Imaam Hammaad bin Salamah (rahimahullah) was a great muhaddith from the city of Basrah. One night, the people in his locality experienced a relentless downpour of rain. Furthermore, the night was quite dark, windy and cold.
Among the neighbours of Imaam Hammaad (rahimahullah) was a pious woman who was known for her abundant ‘ibaadah. This woman lived alone with her daughters as her husband had passed away, leaving their daughters as orphans. That night, on account of the heavy rain, water began to leak and drip from the roof of this woman’s home, until the water began to flood the home and had wet the beds of her orphaned daughters.
In this condition of difficulty and distress, Imaam Hammaad (rahimahullah) overheard the pious woman call out to Allah Ta‘ala in du‘aa saying: “O the One Who is (most) Kind! Show us Your (special) kindness!”
When the woman uttered these words, Allah Ta‘ala answered her du‘aa and caused the rain to cease. Imaam Hammaad (rahimahullah) then came out from his home with a purse containing ten dinaars (gold coins) and proceeded to the home of the woman.
On arriving at her home, he knocked on the door. After identifying himself, he addressed the woman and said, “When you were in difficulty, on account of the rain, I overheard you (make du‘aa and) say, ‘O the One Who is (most) kind! Show us Your (special) kindness!’ So (tell me, through making this du‘aa,) what kindness have you received from Allah Ta‘ala?” The woman replied, “The rain ceased, and Allah Ta‘ala made the children warm and dried my home.”
In another narration, it is mentioned that the woman had emerged from her home, in utter distress, and while standing in the rain, she had called out to Allah Ta‘ala and uttered these words of du‘aa. Thereafter, on entering her home, she found that Allah Ta‘ala had caused it to become completely dry!
Imaam Hammaad (rahimahullah) then took out the purse of gold coins and offered it to the woman saying, “Take these coins and spend them on yourself and your orphaned daughters.” As he said this, a small girl emerged, dressed in a tattered garment of wool. She addressed Imaam Hammaad (rahimahullah) and said, “O Hammaad! Will you not remain silent? You are interrupting and disturbing the relationship between us and our Rabb?”
The small girl then addressed her mother saying, “O my mother! When we complained to our Master, then we knew that He would soon send the dunya to us (as a test) to turn us away from His door (i.e. the door of turning to Him in du‘aa).”
She then placed her face on the ground and made du‘aa to Allah Ta‘ala saying, “As far as I am concerned, then I take an oath by Your honour that I will never move from Your door – even if You turn me away!”
The woman then declined to accept the money which Imaam Hammaad (rahimahullah) had brought and said to him, “I will only ask and place my needs before the One Who is the Most Generous of those who show generosity!”
(Sifatus Safwah vol. 2, pg. 259)
Lessons:
1. Although it was permissible for the woman to accept the financial assistance offered by Imaam Hammaad (rahimahullah), she and her daughters had such a high level of tawakkul (reliance) upon Allah Ta‘ala that they did not wish to accept assistance from any person. Such was their relationship with Allah Ta‘ala that their focus and hope was in Him alone, and they enjoyed and loved to beg Him in du‘aa. Hence, they did not wish to accept the wealth from Imaam Hammaad (rahimahullah), as this would turn their attention from the Creator to the creation.
2. Over and above the woman and her daughters being Muslims – they enjoyed the great rights of being neighbours. Hence, as soon as Imaam Hammaad (rahimahullah) perceived that they were in need, he hastened to render assistance to them.
3. There are certain special servants of Allah Ta‘ala who are His pious and special friends. When they raise their hands to Allah Ta‘ala in du‘aa, He answers their call and comes to their aid. This is on account of them always remaining loyal, faithful and obedient to Allah Ta‘ala.
4. “Like mother, like daughter” is commonly used to explain similarities between a mother and her daughter in mundane things, such as talents, looks, personality, etc. However, it equally holds true to Deeni aspects – the good qualities, habits, character and Deeni values which a mother possesses rubs off on to her daughters as well. Hence, the daughter, in this incident, also enjoyed such a relationship with Allah Ta‘ala that when she feared that her mother may ‘slip’, she reminded and advised her.