The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 404
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 404 “O Messenger of Allāh! My mother suddenly passed away in a state of unconsciousness. I am certain that if she had received the opportunity to speak, she would have offered to give charity and alms. In this case, am I permitted to give charity on her behalf?” The Holy Prophet sa responded, “Of course, you may undoubtedly do so on her behalf. ” 1 When Sa‘d ra inquired as to what the best charity to offer would be, the Holy Prophet sa said, “Arrange a water-well for the general benefit of people. ” Hence, Sa‘d ra installed a well and devoted it solely to the people for their collective benefit. 2 In another narration it is related that although the mother of Sa‘d ra did not pass away in a state of unconsciousness, upon her demise, Sa‘d ra himself was absent from Madīnah. Since all the property was owned by Sa‘d ra , his mother could not offer charity despite her wish to do so. After this, when Sa‘d ra returned, he sought permission from the Holy Prophet sa and offered an orchard as charity for the sake of God, on behalf of his mother. 3 Lunar Eclipse in Madīnah and Ṣalāt-e-Khusūf In the very same year, during the month of Jamādiyul-Ākhir , a lunar eclipse occurred in Madīnah. 4 The Holy Prophet sa instructed the Companions to congregate for Ṣalāt. As such, the Holy Prophet sa remained occupied in Ṣalāt along with a community until the eclipse had ended. From then onwards, a formal Ṣalāt for the lunar eclipse was instituted in Islām. On the one hand, while the Muslims were engaged in Ṣalāt , the Jews were beating their vessels on the other, etc. , under the notion that someone had cast a spell upon the moon, which in their own surmise, would be dispelled by their noise. 5 At this instance, it would not be out of place to mention that a great distinction of Islām is that it has not only erased unnecessary superstition, but has also instituted a form of worship for every such occasion where the door to superstition may be opened, and as a result, this immediately directs 1 Tārīkhul-Khamīs Fī Aḥwāli Anfasi Nafīs, By Ḥusain bin Muḥammad bin Ḥasan, Volume 1, p. 469, Wafātu Ummi Sa‘d , Mu’assasatu Sha‘bān, Beirut 2 Sunanu Abī Dāwūd, Kitābuz-Zakāt, Bābu Fī Faḍli Saqyil-Mā’i, Ḥadīth No. 1681 3 Al-Muwaṭṭā, By Imām Mālik bin Anas, Kitābul-Aqḍiyah, Bābu Ṣadaqatil-Ḥayyi ‘Anil-Mayyit, Ḥadīth No. 1489 4 Tārīkhul-Khamīs Fī Aḥwāli Anfasi Nafīs, By Ḥusain bin Muḥammad bin Ḥasan, Volume 1, pp. 469- 470, Khusūful-Qamar , Mu’assasatu Sha‘bān, Beirut 5 Tārīkhul-Khamīs Fī Aḥwāli Anfasi Nafīs, By Ḥusain bin Muḥammad bin Ḥasan, Volume 1, p. 470, Shiddatu Quraish , Mu’assasatu Sha‘bān, Beirut