Commentary:

Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was the most generous of Allah Ta‘ala’s servants. No person from the entire creation could compare with him in his generosity, kindness to the creation or in any other act of virtue and piety.

In this Hadith, Hazrat Jaabir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) describes the magnanimity of Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and his abounding generosity for the entire creation. He explained that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) never refused to fulfil the need of any person at any time. Even at the time when Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was himself in need of something, but was asked for it by another person, Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) never refused but gave preference to that person over himself.

Sheikhul Hadith Moulana Muhammed Zakariyya (rahimahullah) mentioned:

If any person asked Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) for anything which he possessed, Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would immediately give it to him. If he did not possess the thing that was sought from him, he would promise the person that he would give it to him at another time, or he would make Dua for the person, that Allah Ta‘ala fulfil his need by some other means.

There are numerous incidents recorded in the Mubaarak Ahaadith regarding the unprecedented and unparalleled generosity of Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) which he showed to the servants of Allah Ta‘ala. Below we will mention an incident which reveals the high level of generosity which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) possessed:

Hazrat Sahl (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that a woman once gifted a shawl to Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) accepted the shawl and began wearing it as he was in need of it. Thereafter, a certain Sahaabi had seen the shawl on the Mubaarak body of Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and requested Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to gift it to him. Despite being in need of it, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) immediately removed the shawl and gave it to the Sahaabi.

The Sahaabah who were present and witnessed what had transpired, later on reproached the Sahaabi for asking Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) for the shawl as Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was personally in need of it. The Sahaabi explained that he did not ask for the shawl to wear it, but rather he had only asked for it as he wished to use the cloth which touched the Mubaarak body of Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) as his kafan upon his demise. The Sahaabah mentioned that after the demise of this Sahaabi, the shawl of Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was used as his kafan. (Bukhaari #1277)

May Allah Ta‘ala bless us with the taufeeq to emulate Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in his Mubaarak quality of generosity and in every other sunnah.