BISMILLAH IR RAHMAN IR RAHEEM THE GARDEN OF ABU TALHA Adapted for Children from an Authentic Hadith of Prophet Muhammad praise and veneration be upon him by Khadeijah Stephens www.mosque.com Copyrighted 2000 by the Mosque of the Internet and Khadeijah Stephens TERMS OF PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION The Mosque of the Internet grants permission to Islamic schools, organizations or Muslim individuals to download, copy, print, publish, record and/or distribute this story either for profit or non-profit without reimbursement to the Mosque of the Internet providing the following six conditions are complied with in full and without exception. The Mosque of the Internet owns and retains the copyright of this story and no other person/s, school, organization or individual etc., owns or has any right or claim to the copyright. No alterations whatsoever are made. Reference to The Mosque of the Internet with its internet address www.mosque.com appears on the front cover. Should artwork be included in its publication the artwork must conform with Islamic principles, for example no drawings of human beings. The Mosque of the Internet is informed of its publication and ten copies of the published book sent to the Mosque of the Internet. If any of these conditions are not met then all previously mentioned permission/s are automatically revoked and legal action will be taken to the maximum extent of the copyright infringement jurisdiction law in the State of Delaware, USA will be sought. Medina was, and still is today, famous for its groves of date palms and in the early days of Islam our beloved Prophet, praise and veneration be upon him, was known to have planted some of them. When the Prophet, praise and veneration be upon him, migrated to Medina the Muslims that welcomed him became known as the Ansars, or Helpers. They were truly generous people and never thought twice about sharing their homes and possessions with the poverty stricken Muhajir who had left almost everything they owned in Mecca so that they could follow the Prophet, praise and veneration be upon him, and live peacefully in Medina. Amongst the Ansars was a man known as Abu Talha. Abu Talha was a very wealthy man and owned several date groves, but of all the groves he owned, the one he called "Bairaha", which happened to be opposite the Mosque, was the best and the one he loved most. It was so pleasant and refreshing to sit in the shade of its trees and escape from the tormenting heat of the sun, and it was there that Prophet Muhammad, praise and veneration be upon him, would often stop to take a drink of its fresh, pure water. One day, the Prophet, praise and veneration be upon him, received a new Revelation. The Revelation informed: "You shall not attain righteousness until you spend of what you love. Whatever you spend is known to Allah." Koran, Chapter 3 verse 92. When Abu Talha heard this verse he immediately went to the Prophet, praise and veneration be upon him, and told him he wanted to give "Bairaha" away in charity for the Sake of Allah. It was a very noble gesture, but to Abu Talha the date grove was no longer in his heart, he wanted to give his most treasured possession away in order to please Allah and so, InshaAllah, become among the righteous, and receive His reward. The Prophet, praise and veneration be upon him, was moved by Abu Talha's generosity and told him to divide the date grove amongst Abu Talha's relatives. And so Abu Talha divided it between them. We often think of giving charity to the poor, which is of course a highly recommended thing to do, but as you have just learned in this story, you can also give charity to family members. Perhaps there is someone in your family who may not have as much as you do, and through your giving you will, InshaAllah, establish a closer relationship with them and become greater friends. Remember, even if you don't have anything to give, a smile is also charity. QUIZ TIME What is the name of the man is the story? Was he a Muhajir or an Ansar? What did he want to give away? What did the Prophet, praise and veneration be upon him, do when he went there? Why did the man go to the Prophet What did he want to give it a way? Was it near or far away from the Mosque What did the Prophet, praise and veneration be upon him, tell him to do? Did the man do what the Prophet, praise and veneration be upon him, told him to do? Can you give charity to family members? QUIZ TIME ANSWERS His name was Abu Talha He was an Ansar He wanted to give away in charity his date palm grove, or as it was often referred, his garden. The Prophet, praise and veneration be upon him, would drink its pure water. He went to him because he had heard the Revelation that said: "You shall not attain righteousness until you spend of what you love." He wanted to be among the righteous The date palm grove was near the Mosque The Prophet, praise and veneration be upon him, told him to divide the property between his family. Yes. Yes. SCORE TIME If you remembered to say the prayer on the Prophet, praise and veneration be upon him, after his name was mentioned, add an extra point to your score. 1 - 3 How about reading the story again, then taking the quiz and aim for a higher score? 4 - 6 Good. 7 - 8 Very Good! You studied well. 9 - 10+ EXCELLENT! You are a star pupil of the Mosque of the Internet!