34. Generosity

[ummtaalib]

Allah, The Most Exalted, says:

“By no means shall you attain the reality of true piety and righteousness, unless you spend (in Allah's cause) that which you love “ (Quran-Ale-'Imran 3: 92)

 

 

 

Jabir ibn 'Abdullah Radiyallahu 'anhuma narrates:

 

“Whenever Rasullullah Sallaliahu 'alaihi wasallam was asked for anything, he never said 'No'.”

(Hadith-Muslim)

 

Note: It means that The Messenger of Allah (Sallaliahu 'alaihi wasallam) never used the plain word 'no' before anyone who asked for something. If he had something with him, he would give it then and there; if not, he would either promise him, or remain quiet, or excuse himself with some suitable words, or say words of supplication.

[Bint e Aisha]

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Generosity is near to Allah, near to Paradise, near to the people, and far from the Hellfire. Miserliness is far from Allah, far from Paradise, far from the people, and near to the Hellfire. An ignorant generous person is more beloved to Allah Almighty than a stingy scholar.”

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1961

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Suyuti

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ السَّخِيُّ قَرِيبٌ مِنْ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِنْ الْجَنَّةِ قَرِيبٌ مِنْ النَّاسِ بَعِيدٌ مِنْ النَّارِ وَالْبَخِيلُ بَعِيدٌ مِنْ اللَّهِ بَعِيدٌ مِنْ الْجَنَّةِ بَعِيدٌ مِنْ النَّاسِ قَرِيبٌ مِنْ النَّارِ وَلَجَاهِلٌ سَخِيٌّ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنْ عَالِمٍ بَخِيلٍ

1961 سنن الترمذي كتاب البر والصلة باب ما جاء في السخاء

4788 المحدث السيوطي خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح في الجامع الصغير

[Bint e Aisha]

There is a story related by Mufti Taqi Uthmani Sahib regarding his father, Mufti Shafi’ (رحمه الله) the author of Ma’ariful Qur’an. He says he noticed that his father always gave to beggars whatever he had so he mentioned that there was no need for that as many of them were not deserving of it and they were often professional beggars. Mufti Shafi’(رحمه الله) replied that he knew that however he felt that if he started giving to only those who were deserving, what would happen if Allah ta’ala also started doing that? He meant that Allah ta’ala gave so much despite us not deserving it. What would happen if He only gave to those who were deserving of it?

Source

[Bint e Aisha]

Generosity 

Although sakhaawat (generosity) is not Fardh, it is the remedy for hubb-e-maal (love for wealth). It prevents many corruptions spawned by love of wealth, thus it gives rise to numerous virtues. Sometimes a dua acquired from someone in lieu of an act of generosity is adequate for one’s forgiveness.

After a man had died he appeared in the dream of one of his friends. He said that he was forgiven merely because a pious man had once rested in the shade of the grape tree which was growing in front of his house.

-Hakeemul Ummah (رحمه الله)

[Bint e Aisha]

"A man who wishes to acquire the quality of generosity must oblige himself to do generous things; that is, to give of what he owns, and must continue in this way, struggling with his soul until his nature conforms to it and it becomes easy."

— Imam Al-Ghazali [d.1111].