Hello friends.
The Arabs, before and after Islam, were passionate about nothing more than generosity and courage.
They uttered poems about them for a long time and praised those who are characterized by these qualities, as well as a satire of miserliness and cowardice, and kings liked to be praised for generosity and courage, even if they were not generous or brave.
The story of the Arabs began with generosity and hospitality many centuries ago, because most of the areas inhabited by Arabs, especially the Arabian Peninsula, are barren deserts that do not grow anything.
This made traveling during it very difficult, and the most important way of survival at that time was to seek help from the nomadic you encountered on your way, and most Arabs knew the hardship of traveling in the desert.
As soon as any person comes to them, he receives the best of what is contained in the homes he is going to, the years and centuries have passed in this state, and generations have inherited this characteristic until the light of Islam that supported and contributed to the consolidation of this custom. Through several verses, including the following verse:
والَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُوا الدَّارَ وَالْإِيمَانَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ يُحِبُّونَ مَنْ هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ حَاجَةً مِمَّا أُوتُوا وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ ۚ وَمَنْ يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُون
(9)سورة الحشر الاية
Surah al-Hashr
9 As for those who had settled in the homeland before them, and had accepted faith—they love those who emigrated to them, and they find no hesitation in their hearts in helping them. They give them preference over themselves, even if they themselves are needy. Whoever is protected from his own selfishness—it is they who are the successful.
Thus, generosity and hospitality became a common custom in Arab society, and it came to the point that the guest stays at home for three days. before asking the reason for his coming.
The desert environment was one of the most important factors that refined the personality of the Arab community, in which several values and customs were planted, not just generosity. We will talk about them in subsequent articles.
As we said, generosity is usually found in all Arabs, but some set an example of his generosity, and tales about his generosity spread even outside the Arab poles and were transmitted until they reached us today.
He is Hatim Al-Ta’i, who lived in the sixth century in the Arabian Peninsula. He belongs to a tribe called Tai. Several sources say that he died in 578 AD. Many stories were narrated about him that generations passed on from him, including:
One of the kings of the Romans was told that Hatim al-Tai was one of the best Arab horses, so He sent a messenger to ask it from him.
When the messenger arrived at Hatim al-Ta’i, herds of sheep were in the pastures, and Hatim did not find something to honor his guest with, so he slaughtered the horse and ordered it to be cooked for his guest after dinner. Hatem asked his guest about the reason for his coming, so he told him his story.
He said, "Why didn't you tell me before now, I slaughtered her for your honor." The Messenger was astonished and said, "We have seen more from you than we have heard."
In another incident, Hatem was asked if there is someone more generous than him, and he replied, “Yes. He is an Arab boy. I visited him once. He slaughtered a sheep and fed me with its head. I liked it. I told him that his distress is good.” He said, “Wait for me a while.” That boy came out and slaughtered 10 sheep, which are all he had, and put their heads on the table in front of me. I ate of it until my stomach was swollen, and when I came out, there was a lot of blood in front of his tent, and all the heads of his sheep were cut off, so I knew I had eaten them.
When I asked him about the reason, he said, “Do you like something with me and I am stingy with it for you, and you are the one who taught us generosity?” Hatem was asked to Hatem, so what did you compensate him for? He said, “300 camels and 500 head of sheep”
It was said that you are more generous than him. He said: No, he was generous with everything he had, while I was honored with a little from much.
