Preferring Others
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Shaykh ‘Utsman Nuri Tufbas wrote, in “Islam, Spirit, & Form”, the following incident, narrated by Sayyidina Hudzayfah ibn al-Yaman ( r.a. ). It shows the level of kindness and generosity that the members of the early community attained. Sayyidina Hudzayfah ( r.a. ) was searching the battlefield for survivors at the battle of Yarmuk. He narrates, “I saw my cousin, Harits, in a pool of blood. I rushed to him to give him water, but when he was taking the water he heard the voice of ‘Ikrimah, ‘Water, a drop of water for the sake of Allah!’ Harith pointed his eyes to ‘Ikrimah and withdrew his hand from the water, signifying that I should take the water to him. When I reached him, this time we heard the voice of Iyash, ‘Water, please water!’ ‘Ikrimah like Harits, did not accept the water, and instead pointed me towards Iyash. I rushed to Iyash, but he did not have time to drink the...