over his private parts, having tied the cloak around his neck, and they carried their swords with them, ready for whatever fighting in Allah’s cause they might be commanded to undertake.

At the sight of them the face of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ clouded over—its colour changed—for he saw how great their need was. Yet they were from Muḍar, one of the noblest Arab tribes, whom destitution had brought to such a state. He then went into his house ﷺ, came out again, ordered Bilal to give the call to prayer, performed the prayer, and delivered a sermon. He praised Allah, as was his habit, and then recited:

“O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from a single soul and created from it its mate, and from the two of them spread many men and women. Fear Allah, in whose name you appeal to one another, and the ties of kinship. Indeed, Allah is ever, over you, an Observer.” (al-Nisaʾ 4:1)

and:

“O you who believe, fear Allah, and let every soul look to what it has sent ahead for tomorrow; and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” (al-Hashr 59:18).

He then urged the people to give charity, saying, “Let a man give in charity a dinar, or a dirham, or a garment; let him give a measure of wheat, or a measure of dates—even half a date.”

The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were the most eager of people to do good, the quickest to respond, and the keenest to compete in virtue. They went off to their homes and returned with their donations until one man came carrying a purse so heavy with silver that his hand could scarcely, indeed could no longer, bear it, and he placed it before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Jarir then saw two heaps of food, clothing, and other items that had been collected in the mosque. The face of the Prophet ﷺ, which had earlier been tense, now beamed; it shone like a burnished piece of gold because of its brilliance, radiance, and the joy he felt at this quick response that had met the needs of those poor people. Then he ﷺ said: