Why Did the Blind Man Give Everything Away?
The Three Men Tested by an Angel: The Blind Man's Lesson in Gratitude and Charity
Summary
This lecture discusses the famous hadith of the three men tested by an angel in disguise, specifically focusing on the third man who was once blind. The speaker analyzes the deeper meaning behind why the blind man asks for a sheep to return home, explaining that it appears illogical on the surface but serves to test the intention and character of those being asked for help. The blind man, recognizing himself in the beggar's situation of being previously misunderstood and overlooked, generously gives without question, acknowledging that his restored sight is a blessing from Allah that he must share with others.
The speaker emphasizes that this hadith is not merely a story but a practical lesson for all Muslims about remembering our origins, acknowledging Allah's blessings, and maintaining compassion for others. He explains how the blind man's greatest strength is recognizing his debt to Allah and viewing charitable giving as a means to repay that debt. The lecture concludes by connecting this ancient narrative to contemporary life, arguing that every person today faces similar tests regarding whether they see themselves in others, remember their humble beginnings, and extend help when they themselves may feel they don't need it.
Note: This transcript was generated using YouTube's automatic captioning, with AI-assisted cleanup for readability. It may contain inaccuracies due to background noise, audio quality, or limitations of the transcription software — particularly during Arabic recitation. Listener discretion is advised; please refer to the original video for precise wording.
Hallelujah. Alhamdulillah. Continuing the chapter of vigilance of Allah's observation authored by the sixth narration in that chapter the 65th narration in total the narration of Ebihore and we reach to the part where the angel came back to the previously leper who once was previously a leper and asked him for one camel. and he came back to him in his original form and he turned him away and failed to acknowledge Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala's blessing upon him. The prophet sallallah says He said, "And then he came to the bald man in his image and in his set of circumstances that he first found him in all those years ago." And they had a similar dialogue. They had a similar exchange exactly the same as with the abos. To which the angel responded, "If you are not truthful, if you are lying about what you say, then I ask Allah to take you back to what you were previously." He says, "He then came to the blind man or the or the man who was formerly blind in his image and in his previous set of circumstances." And he said to him, the angel said to the blind man, he says, "I am a very poor man and I am cut off from my homeland. I'm out here and I've been cut off with no money and no way to get home. And there is no way for me to get back to my homeland without Allah's help and then yours. I ask you by the one who had previously restored your vision, one sheep that I may use to get back that I may use as a means to return to my land. Here's a question. a blind man who is allegedly traveling. He's poor. He's cut off from his homeland and he asks for a sheep to get home. How much sense does that make? Where how did he get here? What are you doing here? A blind man. You came all the way from your you've traveled all the way out here and and now you don't need a horse. You don't need a a donkey. You don't need a mule. You don't need something to ride. You need a sheep. A sheep to get home to get all the way home. It doesn't make a lot of sense, right? It seems something is missing. It's very clear to almost see through that. Correct. Right. Most people would look at that and say, "This guy is this guy's trying to trick me, right? He's trying to scam me." However, what is the point of this? Why is the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam telling us this? This here goes back to the intention of the man who is being tested. His intention is to help. His intention is to help. And his intention is to take this man on his word. I'm not going to be able to do a federal background check on this man to make sure that he is indeed poor and he is indeed a blind man. I'm not going to be able to further investigate and scrutinize and make sure this is the situation that has presented itself. He has taken the man at his word and he sees himself in that man. He sees himself in that man who people misunderstood previously, who people overlooked, who people didn't care about, who people accused, who people thumb their nose at. And so he said his response, he said, "I used to be a blind man and Allah restored my sight." Now he didn't have to remind him the previous two. He didn't have to remind him because Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala tells us that the reminder is beneficial for what type of person right those who want to remember but if somebody already has made the decision that they don't want to remember what benefit is reminding them he hadn't forgotten genuinely and so even without being asked He was proud of this. He was proud of the fact that Allah chose him to bless. He was proud of the fact that he has humble beginnings and Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala chose him as a showcase for his miracles and mercy. Subhanahu wa ta'ala. And so he says, "I used to be a blind man and Allah restored my restored my vision." So take whatever you need and leave whatever you whatever you choose.
[Silence]
He said, "Take what you need. Leave what you want. For I will not blame you for anything that you take. If you need it, take it. I I owe Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. and I've just been waiting for somebody to act as a conduit for me to pay back my debt, to pay my dues. This is the this is the acknowledgment that the man has which is his greatest strength.
[Silence]
He said, "Keep your wealth. This was merely a test that Allah has tested you and the two other men with, and Allah has thus been pleased with you, and he is angry with the two others. And so this narration not only is a reminder that we are to seek answers and seek knowledge and seek to prepare for our test before the test begins. If you wait until the test begins to try to start getting ready for it, you're probably going to fail the test. And every single one of us right now, right now, every one of us right now is going through this same approximate test. Every one of us right now is going through this same approximate test. Not exactly the same way. We didn't we didn't , you know, come upon some windfall fortune overnight. we didn't have perhaps some miraculous you know healing that we you know from some illness that we suffered from. Some of us did maybe some of us have. However, in one way or another to to one degree or another, every one of us is essentially testing right now being tested with these same exact with these same exact parameters these these very similar things and that is will we see ourselves in others? Will we remember our origins? Will we acknowledge Allah's favor upon us? And will will we extend a hand when we are most under the illusion that we don't need help? This is the question and this is the purpose of our lives. Foreham.
[Silence]
Speech.