3. Giving and Receiving Gifts
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), said, “Give gifts and you will love one another.” (Al-Adab Al-Mufrad)
I’ve always loved how straight-forward of a prescription this hadith is.
There is a direct correlation between gift-giving and increasing love. In fact, after the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet (saw) gave rather generous gifts to the chiefs of the newly Muslim Meccan tribes. They describe how it increased their love for the Prophet and Islam.
But don’t get confused! Gifts don’t have to be rare or expensive. In fact, Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (saw) stated:
“O Muslim women, never belittle any gift you give your neighbour even if it is a hoof of a sheep.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
The point of a gift is not to show off or go bankrupt but to show that you were thinking of the person.
Whether it’s a sticker you bring home for your little sibling or a chocolate bar you picked up for your wife, it’s the thought that counts here. There’s nothing wrong with a little splurge every now and then if you can afford it.
And let’s continue to be generous beyond Ramadan, in sha Allah!
4. Quality Time
I can’t offer one single hadith that demonstrates the prophet Muhammad (saw) prioritizing quality time because there are way too many to count. So many hadiths are the recountings of times when the Prophet sat with a single sahaba and explained a concept or answered a question.
When the prophet spoke to any person, he turned his full body toward them and gave them his undivided attention. He was fair with his time and made whoever was with him feel special.
Nowadays, spending quality time is rare. We’re often distracted without even knowing it. So next time you’re alone with someone you love, put the phone away, and treat each other like you value the time you’re spending with each other.
Quality time is a core feature of Ramadan for so many but don’t forget to make time for your loved ones after Eid.
5. Touch
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that:
The Prophet said to Hasan: “O Allah, I love him, so love him and love those who love him.” He said: “And he hugged him to his chest.” (Ibn Majah)
Narrated `Abdullah bin Hisham:
We were with the Prophet (SAW) while he was holding `Umar bin Al-Khattab by the hand. (Bukhari)
Touch is a love language that is a bit different to navigate. Put simply, if someone is uncomfortable with being touched in any way, don’t touch them, no matter how close you are.
But if you know they don’t mind it, there’s nothing wrong with throwing your arm around your buddy, or giving a hug and kiss to your father.
Touch can be a very meaningful way to show how special someone is to you, so use it when appropriate.
May Allah allow us to be those who love each other for His sake in AND out of this holy month!
Ramadan kareem!
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