Langar Incident

[akramabbas]

(salam)

How are you?

This is incident which has been spreading in Facebook. This is unfortunately written it Urdu. So it will be hard for non-Urdu to understand this. I try to tell this incident in English. Actually it is an incident about Langar (food served to poor people) and everybody was getting food, but only one person asked for two people food, then langar distributor asked why you're asking for two people food. The person replied, " This is for the person who is sitting there, who is very poor and eating food with water. and then the distributor replied, "the langarpeople eating here it is due to this person (pointing to the poor person). And this is our Caliph Abu Bakar.

I heard this was not Abu Bakr.. but Maula Ali (as). so I am asking Sunni and Shia brothers, share Hadith about this incident. so it is then confirmed.

To Sunni: If It is Abu Bakr, then please provide Hadith with reference.

To Shia: If it is Maula Ali (as) then please provide Hadith with reference.

That would be enough for me. :)

Thanks you so much,

(wasalam)

[IbnSohan]

Langar (Punjabi: ਲੰਗਰ, Hindi: लंगर) is the term used in the Sikh religion or in Punjab in general for common kitchen/canteen where food is served in a Gurdwara to all the visitors (without distinction of background) for free. At the langar, only vegetarian food is served, to ensure that all people, regardless of their dietary restrictions, can eat as equals. Langar is open to Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike.

wiki.

people who live in the country with a sword on its flag speak arabic, arabic my friend contains no g in its alphabet. this country with sword on its flag happens to have two holy cities namely makkah and madinah in which both of abu bakr and Ali lived. history books my friend have not recorded that any of these men visited the langar country, the country with crescent on its flag.

[Yabnul_Taha]

^ Langar is just the Panjabi/Urdu word for it. I'm sure there is an arabic equivalent. Kinda like how we say namaaz sometimes instead of salat.

[akramabbas]

thanks for the replies. But I am not interested in Langar meaning. I want to know how authentic this incident is. Is there any Hadith in Shia or Sunni Hadith books?

[IbnSohan]

I just wanted to say that Ahlulbayt do not need a made up story to show how great they are, they should not be lowered to the level that they need to be compared to Abu bakr, they are far higher, their generosity is recorded in Quran, they do not need a made up story.

"Verily the Good shall drink of a Cup (of wine) mixed with Kafur. A fountain where the Devotees of God do drink, making it flow in unstinted abundance. They perform (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil lies far and wide. And they feed, for the love of God, the indigent, the orphan and the captive. Saying, 'We feed you for the sake of God alone; no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks.' 'We only fear a Day of distressful Wrath from the side of our Lord.' But God will deliver them from the evil of that day, and will shed over them a light of Beauty and a (blissful) Joy. And because they were patient and constant, He will reward them with a Garden and (garment of) silk. Reclining in the (Garden) on raised thrones, they will see there neither the sun's (excessive heat) nor (the moon's) excessive cold. And the shades of the (Garden) will come low over them, and the bunches (of fruit), there, will hang low in humility. And amongst them will be passed round vessels of silver and

goblets of crystal; Crystal clear, made of silver. They will determine the measure thereof (According to their wishes). And they will be given to drink there of a Cup (of wine) mixed with Zanjabil. A fountain there, called Salsabil.

And around about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness): if thou seest them, thou wouldst think them scattered Pearls. And when thou lookest, It is there thou wilt see a Bliss and a Realm Magnificent. Upon them will be green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade, and they will be adorned with Bracelets of silver; and their Lord will give to them to drink of a Wine pure and Holy. Verily this is a Reward for you, and your Endeavour is accepted and recognized." (76: 5-22)

These verses were revealed after Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Husayn (as) gave charity to needy people; this story is stated in the book al-Kashaf by Zamakhshari; it goes as follows:

"Ibn Abbas said:

'Once al-Hasan and al-Husayn (as) were ill, the Messenger of Allah and a group went to visit them. The visitors suggested to Imam Ali (as) to make a vow to Allah: if He were to relieve them, he would perform some good action. Therefore, Imam Ali together with Fatimah and their servant Fidhdha vowed to Allah that they would fast for three days if He would relieve Hasan and Husayn.'

'When Allah had relieved them, Imam Ali (as) borrowed three (3) aswu (a cubic measure) of barley from a Jew known as Shimon. Fatimah ground one (1) sa'a (singular of aswu) of the barley and baked five loaves of bread for her family's meal at sunset. As sunset approached, a needy man knocked on the door and said: As-Salamu Alaykum, Family of Mohammad. I am a needy man from among the Muslims, feed me, may Allah feed you from the food of Paradise.' The holy family preferred the needy man over themselves and spent the night with nothing in their stomachs save water.'

'They fasted the second day, and again at sunset, when they were waiting for their food, an orphan asked them for help and they again preferred him over themselves. The third evening a captive (prisoner of war) asked them for help and they repeated their preference for the needy above themselves.'

'The following morning, Imam Ali (as) took al-Hasan and al-Husayn to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) who said the following when he saw them shaking like little chicks from hunger:

"The Prophet said: It displeases us to see you in this condition.'

Then he went with them, for he wanted to see Fatimah. When they arrived, Fatimah (as) was in the Mihrab (prayer place), and her condition was such that it further displeased the Prophet (pbuh). At this time, Gabriel descended and said:

'Take this chapter Mohammad, Allah surely congratulates you for having this family. "