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Fatwa CenterWhy the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, died while in debt
Question
the sword and other war dresses of prohect s a were pludged with a yahoodi during the death of prophec s a due to powerty. i have heard these from muslim scholers speech and wrting. is it true i think hazrath usman the soninlaw of prophect was a rich man and most of his followewrs were rich during tha period. then why he not approched them for help. or why they not given help to him. i can no tbelive this please give the circumstance of this in detail with your opinion
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
It is confirmed that the Prophet died while his shield was mortgaged. ‘Aa’ishah 
said: “The Prophet died while his shield was mortgaged with a Jew for 30 Saa’ (A Saa’ equals approximately one and half kilogram) of wheat.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The Prophet used to urge his Companions 
to refrain from asking others for financial help. He said to them: “Whoever abstains from asking others, Allaah will make him self-sufficient.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Therefore, he would not discourage them from asking others and at the same time he would himself do that.
As regards them not helping him, then it could be because they do not know his need or for any other reason. It is suitable to quote here the statement of Imaam An-Nawawi 
as he said: “The Prophet used to be at ease at some time and after a while what he possesses would finish as he donates it for the sake of Allaah in charity, gives the poor preference over himself, hosts the guests, equips the (military) detachments, and so forth, and his Companions used to do so as well. The well-off Muhaajiroon and Ansaar despite their kindness and generosity to the Prophet and giving him their best gifts, they probably did not know his need sometimes as they did not know that he had run out of money due to him giving it to others because of his altruism [preferring them over his own need]. Even if some of them knew that, they probably were in financial hardship at that time as well. Indeed, no companion knew of the need of the Prophet while being able to fulfill it except that he would take the initiative to fulfill it, but the Prophet used to hide that from them because of preferring to bear his own difficulties and not burden them with that. Indeed, Abu Talhah Al-Ansaari 
took the initiative to fulfill the need of the Prophet when he noticed the hunger in the Prophet’s voice and so did Jaabir in Abdullaah . Moreover, Abu Shu’ayb Al-Ansaari when he recognized hunger in the face of the Prophet he quickly cooked food for him and many Companions did the same thing.
Likewise, the Companions used to be altruist to each other and as soon as one of them knew the need of the other, he would hasten to fulfill it for him. Indeed, Allaah described them with this quality as He Says (what means): {They love those who emigrated to them and find not any want in their breasts of what they [i.e. the emigrants] were given but give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation.}[Quran 59:9] Allaah also Says about them (what means): {Muhammad () is the Messenger of Allaah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves.}[Quran 48:29]"
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