Kindness and Generosity

 

by Abû Bakr Jâbir al-Jaza'iry

Kindness and Generosity; Generosity is a characteristic of the Muslim, and kindness is his disposition. The Muslim should not be miserly and stingy, for these are two reprehensible traits whose presence spoils the soul and darkens the heart. The Muslim's faith and righteous deeds purify and radiate his heart, so being stingy and miserly negates the purity of the soul, and the light of the heart. So a Muslim is not miserly or stingy. Stinginess is a disease of the heart that no human being is safe from except for the Muslim, with his faith and righteous deeds, like Zakah and prayer, by which Allah will protect him from the evil of this disease, preparing him for success in this life and the Hereafter. Allah the Almighty says:



{ Verily, man was created very impatient; (19) Irritable (discontented) when evil touches him; (20) And niggardly when good touches him; (21) Except those devoted to Salat (prayers) (22) Those who remain constant in their Salat (prayers); (23) And those in whose wealth there is a known right, (24) For the beggar who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth, (and his means of living has been straitened);} [Al-Ma’aarij 70:19-25]

{إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعًا ﴿١٩﴾ إِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ جَزُوعًا ﴿٢٠﴾ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلْخَيْرُ مَنُوعًا ﴿٢١﴾ إِلَّا ٱلْمُصَلِّينَ ﴿٢٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ دَآئِمُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ فِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَّعْلُومٌ ﴿٢٤﴾ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِ} المعارج: 19-25

Transliteration: Inna alinsana khuliqa halooAAan (19) Itha massahu alshsharru jazooAAan (20) Waitha massahu alkhayru manooAAan (21) Illa almusalleena (22) Allatheena hum AAala salatihim daimoona (23) Waallatheena fee amwalihim haqqun maAAloomun (24) Lilssaili waalmahroomi



Allah the Almighty says:



{Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it, and invoke Allah for them.} [At-Tawba 9:103]

{خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ} التوبة: 103

Tranlsiteration: Khuth min amwalihim sadaqatan tutahhiruhum watuzakkeehim biha wasalli AAalayhim



Allah the Almighty says:



{And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful.} [Al-Hashr 59:9]

{وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ} الحشر: 9

Transliteration: waman yooqa shuhha nafsihi faolaika humu almuflihoona



Since noble characteristics are acquired through different types of exercise and training, so the Muslim works to develop virtuous traits according to what the wise Shari'ah encourages and warns against. Nurturing generosity in his soul will keep his heart on the right track. Allah the Almighty says:



{And spend (in charity) of that with which We have provided you, before death comes to one of you and he says: "My Lord! If only You would give me respite for a little while (i.e. return to the worldly life), then I should give Sadaqah (i.e. Zakat) of my wealth, and be among the righteous [i.e. perform Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah)].} [Al-Munaafiqoon 63:10]

{وَأَنفِقُوا۟ مِن مَّا رَزَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَآ أَخَّرْتَنِىٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ} المنافقون: 10

Transliteration: Waanfiqoo min ma razaqnakum min qabli an yatiya ahadakumu almawtu fayaqoola rabbi lawla akhkhartanee ila ajalin qareebin faassaddaqa waakun mina alssaliheena



Allah the Almighty says:



{As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him, (5) And believes in Al-Husna. (6) We will make smooth for him the path of ease (goodness). (7) But he who is greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient. (8) And gives the lie to Al-Husna (see Verse No: 6 footnote); (9) We will make smooth for him the path for evil; (10) And what will his wealth benefit him when he goes down (in destruction).} [Al-Lail 92:5-11]

{فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَىٰ وَٱتَّقَىٰ ﴿٥﴾ وَصَدَّقَ بِٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ﴿٦﴾ فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ ﴿٧﴾ وَأَمَّا مَنۢ بَخِلَ وَٱسْتَغْنَىٰ ﴿٨﴾ وَكَذَّبَ بِٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ﴿٩﴾ فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلْعُسْرَىٰ ﴿١٠﴾ وَمَا يُغْنِى عَنْهُ مَالُهُۥٓ إِذَا تَرَدَّىٰٓ} الليل: 5-11

Transliteration: Faamma man aAAta waittaqa (5) Wasaddaqa bialhusna (6) Fasanuyassiruhu lilyusra (7) Waamma man bakhila waistaghna (8) Wakaththaba bialhusna (9) Fasanuyassiruhu lilAAusra (10) Wama yughnee AAanhu maluhu itha taradda



Allah the Almighty says:



{And what is the matter with you that you spend not in the Cause of Allah? And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth.} [Al-Hadid 57:10]

{وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلَّا تُنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّـهِ وَلِلَّـهِ مِيرَٰثُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ} الحديد: 10

Transliteration: Wama lakum alla tunfiqoo fee sabeeli Allahi walillahi meerathu alssamawati waalardi



Allah the Almighty says:



{And whatever you spend in good, it will be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged.} [Al-Baqara 2:272]

{وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ} البقرة: 272

Transliteration: wamatunfiqoo min khayrin yuwaffa ilaykum waantum latuthlamoona



Allah's Messenger (salla Allahu ‘alihi wasallam) said:



“Verily Allah is Generous and loves generosity. He loves noble character and He hates disgraceful behavior.” [Authenticated by Al-Albani]

»إن الله كريم يحب الكرم ، و يحب معالي الأخلاق ، و يكره سفسافها« صححه الألباني

Allah's Messenger (salla Allahu ‘alihi wasallam) said:



“There should be no envy except it the case of two: A man whom Allah gives wealth, so he is able to spend it on the truth, and a man whom Allah gives wisdom so he judges and teaches with it.” [Al-Bukhari]

» لا حسد إلا في اثنتين: رجل آتاه الله مالا ، فسلطه على هلكته في الحق ، وآخر آتاه الله حكمة ، فهو يقضي بها ويعلمها« رواه البخاري

Allah's Messenger (salla Allahu ‘alihi wasallam), said:



“Which of you loves the wealth of his heir more than his own wealth” The Companions said: “O Allah's Messenger! There is none of us but loves his own wealth more.” He (salla Allahu ‘alihi wasallam) said: “His wealth is that which he has sent forward, but that which he retains, belongs to his heir” [Al-Bukhari]

» أيكم مال وارثه أحب إليه من ماله . قالوا : يا رسول الله ، ما منا أحد إلا ماله أحب إليه ، قال: فإن ماله ما قدم ، ومال وارثه ما أخر« رواه البخاري

Allah's Messenger (salla Allahu ‘alihi wasallam) said:



“Protect yourself from Hell-fire even with a piece of a date.” [Al-Bukhari]

»تقوا النار ولو بشق تمرة«رواه البخاري

Allah's Messenger (salla Allahu ‘alihi wasallam); said:



“There is no day that dawns upon the servants but two angels descend during it. One of them says, 'O Allah! Give to the person who gives (in charity)'; while the other one says, 'O Allah'. Destroy the one who withholds (charity, etc.).” [Al-Bukhari]

»ما من يوم يصبح العباد فيه ، إلا ملكان ينزلان ، فيقول أحدهما : اللهم أعط منفقا خلفا ، ويقول الآخر : اللهم أعط ممسكا تلفا« رواه البخاري

Allah's Messenger (salla Allahu ‘alihi wasallam) said:



“Beware of stinginess! It was being stingy that destroyed those before you. It incited them to shed blood and make lawful what was prohibited for them.” [Muslim]

»اتقوا الشح فإن الشح أهلك من كان قبلكم . حملهم على أن سفكوا دماءهم واستحلوا محارمهم« رواه مسلم

Allah's Messenger (salla Allahu ‘alihi wasallam) slaughtered a sheep and distributed major portions of its meat. Then he asked: “Is there anything left?” 'A'ishah replied, “Nothing, except the shank.” Thereupon he (salla Allahu ‘alihi wasallam) said: “All of it is left except the shank.” [Reported by At-Tirmizi as authentic]

»أنهم ذبحوا شاة فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ما بقي منها ؟ قلت : ما بقي منها إلا كتفها . قال : بقي كلها غير كتفها« رواه الترمذي وصححه

Allah's Messenger (salla Allahu ‘alihi wasallam); said:



“If a person gives in charity the value of even a date out of his honest earnings - Allah accepts only that which is pure - Allah accepts it with His Right Hand and fosters it for him, as one of you fosters the colt, till it becomes like a mountain.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

»من تصدق بعدل تمرة من كسب طيب ، ولا يقبل الله إلا الطيب ، وإن الله يتقبلها بيمينه ، ثم يربيها لصاحبها ، كما يربي أحدكم فلوه ، حتى تكون مثل الجبل« رواه البخاري ومسلم

Manifestations of Generosity



1. A person giving charity should not render it vain by reminders of his generosity or by injury.



2. The giver should be cheerful when asked and when giving.



3. He should spend without being stingy or irresponsible.



4. Whether giving abundance from his riches, or a small amount of one's meager means, one should give with complete satisfaction, a cheerful face and nice speech.



Examples of Generosity



1. It is narrated that 'Abdullah bin 'Amir purchased a house from Khalid bin 'Uqbah bin Mu'it in the market of Makkah for 70,000 dirhams. At night, he heard weeping from the household of Khalid. When he inquired about that, he learned that they were crying because of their house. He called his servant and instructed him to convey to them the message that both the house that they sold and the dirhams that he paid were theirs.



2. It is narrated that Imam Ash-Shafi'i became ill and rested in his deathbed. He had decreed by will that so-and-so should bathe his body. When he died, they called the person instructed to bathe him. When he arrived he demanded some record of Imam Ash-Shafi'i. Upon going through its contents, he found that Imam Ash-Shafi'i had a debt of 70,000 dirhams. The man decided that he himself would repay it on his behalf He said, “This is what Imam Ash-Shafi'i meant by assigning me to bathe him in his will.” Then he left.



3. It is narrated that when Allah's Messenger (salla Allahu ‘alihi wasallam) prepared for the battle against the Romans, the Muslims were facing hardships and difficulties in terms of finance and arms for war. Even the army of the Prophet (salla Allahu ‘alihi wasallam) became known as "The Army of Difficulty." Thereupon, 'Uthman bin 'Affan began donating 10,000 dinars, 300 camels, including their saddles and saddle blankets, and 50 horses. From this charity, half of the army was fully equipped.