Abu ‘Abdillah, Muhammed bin Ebrahim Al-Kinaani mentions:

I once asked Abu Haatim Raazi (rahimahullah), “Why is the Muwatta of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) named ‘Muwatta’?” He replied, “It is a kitaab which Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) prepared for people to follow (one meaning of the word Muwatta is ‘a path that is made for people to tread on’), until it became known as the Muwatta of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah), just as the kitaab of Imaam Sufyaan (rahimahullah) was known as ‘Jaami’ (which means comprehensive).”

‘Ali bin Ahmed Al-Khaleeji (rahimahullah) reports that he heard one of the Mashaayikh say that Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) mentioned the following, “I presented this kitaab of mine (the Muwatta) to seventy Fuqahaa from the Fuqahaa of Madinah Munawwarah, and all of them concurred with me and agreed on the knowledge that I had presented in the kitaab. Hence, I named it the Muwatta (the word Muwatta comes from the word “Waata’a” which means ‘to concur and agree’).”

(Tazyeen-un-Mamaalik pg. 89)

At the time when Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) accepted Islam, he possessed forty thousand dirhams. By the time he performed hijrah with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he only possessed five thousand dirhams, and at the time of his death, he possessed no money, as he had spent all his wealth in the path of Allah Ta‘ala.

Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) would use his money to purchase and free slaves who were being punished and tortured by their masters for accepting Islam. The seven slaves whom he purchased and freed are: Hazrat Bilaal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat ‘Aamir bin Fuhairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat Zinneerah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), Hazrat Nahdiyyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and her daughter, the slave girl of Banu Mu’ammil and Ummu ‘Ubais (radhiyallahu ‘anha).

(Isaabah 4/139)

Nadr bin Haarith was also one of the leaders of the Quraish. He would often travel to Persia for business. On his travels, he would purchase stories and historical accounts of the non-Arab monarchs. He would then relate these stories to the Quraish and would say to them, “Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) relates the incidents of ‘Aad and Thamud to you, but I will share with you the legends of Rustam, Asfandiyaar and the Persian monarchs.” People would enjoy listening to these tales (similar to the novels of today). Hence, they would listen to these tales and fables instead of listening the Qur’aan Majeed.

Nadr also purchased a singing slave girl and would make people listen to her melodious voice. Whenever he learnt of anyone being inclined towards Islam, he would take this slave girl to him and bid her to entertain him with food, drink and music. He would then ask him, “Is this better or that which Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) invites you to by instructing you to perform salaah, fast and wage jihaad against the enemies of Allah Ta‘ala?”

Yahya bin Khaalid (rahimahullah) narrates:

Once, Ebrahim bin ‘Uyainah was imprisoned on account of an outstanding debt which amounted to more than forty-thousand dirhams. Hence, some of his friends went to different people collecting funds to pay his debt and secure his release.

When they came to Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah), he enquired, “How much is his debt?” They replied, “It is more than forty-thousand dirhams.” Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) next asked, “Have you already collected money from others?” When they replied in the affirmative, Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) said, “Return whatever money you have collected to those from whom you took it. I will settle the entire debt that he is owing.”

(‘Uqood-ul-Jummaan pg. 235)