From his earliest life the Holy Prophet was a staunch supporter of the cause of the weak and oppressed. When deputation after deputation of his opponents, the Quraish of Makkah, went to his uncle, Abū Ṭālib to persuade him to deliver the Holy Prophet to them to be put to death, Abū Ṭālib sang his praises in the memorable words which have come down to us in one of his poems: What! said he, shall I make over to you one “who is the refuge of the orphans and the protector of the widows?” And when, on receiving the Call, the Holy Prophet trembled for fear that he might not be able to achieve the grand task of the reformation of humanity, his wife consoled him in these words … “Allāh will never bring thee to disgrace, for thou unitest the ties of relationship and bearest the burden of the weak and earnest for the destitute and honourest the guest and helpest people in real distress” (Bu. 1:1).

That service of humanity was a great goal of life was repeatedly impressed upon his hearers by the Holy Prophet. He once likened the Muslims to a body; when a part of it ails, the entire body ails (Bu. 78:27). He placed the person who faithfully manages the affairs of the widows and the needy at par with one who performs Jihād in the way of Allāh or with one who stands up for prayer in the night and fasts during the day (Bu. 69:1). He described the man who brings up an orphan as closest to him in Paradise (Bu. 78:24). And he clearly stated that “he is not of us who does not show mercy to our little ones and respect to our great ones (MM. 24:15). He had a tender heart even for animals and specifically forbade acts of cruelty to animals, stating that doing good to the animals had its rewards (MM. 6:6).

Charity

The Holy Prophet’s charity was proverbial. “He was the most charitable of men” was the description of him given by his companions to the later generations. Along with the theme of obedience to God, great stress has been laid in the Holy Qur’ān and in the sayings of the Holy Prophet on charity to man. It has been emphasized that love of God should be the basis for charity. It is said in one of the earliest revelations: “And they give food, out of love for Him, to the poor and the orphan and the captive. We feed you for