling face and expressed her unbounded pleasure for the help I had rendered to my friend. Then my Hashimi friend came to me and asked me what I had done with the money he had sent me the day before. I narrated to him the whole matter. He bent his head for a moment, then told me that on receipt of my message, he had sent me whatever he had, but then to meet his own requirements he wrote to the third friend for help. The third friend sent him the same sealed packet. My first friend was extremely puzzled by this mystery, till I solved it”.
Al Waqidi further adds: “Then we divided that amount equally amongst us at the rate of three hundred Darahim each, and the remaining one hundred Darahim was the share of my wife. This generous attitude describes the feeling of a few Muslims, who had learnt lesson of Muwasaat from the Quraan. See how the spirit of Muwasaat and fraternity had enlivened lives of Muslims in past as a result of practice on the Talim of Islam.
The early history of Islam is full of such events which clearly show the spirit of Muwasaat which governed the whole life of the Muslims. In the Gazwah Uhud, which was one of the most difficult and dangerous battles of Islam, the Muslims set high examples of self sacrifice and many of them were killed, fighting bravely. Many of them fell in the battlefield half-alive amongst them were seven stalwarts, fatally injured, every breath seemed the last breath. All of them were feeling the pangs of thirst. Someone came to them with a small quantity of water, hardly sufficient for a single person. The Water-bearer offered glass of water to drink to one of them, but he directed him towards the next, lying by his side. This second soldier sent him to the third one who directed him to the fourth; and so it went on till he reached the seventh soldier. When the seventh soldier was approached, he told him that since the first soldier was very thirsty, he should be given water first. The Water-bearer then returned to the first soldier and found that he had expired. Then he went to the second and third who also had departed. This happened with each of them, till approaching the last soldier; he found that in the meanwhile he also had died. All of them died thirsty setting excellent practical example of Muwasaat. This is a lesson from the school of Rasulullah (S) which was followed by his true followers in every walk of life, even under the most difficult circumstances. It is an irony of fate that we have abandoned such Talim and golden principles and drifting with selfishness which is undoubtedly the gift of non Muslim societies.
Rasulullah (S) said: “One who starts his day without caring about the affairs of the Muslims, is not a Muslim”. Imam Jafar Assadiq explained: The best amongst you are those who are generous and the worst are the misers. A man approached Rasulullah (S) and complained of hunger. He sent someone to the houses of his families but, unfortunately, none of the families had any food. Rasulullah (S) then turned to those who were in his presence and asked, “Who can host him for tonight?”” Ali ibn Abi Talib offered his services
