was the most prosperous of the Anṣār in farmland; no one among them owned more fields than he did. He also possessed a garden that lay in the direction of the Prophet’s Mosque—meaning that the mosque was situated toward the qiblah-side of the orchard—and within it flowed a pleasant, sweet spring from which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would often drink.

When the divine words were revealed, “You will never attain righteousness until you spend of that which you love” (3:92), Abū Ṭalḥah instantly responded. He hurried to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “Messenger of Allah, Allah the Exalted has sent down: ‘You will never attain righteousness until you spend of that which you love.’ The dearest of my wealth to me is Bayruḥāʾ”—that was the garden’s name—“and I now place it in your hands as charity for Allah and His Messenger. Dispose of it, therefore, as Allah and His Messenger see fit.”

The Prophet ﷺ, astonished by such resolve, exclaimed, “Bravo! Bravo!”—words of admiration meaning, What a magnificent aspiration!—“That is truly profitable wealth, that is truly profitable wealth.” And indeed he spoke the truth, for how many good deeds will that property earn when each good deed is rewarded tenfold, up to seven hundredfold, and even many times beyond that!

The Prophet ﷺ then advised, “I suggest that you make it over to your near relatives.” So Abū Ṭalḥah did exactly that, distributing the orchard among his kinsfolk and paternal cousins.

We shall, God willing, discuss some of the benefits of this ḥadith later, but for now consider the Companions’ eagerness and haste to do good. Ibn ʿUmar, for example, whenever something in his possession pleased him and his soul became attached to it, would give it away in charity so that he might reap its reward and find it awaiting him ahead.

Whatever you cling to in this life will either depart from you, or you will depart from it—one way or the other, it is bound to happen.