He Recommends Generosity for His Companions
Besides having generosity as one of His prominent traits, Muhammad (peace be upon him) invited His followers to have such a good quality and recommended it for them, telling them it is a reason for Allah’s being pleased with His servant. Narrated by Sahl bin Said, Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “Verily, Allah is generous and loves generosity and nobility. He shuns trivial matters.” (Al-Hakim: 1/48)
In fact, Muhammad (peace be upon him) attached great importance to generosity and linked it to faith in Allah and the Last Day. Accordingly, generosity is not only a good manner or a recommended character of a Muslim but rather something strongly related to one’s faith and essence of religion. Narrated by Abu Shuraih Al-Adawi, “My ears heard and my eyes saw the prophet when He spoke, ‘Anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day, should serve his neighbour generously, and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should serve his guest generously by giving him his reward.’
It was asked. ‘What is his reward, O Allah’s Messenger?’
He said, ‘(To be entertained generously) for a day and a night with high quality food, and the guest has the right to be entertained for three days (with ordinary food) and if he stays longer, what he will he provided with will be regarded as sadaqa (a charitable gift). And anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk what is good or keep quiet (abstain from all kinds of dirty and evil talk)” (Al-Bukhari:6019 , Muslim: 48)
Generosity is like other merits of human traits of man for which he or she would seek praise and recognition. Therefore, Muhammad (peace be upon made His instructions clear to His followers that man should seek with his generosity the pleasure of Allah alone regardless of people’s praise or comments.
Thus, He told His followers that the one who spends his money looking for gratitude from people, his charities will not be accepted. He said that among the first three people to be judged on the Day of Judgment is “… a man whom Allah had made affluent and to whom Allah had given plenty of wealth, will be brought forward, Allah will remind him of the favors He had bestowed upon him and the man will acknowledge them. He will ask him, ‘What did you do to express gratitude for it?’
The man will reply, ‘I did not neglect any of the ways You liked for wealth to be spent liberally for Your sake.’
Allah will say to him, ‘You have lied. You did it so that people might call you generous, and they have done so.’
A command will then be issued about him and he will be dragged on his face and thrown into hell.” (Muslim: 1905)
This should bring tranquility to the soul of a Muslim while carrying out any good deed as he or she should not be affected by others’ reactions. One should not also make any reminder or injury of his or her charity. Allah the Exalted places great emphasis that the acceptance of spending in the cause of Allah is conditioned by being devoid of making any reminder of it, so as to hurt the needy or a person he benefited from such charity.
Allah says, “O you who have believed, do not invalidate your charities with reminders or injury, as does one who spends his wealth (only) to be seen by the people and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. His example is like that of a (large) smooth stone, upon which is dust, and is hit by a downpour that leaves it bare. They are unable (to keep) anything of what they have earned. And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.” (2: 264)
However, the Noble Qur’an considers kind speech or a good excuse better than charity followed by injury, and reminder of it.
Allah says, “Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and then do not follow up what they have spent with reminders (of it) or (other) injury will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. Kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is free of need and Forbearing.” (2: 262-263)
