and charity to a relative is better than charity to a stranger, because helping a relative counts both as charity and as upholding the bond of kinship.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) then said, “You will never spend anything seeking Allah’s Face without receiving a reward for it—even the morsel you place in your wife’s mouth.” In other words, you will not part with any wealth—be it silver or gold coins, clothing, bedding, food, or anything else—so long as you seek thereby Allah’s Face, without being rewarded for it.

The point to note is his phrase “seeking Allah’s Face,” meaning that your intention is directed to Allah Himself, that you aim to reach Paradise where you will behold Allah’s Face. The inhabitants of Paradise—may Allah make me and you among them—will see Allah, looking at Him directly with their own eyes just as they see the sun on a clear day without clouds, and as they see the full moon on its brightest night; in other words, they will truly see Him.

“Even the morsel you place in your wife’s mouth” means that the very bite of food you feed your wife brings you reward if your intention is to seek Allah’s Face, despite the fact that spending on one’s wife is obligatory—were you to withhold, she could say, “Provide for me or divorce me.” Nevertheless, when you spend on your wife, or even on yourself, with that intention, Allah rewards you for it.

He (peace and blessings be upon him) then said, “Will I be left behind after my companions?” meaning: will I remain after them and die in Mecca? The Prophet clarified that he would not be left behind, saying, “You will not be left behind,” and he further explained to him that if he were left behind and then performed a deed seeking