The Formula for Unlimited Blessings
The Formula for Unlimited Blessings by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah ‘alayh) The Story of Halima Sa`diyyah (radiyallahu ‘anha), the foster mother of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is well-known. The custom of the Arabs who lived in the towns was to entrust their young children to the care of the bedouin women, who earned a living by being wet nurses. For the town Arabs, this time afforded their children the healthy environment of the desert, facilitating good health, strength, and an opportunity to master the rich, untainted speech of the bedouins. Thus, it was the good fortune of Halima Sa`diyyah (radiyallahu anha), that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was destined for her. In the many books on the Sirah, we read Halima Sa’diyyah’s (radiyallahu ‘anha) personal account of how she, her husband and baby travelled in the company of other women in search of children to suckle. It was a time of famine and drought, and theirs was a state of hunger and want, to the extent that she could not even feed her baby. On reaching Makkah Mukarramah, none of the women were prepared to accept Rasulullah (sallallahu’ alayhi wa sallam) once they were told that he was an orphan. Their hope was to secure a child whose father would reward them generously. Whilst the other women were successful in their quest, Halima Sa’diyyah (radiyallahu ‘anha) was not. Before departing from Makkah Mukkarramah, she decided to take the orphaned baby rather than have none to take home. There was no other choice that she had. Halima Sa’diyyah (radiyallahu ‘anha) narrates that the moment she lifted him into her arms, she found to her great surprise, that she had sufficient milk to feed him and her own little baby. After that, she related the good fortune that came their way whilst taking care of the little Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): Their she-camel was suddenly blessed with plentiful milk; her lean, slow donkey was suddenly blessed with strength and speed; their barren land was blessed with ample grass for their animals to feed on. And like this, prosperity filled their home due to the presence and blessings of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Reflecting on this, we learn so much: Just the physical body of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) coming into the arms of Halima Sa’diyyah (radiyallahu ‘anha) as a baby caused such blessings to pour into their lives. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was not able to give lengthy speeches in the arms of Halima Sa’diyyah (radiyallahu ‘anha), nor were his character, dealings, relationships with people, honesty and truthfulness, charity and sincerity, nobility and forgiveness, and other beautiful characteristics apparent at that time when she took the baby into her arms. At this stage, it was only the physical body of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) as a baby -yet look at the tremendous Barakah. There were blessings in their lives, homes, time, crops, animals, and food; There was Barakah in everything. If so many blessings came with just lifting and carrying the physical body of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), then what would we say about the Barakat and the blessings that a person will see and experience in his own life if he has to bring the teachings of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in his life? What kind of blessings will the Ummah of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) experience if they have to bring into their lives the beautiful Sunnah? Look at their condition: Most of the Sahabah (rahiyallahu ‘anhum) were extremely poor, undergoing extreme difficulties, tests and trials. But with the implementation of the teachings of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in their lives, look at the Barakat that Allah Ta’ala gave them: The Persian Empire at their feet, the Roman Empire at their feet – something that could not be even imagined at that time, but the prophecies of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) were seen and experienced by them. Of course, they did not just sit and do nothing. They did what they had to do – they fulfilled their part of the contract. They performed their Salah, gave their Zakah, kept their fasts, and performed Hajj if it was Fardh. They were kind, charitable, honest, and truthful. Each one brought the beautiful, noble character of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) into his or her life. They went forth in Jihad with Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). After his demise, they also spread the message of Islam and the teachings of Rasulullah (Sallallahu’ alayhi waSallam) in the world – and then look at the Barakat that came pouring into their lives – “Barakat minas samaa-i wal ard” (Blessings from the heavens and the earth). Thus, if someone looks at that incident of Halima Sa’diyyah’s (radiyallahu ‘anha) and the blessings of just taking Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) into her arms as a baby, then we draw the lesson: Barakat is sure to follow, in abundance, if we only bring into our lives the beautiful Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). So simple!