His Best Camel, given in Charity…

I would like to share this short Story with you which was narrated by Dr. Saleh as-Saleh.

The Dr. Saleh began:

“Do you want hear this real story which took place here about a hundred years ago. (In Saudi) Tayib. This is real! This is real!”

He continued:

“Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem. This story took place here about hundred years ago and it was also broadcasted on the radio stations. It is about a man call Ibn Jad’aan.

He (Ibn Jad’aan) said how during Spring times he used to go out. He would see good and healthy fat camels and their udders filled to the extent of almost exploding. Whenever the little offspring (i.e. the calf) came close to the mother camel, her milk would pour forth because of the great abundance of blessings and abundance of goodness.

So he (Ibn Jad’aan), looked at one of his she camels with her calf and he remembered his poor neighbour who had seven young daughters. So he said to himself, “by Allah I will give this camel and her calf as Sadaqah (charity) to my neighbour” – and he recited the Ayah where Allah said in (Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:92)

“By no means shall ye attain righteousness unless ye give (freely) of that which ye love; and whatever ye give, of a truth Allah knoweth it well.”

And the most beloved from amongst his cattle, to him, was one she-camel. So he took her along with her calf and knocked on the door of his neighbour. He told his neighbour to accept it as a gift from him. Ibn Jad’aan saw his neighbour’s face glooming with happiness and he was unable to utter anything in response.

So the neighbour benefited from its milk and used to load wood on its back, awaiting for its offspring to grow up in order to sell them. Subsequently, he gained great good from this camel.

After the spring had passed, the dry summer came with its drought, and so the Bedouins began looking for water and grass.

Ibn Jad’aan: “We gathered our belongings and left our places looking for water and the duhool (plural of duhul) or ‘holes’ in the earth, situated underground leading to water traps underneath the ground. Their openings are on top of the ground, as the Bedouins know of very well.

I (i.e. Ibn Jad’aan) entered into one of these holes so as to bring some water to drink…”

Dr Saleh continued: “and his (Ibn Jad’aan’s) three sons were waiting for him outside the hole. However he did not return. His three sons waited for him for one, two and three days and finally became hopeless.

They said maybe he was stung by a snake and died or he was lost under the earth and destroyed. They (and we seek refuge in Allah from this) waited for his destruction. Why? Due to greed in order to distribute his inheritance.

So they returned home and divided what he had left, amongst themselves. Then they remembered that their father (Ibn Jad’aan) gave a she-camel to their poor neighbour. They went to their neighbour and told him that it is better that he give them back the she-camel and take another camel in replace of it, otherwise they will take it by force and he will be left with nothing.

The neighbour complained that he would report them to their father. So they informed him that he had died. He inquired as to how and where Ibn Jad’aan had died, and why they hadn’t told him. They then explained how he entered into one of these holes underground in the desert and did not come out.

The neighbour said: “By Allah take me to this place and take your she-camel and do whatever you do with it and I don’t want your camel in return!”

They took him and when he saw the place, he went and brought a rope, lit a candle, tied it outside the duhul (the hole) and then stepped into it crawling on his back until he reached the places whereby he could crawl and roll. Eventually the smell of moisture became closer and then all of sudden he heard the sound of a man by the water groaning and moaning.

He went closer and closer towards this sound in the darkness putting his hand out all over until his hand fell onto the man (Ibn Jad’aan). He checked his breath and he was still breathing after one week! He pulled him out covering his eyes so as to protect him from the sunlight. He took with him some dates, moistened them in water and gave it to him to drink.

He then carried him on his back and took him to his house and life gradually return to this man whilst his sons didn’t know. He then asked him: “Tell me, by Allah, one week while you were underground and you didn’t die?!”

“I will tell you something strange…” Ibn Jidaan explained: “…when I went down there I got lost and waves took me from all directions and I said to myself I’d better stay close to this water that I have reached. So I started to drink from it, but hunger had no mercy and water does not suffice. Then after three days hunger intensified on me and took me from all parts. While I was lying on my back I surrendered myself to Allah and put all my affairs in his hands and all of the sudden I felt the warmth of milk pouring onto my mouth. So I sat in the midst of the darkness and I saw a pot coming closer to my mouth. I drank from it until I took from what is sufficient and then it would go! This occurred three times in the day but the last two days it stopped and I didn’t know what happened.”

His neighbour then informed him:

“If you know the reason you will be amazed! Your sons thought you had died and they came to me and took away the she-camel which Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala) was giving you from its milk!”

The Muslim is in the shade of his Sadaqah (Charity).

Allah stated in (Surah Al Talaq 65:2-3)

“…Such is the admonition given to him who believes in Allah and the Last Day. And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out, And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion.”

By : Dr. Saleh as-Saleh (May Allah have Mercy upon him. Ameen)