While a man was walking through a barren land, he heard a voice coming out of a cloud

While a man was walking through a barren land, he heard a voice coming out of a cloud

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "While a man was walking through a barren land, he heard a voice coming out of a cloud, saying: 'Irrigate the garden of so-and- so.' Thereupon, the cloud drifted in a certain direction and discharged its water over a rocky plain. The streamlets flowed into a channel. This man followed the channel until it reached a garden and he saw the owner of the garden standing in its center, working with his spade to change the course of the water. He asked him: ‘O slave of Allah, what is your name?’ He told his name, which was the same that he heard from the cloud. The owner of the garden then asked him: ‘O slave of Allah, why did you ask my name?’ He replied: ‘I heard a voice from a cloud which poured down this water, saying: "Irrigate the garden of so-and-so." I would like to know what you do with it.’ He said: ‘Now that you asked me, I will tell you. I estimate the produce of the garden and distribute one-third of it in charity, spend one-third on myself and my family, and invest one-third back into the garden.’”

[Authentic hadith] [Narrated by Muslim]

Explanation

While a man was walking through a barren land, he heard a voice coming out of a cloud, saying: “Irrigate the garden of so-and-so.” Thereupon, the cloud drifted in a certain direction and discharged its water over a rocky plain. The streamlets flowed into a channel. This man followed the channel until it reached a garden and he saw the owner of the garden standing in its center, working with his spade to change the course of the water. He asked him: “O slave of Allah, what is your name?” He told his name, which was the same as he heard from the cloud. The owner of the garden then asked him: “O slave of Allah, why did you ask my name?” He replied: “I heard a voice from a cloud which poured down this water, saying: 'Irrigate the garden of so-and-so.' I would like to know the good you do with your garden that made you deserve such an honor.” He said: “Now that you asked me, I will tell you. I estimate the produce of the garden and distribute one-third of it in charity, spend one-third on myself and my family, and invest one-third back into the garden, for cultivation and development.”

Categories

Virtues and Manners, Voluntary Charity