The investment of a lifetime
The year is 622 CE. You are one of a small group of Muslims who have migrated with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to Medina. Life is difficult, resources are scarce, and persecution is a recent memory. Every day is a struggle for survival, yet your heart is filled with gratitude. Alhamdulillah, Allah has guided you to the truth, and that is worth more than anything this world can offer.
There aren’t many wells in Medina right now, or as it’s still called – Yathrib. They’ve been monetised and it’s hard to afford just clean water. No matter how much it costs, you have to pay, because you need water to survive.
“I was present at the house when ‘Uthman looked out over them and said: ‘I adjure you by Allah and by Islam, are you aware that when the Messenger of Allah came to Al-Madinah, and it had no water that was considered sweet (suitable for drinking) except the well of Rumah, he said: “Who will buy the well of Rumah and dip his bucket in it alongside the buckets of the Muslims, in return for a better one in Paradise?” and I bought it with my capital and dipped my bucket into it alongside the buckets of the Muslims?” (Hadith Hasan)
Uthman ibn Affan (RA) hears about the extortionate prices that you and those in your community are being charged simply to have water for your family. No matter your wealth or health, the owner of the well charges you to drink.
Uthman offers to buy the well, but the owner refuses, but he does agree to Uthman’s offer for to rent it. On alternate days, Uthman owns the rights to access the water well, but on these days, he allows all people to drink for free. Soon, nobody is using the well on the merchant’s days and he sells the entire well to Uthman, who still pays a fair price.
Since that day, until today, that well continues to provide clean water for all. A waqf that has provided endless blessings to Uthman for his selfless generosity. In fact, today the surrounding land around the well is also a waqf endowment, growing dates, with profits used to maintain the well.
The generosity of Uthman
Uthman (RA) was always known for his generosity, offering up his wealth for The Messenger’s ﷺ cause. During the Expedition of Tabuk as the Byzantines threatened to invade, Uthman gave 1,000 gold dinars, and between 350 and 900 camels, with the Messenger ﷺ praising his generosity.
In today’s world, few of us own enough land or wealth to gift away wells, but that doesn’t mean we can’t also accrue years, decades, even centuries of blessings. Any time spent without having a waqf building blessings for us is an opportunity missed.
When you donate a waqf share today, like Uthman, you may not live to see the way it transforms – he never saw the date farm that grew, or the generations his waqf supported, but it was the best investment he ever made – giving a timeless charity to the ummah for the sake of Allah.
What’s the best investment you ever made? What’s the investment that’ll uplift you in the grave and on the Day of Judgement?
