However...

However, now that the land has been divided, you have come to acquire the better portion of it.” I (the Imam) said: “I shall inform you of a tradition of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w) wherein he said: 'If one desires that Allah wards away from him the inauspiciousness of a day, he should start his day by giving charity, and if one desires to ward away the inauspiciousness of the night, he should commence his night by giving charity.'” The Imam (a.s) then said (to the astrologer): “I gave charity while coming out (of my house) today; charity is better for you than astrology.”[^3] Hatim’s Mother 'Atbah Beente 'Afif, the mother of Hatim Tai, was an open-hearted and generous lady, who used to distribute all her wealth amongst the needy ones.

When her brothers saw her giving her wealth in charity, they prevented her from accessing it and said: “You are indulging in extravagance and ruining your property.” For a period of one year they did not provide her with any money.

When the year had passed they spoke amongst themselves and said: “She has suffered much in this year as a result of scarcity and perhaps now, after this prohibition, she would spend her wealth moderately and not exhibit extravagance.” And so, they gave her a herd of camels so that she could make use of them. At that juncture a woman from the tribe of Hawazan approached her and, as in the past, sought food and assistance from her.

Hatim's mother gifted the entire herd of camels to her saying: “In this period (of one year), I have tasted the sufferings of poverty and have promised to myself that whatever I come to possess, I shall give in charity to the needy and the deprived ones!”[^4] In the Darkness of the Night Mu'alla Ibn Khunais narrates: “One rainy night Imam Sadiq (a.s) started out from his house with the intention of proceeding towards the tent of the tribe of Bani Sai'dah (under which they used to gather in the heat of the day, while it would be utilized as a sleeping place by the travelers and the indigent ones, during the night).

I followed the Imam (a.s) when I noticed that something had suddenly fallen out of his hands. He (a.s) supplicated: “O' Allah! Return to me that which has fallen.” I advanced nearer and saluted him at which he questioned: “Mu'alla?” I said: “Yes.