Our Sheikh Daamat
Barakaatuhum says, Do not eat for free, after eating we should pay for the
meals. In fact it is mentioned in the Hadith that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi
Wasallam, together with some Sahaabah R.A. had meals by one Sahabi R.A..
Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Pay for the meals.” They asked,
what is the pay? Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Give him Duas”.
The pay is Duas, and these Duas are more valuable than all the treasures and
money of the world! These are the duas of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam.
There are three wonderful Duas of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam,
أَفْطَرَ عِنْدَكُمُ الصَّائِمُونَ وَأَكَلَ طَعَامَكُمُ الْأَبْرَارُ وَصَلَّتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ
May the fasting
person make Iftaari by you (i.e. Allah Ta'ala will send the fasting person to
make Iftaari at your place), Iftaari is mentioned in this Dua and not supper.
Iftaari (opening the Roza) is done with a gulp of water. If one gives a sip of
water to a fasting person, he will get the reward of fasting the entire day
without him keeping the Roza; on account of giving a sip of water for Iftaari.
WHAT A BARGAIN?
Secondly, May
Allah Ta'ala send the Abraar to eat at your place. The Abraar are those that
are exceptionally pious.
اَلَّذِيْنَ لَا يُؤْذُوْنَ الذَّرَّ وَلَا يَرْضَوْنَ الشَّرَّ
Those who do not even harm an ant and cannot tolerate evil’
Allah Ta'ala will
send the exceptionally pious to have meals at your place. The wisdom behind
this, is that the effect of food remains in the body for 40 days, so the reward
of the Ibaadaat carried out by the Abraar for a period of forty days, will be
deposited in your account as well, as you supplied them with the petrol to make
their Ibaadat! The Abraar will keep roza whilst you eat, and you accumulate the
reward of fasting in your account, they perform Tahajjud Salaah whilst you
enjoying your sleep yet you will accumulate the reward of Tahajjud in your
account. WHAT A BARGAIN! Invest in a single meal and receive top rentals, the
reward of the Ibaadaat of the Abraar for 40 days, with no deductions in their
Ibaadat, in fact with additions.
Thirdly,
Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam says that the Malaaikah are making dua for
you, and for all those that have a share in the meal. If we receive the Dua of
our parents, Ustadh, Sheikh we are pleased, and rightly so, so what to say of
the Duas of the sinless angels? The word Malaaikah has been mentioned in the
plural, Allah Ta'ala alone knows how many Malaaikah there are.
اَللهم اَطْعِمْ مَنْ اَطْعَمَنِىْ وَاسْقِ مَنْ سَقَانِىْ
O Allah feed the one that has fed me and give him to drink who
has given me to drink
Mashallah, what a
wonderful meal, so delicious and presented in such a wonderful way with so much
love; in return the host receives the Dua of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi
Wasallam, that is, May Allah feed you (and all those who have a share in this
food). Allahu Akbar, who can compare with the Dawat of Allah Ta'ala? Our Sheikh
Daamat Barakaatuhum says the best drink in the world is ZamZam. This dua
translates practically into that may Allah Ta'ala take you and your family and
all those who have a share in this food for Haj and Umrah time and again, and
may you drink the waters of Zam Zam from the source!
اَلّٰلهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَـهُمْ فِيْمَا رَزَقْتَهُمْ وَاغْفِرْلَـهُمْ وَ ارْحَـمْهُمْ
O Allah, Grant them Barkah in their sustenance, forgive
them and have mercy on them.
Everyone loves
Barakah in their sustenance; everyone you see requests you to make Dua for
Barkah, here it is granted! We all make mistakes thus the Dua of forgiveness is
also given. And finally, O Allah, have mercy on them, what is mercy? Hadrat Maulana
Ashraf Ali Thanwi R.A. has given a wonderful explanation of Rahmat,
“Taufeeq-e-Taa’at”
(i.e. to be obedient to Allah Ta'ala). When Allah Ta'ala is happy, then He will
grant you “Faraaghi-e-Maee’shat” (Prosperity in abundance). By this Dua one’s
Dunya (worldly needs) and Deeni requirements have been taken care of.
In regards to the
hereafter, “Bilaa Hisaab Maghfirat” (forgiveness from Allah Ta'ala
without any reckoning), and finally “Dukhule Jannat”, (entrance into Jannat.)
Allama Aalusi R.A. in Ruhul Ma’aani makes the Tafseer of Rahmat as:
تَفضل علينا بفنون الآلآء مع استحقاقنا بافانين العقاب
i.e. O Allah! bless us with all types of favours; inspite
of us being liable of all types of punishments
All this just for
feeding the guest! But sadly, because we are not conscious of our Deen, we do
not realise its value and nor do we give these Duas to the host. We eat and do
not pay!
