by Aisha Stacey
AS
human beings, we have an innate sense of morality. No matter what
religion, race or colour we are, certain qualities serve as the moral
standard.
We admire justice, bravery, honesty
and compassion. Also, we abhor those who demonstrate treachery, cruelty
or corruption. Moral standards are universal, and one of the most
important aspects of Islam is adherence to high moral standards and good
manners in society.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught Muslims
to have the best manners and distinguished characteristics. The
Prophet’s own high standard of morals and manners made him the best
example for Muslims to follow. Allah (swt) says in the Quran: “And
verily you, O Muhammad, are on an exalted standard of character.”
(Al-Qalam)
Generosity was among the countless good qualities of Prophet Muhammad. He was the most generous of people.
One day Prophet Muhammad offered
prayer in the mosque and then hurriedly went to his house and returned
immediately. A companion asked why he left and he replied: “I left a
piece of gold at home which was given for charity and I dislike letting
it remain a night in my house, so I brought it to the mosque to
distribute.” (Al-Bukhari)
Our worldly possessions are bounties
from Allah, who is the Most Generous. Muslims believe that everything
originates from Allah and everything will return to Him. Thus, it is
logical to behave as if that which we possess is merely a loan;
something we are obligated to preserve, protect and ultimately share.
Whenever Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) met a
miserly person, he advised him to be more generous and charitable. Ibn
Abbas said that he heard the Prophet saying: “The believer is not the
one who eats when his neighbour beside him is hungry.” (Al-Bayhaqi).
Another companion heard the Prophet saying: “The believer is simple and
generous, but the wicked person is deceitful and ignoble.” (Abu-Dawud)
Princeton University wordnet defines
generosity as the willingness to give freely. Islam encourages this
concept of generosity so much so that it is embedded in one of the five
pillars of Islam, the obligatory charity known as Zakat. In Arabic, the
term zakat literally means purification of the heart. However, it is
also the payment, from surplus money, of an obligatory charity designed
by Allah to provide for all the needy members of the community. It is a
fixed calculable amount.
There is also another form of
generosity in Islam called sadaqah (optional charity). Linguistically,
sadaqah means truthfulness, and some scholars have described it as the
heart being truthful to its Creator. Anything given generously — freely
to others — with the intention of pleasing Allah is sadaqah. Sadaqah can
be as simple as a smile, helping an elderly person with their groceries
or removing objects from the road or path.
Generosity can be viewed as a wise
investment in the future. Generosity or sadaqah may pave the way to
Paradise because with every generous act comes great reward from Allah.
However, being generous does not only mean giving freely from what you
have in abundance. Generosity does not lie in giving away something that
is no longer useful but in giving freely from the things we love or
need.
Aisha (the wife of the Prophet) said:
“A lady, along with her two daughters came to me asking for some alms,
but she found nothing with me except one date which I gave to her and
she divided it between her two daughters.” (Al-Bukhari)
Allah tells us in the Qur’an that
whatever we give away generously, with the intention of pleasing Him, He
will replace and multiply. Allah knows what is in the hearts of men.
Allah says: “Say: Truly, my Lord
enlarges the provision for whom He wills of His slaves, and also
restricts it) for him, and whatsoever you spend of anything (in God’s
Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers.” (Saba)
The companions understood the value of
being generous. Abdullah ibn Umar was seen in the market buying fodder
for his camel on credit. One of the men queried this knowing that
Abdullah had received 4,000 dirhams and a blanket the previous day. It
was explained that before nightfall Abdullah had distributed the money
amongst the needy. He then took the blanket, threw it over his shoulder
and headed home, but by the time he arrived even the blanket was gone,
he had given it to a needy person.
After the death of the Prophet, the
people faced great hardship due to drought. They came to Abu Bakr asking
him to provide them with enough to sustain them, but he was unable to
help, the treasury was empty. Just at that time, the camel caravan
belonging to Uthman arrived from Damascus. It was filled with foodstuffs
and other goods. The merchants gathered at Uthman’s house offering him
large amounts of money for the goods; however, he turned them down
saying he was prepared only to give the goods to the one from whom he
would receive the greatest reward. Uthman gave all the goods to the
starving people of Madinah and did not charge them. He knew that Allah
would reward him with something far greater than money.
Even in the direst of circumstances, a true believer is the one who gives generously.
The people came to Prophet Muhammad
and asked: “If someone has nothing to give, what should he do?” He said:
“He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in
charity (from what he earns).” The people further asked: “If he cannot
find even that?” He replied: “He should help the needy who appeal for
help.” Then the people asked: “If he cannot do that?” He replied: “Then
he should perform good deeds and keep away from evil deeds and this will
be regarded as charitable deeds.” (Al-Bukhari)
And Allah says in the Quran that He
will repay the generosity of a believer. “And whatever you spend in
good, it will be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged.”
(Al-Baqarah)
God is the one who provides for us and
He expects us to share generously. We are encouraged to be benevolent
and unselfish with our possessions, with our time and with our exemplary
behaviour towards others.
DailyTrust
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