A SOMALIAN father flees from his family because he is certain of their death but is unable to remain and watch them die in front of him. Similarly, the ever-merciful mother during the migration abandons some of her children on the side of the road to lighten her load and move at a quicker pace to avoid the death of all of her children. Only Allah knows the grief in the heart of this mother for the ones she leaves behind and those she keeps with her who are crying of hunger before her.
When selfishness and self-centredness become widespread the hearts become hard and coarse, people fail to feel pain from having sympathy with the affliction of others. It is only their own well-being that concerns them even if everyone else around them falls apart.
To counter this tendency, divine scripture instructs us in the equality of rights and obligations between people; and in the provision of comfort to those who are afflicted with hunger and severe trials.
Amongst the Poor
Our Prophet Muhammad (SAW), put forth for us the most striking example of such behaviour; he positioned himself amongst the poor and needy in the matter of satiation and hunger.
He would distribute enormous amounts of wealth and property between people and none of it would remain, not even a small amount for his food. He would never eat good food alone and instead invite others to dine with him in contrast to the norm of a person who is hungry and prefers not to share the wholesome food in his possession.
Anas radhiyallahu ‘anhu (RA) relates, “A lunch or dinner meal comprised of bread and meat would never be presented before him unless upon dafaf.” It is said that dafaf means he would not eat alone but with people.
Extreme Hunger
During the digging of the trench, the Muslims remained for three days without food and Jabir saw that the Prophet’s stomach was bound with a ligature because of extreme hunger as reported in al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Both events show Abu Talhah and Jabir preparing food which they wanted to offer to the Prophet exclusively. However his compassion for others was far greater than for his own self; his preference for his companions was indeed far greater than their preference for him.
Anas wanted to present the food specifically to the Prophet but he summoned everyone who was with him and he divided and distributed the food with his own honourable hand. They would enter in groups until they all took their fill, thereafter he (SAW) ate.
He did the same in the incident with Jabir; he invited everyone who was digging the trench and he would himself give them food whilst his stomach was pressed down with a rock until they took their fill and then he ate.
Joy
The most gruelling matter the Prophet experienced would be to see those in dire poverty, need and hunger not being assisted by anyone.
This occurred when some of the tribe of Mudar came ; the Messenger’s face changed complexion at seeing their state. The Prophet addressed the community encouraging them to give in charity, “...Spend (in Allah’s way) before you are prevented from spending. Let a man spend of his dinars, dirhams, clothes, measure of wheat, barley or dates.”
Until he said, “Do not belittle any amount of charity. Safeguard yourselves from the Fire, even with half a date.” The community responded until they amassed a good amount of wealth that met the need and the Prophet’s face radiated with joy.
His initial anger and vexation was not because of the presence of hunger, as this was merely a trial that had afflicted them, but it was a result of the lack of compassion shown to their own brothers and the evident negligence shown to their dire need.
This is an instruction and nurturing to sense the needs of those who are in want, to awaken the value of brotherhood between believers, and to make believers accustomed to providing relief and comfort in times of famine.
Putting Others First
This education produced a devout and heartfelt generation, putting forward others first, preferring them with their own food and sensing their responsibility towards others.
During the time of the Khalifah ‘Umar, when cooking butter became expensive, he sufficed with oil and his stomach would rumble because of it. ‘Umar would remark, “Rumble as much as you want! By Allah, you will not taste cooking butter until the people do.”
Ibn ‘Umar fell ill and he desired grapes, so it was bought for him. He heard a beggar making a request so chose to give him the grapes.
When evening would, set Uways al-Qarni would donate any surplus food and clothing he had and supplicate, “O Allah, whoever dies from hunger, do not hold me to account because of that, and whoever dies lacking clothing, do not hold me to account because of that.”
Now?
Where are these living hearts? Where are these overflowing emotions towards others in our present time, especially in the month of Ramadan? We experience hunger during the day in order to become full at night with all manner of delicious and satisfying food.
Thousands of Muslims in Somalia are dying of hunger. Famine is also on the march in Djibouti, Eritrea and Sudan. Where are your efforts to comfort and provide relief to your brothers and sisters?
By Allah, He indeed legislated fasting during the day to enable us to develop such feelings for them and to console them in their affliction. Allah the Most High has no need for our hunger and He has said, "O son of Adam, I asked you for food and you fed Me not." He will say: “O Lord, and how should I feed You when You are the Lord of the worlds?” He will say: “Did you not know that My servant so-and-so asked you for food and you did not feed him? Did you not know that had you fed him you would surely have found the reward for doing so with Me?”
Allah Asks for Food
Allah is indeed asking you now for food in Somalia, so feed your brothers, and you will find the reward with your Lord, praised be He the Most High.
May Allah pardon us and remove the famine from our brothers, may He provide for them in ways they could never imagine. O Allah, do not leave them to their own charge for them to become powerless; do not leave them to our charge for us to be too weak to rise to the challenge and do not leave them to the charge of others for them to prefer themselves over the needy.
O Muslims, know that Somalia is experiencing severe starvation and dismal fatalities because of drought and hunger. The extent of famine is such that a third of their children are threatened with sure death. Half a million children are at the threshold of a grave. Television screens transmit the migration of columns of people traversing hundreds of miles on feet fleeing hunger towards an unknown end.
The media show us the land that has been cracked open on account of drought and famine; there are pictures of children who have died from hunger and illness and others who are mere skeletons fighting death; their voices are weakened from hunger and they have no strength to cry or move. Their faces reveal to us their condition as they are unable to speak of their inner being. Pictures show the demise of their livestock and cattle from hunger.
How hard are human hearts as they see such still and moving images? The tales and tragedies are related and the hearts fail to move! How can we take the comfort of sleep? How can we take the pleasure of food? Only as a result of the demise of feelings and the hardening of hearts.
Where is Muslim World?
We hear a woman proclaim, “We are dying of hunger, where is the Muslim world? I plead you to help us.” One visitor mentions that the sick are left out in the open to await their death without any medical attention. Sixty children died in one of the camps in a single day because of hunger, bad nutrition and the spread of disease.
Our Messenger was the most generous; he would be more generous than a swift wind (bringing rain). So take his example in being generous and multiply your charitable and generous endeavours, especially as we are witness to a severe famine this year and Allah has made specific mention of feeding during a famine as a means to deliver oneself from punishment: “But He has made no effort to pass on the Path that is steep and what will make You know the Path that is steep? (it is) freeing a neck (slave, etc.) or giving food during a Day of hunger (famine)...”
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