Three Things

Once Prophet (peace be upon him) was sitting in a gathering with his four close companions at his side, he Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

"I love three things of this world... perfume, a good wife and Salaat."

After listening to this, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) said,

"O Rasool of Allaah (Most Exalted Most High)! You have spoken the truth. I also love three things of this world... to look at your countenance, to spend my wealth in your Path and that my daughter is in your Nikah."

Then Hadhrat Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) spoke,

"O Siddique! You have spoken the truth. I also love three things... To enjoin right, forbid evil and old clothes."

Then Hadhrat Uthmaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) spoke,

"O Umar! You have spoken the truth. I also love three things... feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and recitation of the Qur'aan Majeed."
Then Hadhrat Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him) said,

"O Uthmaan! You have spoken the truth. I also love three things... entertain the guests, fasting in the heat and using the sword on the enemy."
Then Hadhrat Jibraeel (upon him be peace) came and said,

"O Rasulullah (peace be upon him)! If I was amongst the worldly people, then I would have also loved three things... guiding the lost ones, assisting my needy family and having affection for those poor people who spend their time in ibaadat (worship).

Allaah (Most Exalted Most High) also says that He loves three things of His slaves... Spending according to one's means, crying over one's sins and adopting patience at the time of poverty."

Now let us look at all these beloved things once more:

Perfume, a good wife, Salaat, looking at the countenance of Prophet (peace be upon him), to spend one's wealth in Prophet's (peace be upon him) Path,

to have your daughter in the nikah of Prophet (peace be upon him), to enjoin right, forbid evil, old clothes, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked,

recitation of the Qur'aan Majeed, to entertain the guests, fasting in the heat, using the sword on the enemy, guiding the lost ones,

assisting one's needy family, having an affection for those poor people who spend their time in ibaadat, spending according to one's means, crying over one's sins and adopting patience at the time of poverty.