Chapter on the Virtue of Generosity and Munificence
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 2|Book 1|Chapter 16
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh
Volume 2, Book 1, Chapter 16
Chapter on the Virtue of Generosity and Munificence
13 hadiths
قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «خِيَارُكُمْ سُمَحَاؤُكُمْ وَ شِرَارُكُمْ بُخَلاَؤُكُمْ وَ مِنْ خَالِصِ اَلْإِيمَانِ اَلْبِرُّ بِالْإِخْوَانِ وَ اَلسَّعْيُ فِي حَوَائِجِهِمْ وَ إِنَّ اَلْبَارَّ بِالْإِخْوَانِ لَيُحِبُّهُ اَلرَّحْمَنُ وَ فِي ذَلِكَ مَرْغَمَةُ اَلشَّيْطَانِ وَ تَزَحْزُحٌ عَنِ اَلنِّيرَانِ وَ دُخُولُ اَلْجِنَانِ» ثُمَّ قَالَ لِجَمِيلٍ «يَا جَمِيلُ أَخْبِرْ بِهَذَا غُرَرَ أَصْحَابِكَ» قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَنْ غُرَرُ أَصْحَابِي قَالَ «هُمُ اَلْبَارُّونَ بِالْإِخْوَانِ فِي اَلْعُسْرِ وَ اَلْيُسْرِ» ثُمَّ قَالَ «يَا جَمِيلُ أَمَا إِنَّ صَاحِبَ اَلْكَثِيرِ يَهُونُ عَلَيْهِ ذَلِكَ وَ قَدْ مَدَحَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي ذَلِكَ صَاحِبَ اَلْقَلِيلِ فَقَالَ فِي كِتَابِهِ « وَ يُؤْثِرُونَ عَلىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ لَوْ كٰانَ بِهِمْ خَصٰاصَةٌ وَ مَنْ يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولٰئِكَ هُمُ اَلْمُفْلِحُونَ ».
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "The best among you are the generous ones, and the worst among you are the stingy ones. A sign of true faith is kindness toward brothers and striving to fulfill their needs. Indeed, the one who is kind to their brothers is loved by the Most Merciful. Such kindness humiliates Satan, distances one from the fires of Hell, and grants entrance to Paradise." Imam عليه السلام then said to Jamil: "O Jamil, share this with the noble of your companions." I said: "May I be your ransom, who are the noble of my companions?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "They are those who are kind to their brothers in both ease and hardship." Then Imam عليه السلام said: "O Jamil, indeed, for the wealthy, it is easier to do this. However, Allah سبحانه وتعالى the Exalted has praised the one with little who gives despite their own need. Allah سبحانه وتعالى has said in His Book: And they give preference over themselves, even though they are in privation. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul – it is they who will be successful' (Surah Al-Hashr 59:9)."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «شَابٌّ سَخِيٌّ مُرَهَّقٌ فِي اَلذُّنُوبِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ شَيْخٍ عَابِدٍ بَخِيلٍ».
Imam عليه السلام said: "A young person who is generous but overwhelmed by sins is more beloved to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Almighty and Glorious, than an old worshiper who is stingy."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ: «أَنَّ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَوْحَى إِلَى مُوسَى أَنْ لاَ تَقْتُلِ اَلسَّامِرِيَّ فَإِنَّهُ سَخِيٌّ ».
It is narrated: "Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Almighty and Glorious, revealed to Musa عليه السلام not to kill the Samaritan, saying, 'Indeed, he is generous.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: «مَنْ أَدَّى مَا اِفْتَرَضَ اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فَهُوَ أَسْخَى اَلنَّاسِ ».
The Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, said: "Whoever fulfills what Allah سبحانه وتعالى has made obligatory upon him is the most generous of people."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «مَنْ يَضْمَنُ لِي أَرْبَعَةً بِأَرْبَعَةِ أَبْيَاتٍ فِي اَلْجَنَّةِ أَنْفِقْ وَ لاَ تَخَفْ فَقْراً وَ أَنْصِفِ اَلنَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ وَ أَفْشِ اَلسَّلاَمَ فِي اَلْعَالَمِ وَ اُتْرُكِ اَلْمِرَاءَ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ مُحِقّاً».
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Whoever guarantees me four things, I will guarantee for him four chambers in Paradise: Spend and do not fear poverty, treat people with fairness, spread peace throughout the world, and abandon arguments, even if you are right."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: «مَنْ أَيْقَنَ بِالْخَلَفِ سَخَتْ نَفْسُهُ بِالنَّفَقَةِ ». وقال الله عز وجل: " وما أنفقتم من شئ فهو يخلفه وهو خير الرازقين.
The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: "Whoever is certain of compensation (from Allah سبحانه وتعالى), his soul will be generous in spending." And Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, says: "And whatever you spend of anything [in His cause], He will replace it; and He is the best of providers.".
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي قَوْلِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ « كَذٰلِكَ يُرِيهِمُ اَللّٰهُ أَعْمٰالَهُمْ حَسَرٰاتٍ عَلَيْهِمْ » قَالَ «هُوَ اَلرَّجُلُ يَدَعُ مَالَهُ لاَ يُنْفِقُهُ فِي طَاعَةِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بُخْلاً ثُمَّ يَمُوتُ فَيَدَعُهُ لِمَنْ يَعْمَلُ فِيهِ بِطَاعَةِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَوْ بِمَعْصِيَةِ اَللَّهِ فَإِنْ عَمِلَ فِيهِ بِطَاعَةِ اَللَّهِ رَآهُ فِي مِيزَانِ غَيْرِهِ فَرَآهُ حَسْرَةً وَ قَدْ كَانَ اَلْمَالُ لَهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ عَمِلَ فِيهِ بِمَعْصِيَةِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَوَّاهُ بِذَلِكَ اَلْمَالِ حَتَّى عَمِلَ بِهِ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ».
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام regarding the words of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, "Thus Allah سبحانه وتعالى will show them their deeds as regrets upon them" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:167), said: "This refers to a man who hoards his wealth and refrains from spending it in the obedience of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, out of miserliness. Then he dies and leaves it behind for someone who either uses it in the obedience of Allah سبحانه وتعالى or in His disobedience. If it is used in obedience to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, he will see it recorded in someone else's scale of deeds and will feel regret, for the wealth was originally his. And if it is used in disobedience to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, he will have enabled the person who committed sins with that wealth, furthering their disobedience to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: «لَيْسَ اَلْبَخِيلُ مَنْ أَدَّى اَلزَّكَاةَ اَلْمَفْرُوضَةَ مِنْ مَالِهِ وَ أَعْطَى اَلْبَائِنَةَ فِي قَوْمِهِ إِنَّمَا اَلْبَخِيلُ حَقَّ اَلْبَخِيلِ مَنْ لَمْ يُؤَدِّ اَلزَّكَاةَ اَلْمَفْرُوضَةَ مِنْ مَالِهِ وَ لَمْ يُعْطِ اَلْبَائِنَةَ فِي قَوْمِهِ وَ هُوَ يُبَذِّرُ فِيمَا سِوَى ذَلِكَ».
The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: "The one who pays the obligatory zakat from his wealth and gives generously among his people is not truly stingy. True stinginess belongs to the person who neither pays the obligatory zakat nor gives generously among his people, while squandering wealth on matters other than that."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ عَنِ اَلْفَضْلِ بْنِ أَبِي قُرَّةَ اَلسَّمَنْدِيِّ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ «أَ تَدْرِي مَنِ اَلشَّحِيحُ» قُلْتُ هُوَ اَلْبَخِيلُ فَقَالَ «اَلشُّحُّ أَشَدُّ مِنَ اَلْبُخْلِ إِنَّ اَلْبَخِيلَ يَبْخَلُ بِمَا فِي يَدِهِ وَ اَلشَّحِيحَ يَشُحُّ بِمَا فِي أَيْدِي اَلنَّاسِ وَ عَلَى مَا فِي يَدِهِ حَتَّى لاَ يَرَى فِي أَيْدِي اَلنَّاسِ شَيْئاً إِلاَّ تَمَنَّى أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ بِالْحِلِّ وَ اَلْحَرَامِ وَ لاَ يَقْنَعُ بِمَا رَزَقَهُ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ».
It is narrated from Al-Fadl ibn Abi Qurrah Al-Samandi that he said: Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said to me: "Do you know who the miser is?" I said: "The miser is the stingy person." He replied: "Miserliness (shuhh) is more severe than stinginess (bukhl). A stingy person withholds what is in his hand, but a miser is protective over what is in the hands of others and also over what is in his own hand. He does not see anything in the possession of others except that he wishes it were his, whether by lawful or unlawful means. Moreover, he is not content with what Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, has provided him."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: «مَا مَحَقَ اَلْإِسْلاَمَ مَحْقَ اَلشُّحِّ شَيْءٌ » ثُمَّ قَالَ «إِنَّ لِهَذَا اَلشُّحِّ دَبِيباً كَدَبِيبِ اَلنَّمْلِ وَ شُعَباً كَشُعَبِ اَلشَّرَكِ ».
The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: "Nothing has eroded Islam as much as miserliness (shuhh)." He then added: "This miserliness creeps in like the creeping of ants and has branches like the branches of a net."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي اَلْعَبْدِ حَاجَةٌ اِبْتَلاَهُ بِالْبُخْلِ ».
The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said: "If Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, has no need for a servant, He tests him with miserliness."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ سَمِعَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ رَجُلاً يَقُولُ اَلشَّحِيحُ أَعْذَرُ مِنَ اَلظَّالِمِ فَقَالَ لَهُ «كَذَبْتَ إِنَّ اَلظَّالِمَ قَدْ يَتُوبُ وَ يَسْتَغْفِرُ وَ يَرُدُّ اَلظُّلاَمَةَ عَلَى أَهْلِهَا وَ اَلشَّحِيحُ إِذَا شَحَّ مَنَعَ اَلزَّكَاةَ وَ اَلصَّدَقَةَ وَ صِلَةَ اَلرَّحِمِ وَ إِقْرَاءَ اَلضَّيْفِ وَ اَلنَّفَقَةَ فِي سَبِيلِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أَبْوَابَ اَلْبِرِّ وَ حَرَامٌ عَلَى اَلْجَنَّةِ أَنْ يَدْخُلَهَا شَحِيحٌ».
The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام heard a man saying, "The miser is more excusable than the oppressor." He said to him: "You have lied. Indeed, the oppressor may repent, seek forgiveness, and restore the injustice to its rightful owners. But the miser, when he becomes miserly, withholds zakat, charity, maintaining family ties, hospitality to guests, spending in the way of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, and other acts of goodness. It is forbidden for a miser to enter Paradise."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «اَلْمُنْجِيَاتُ إِطْعَامُ اَلطَّعَامِ وَ إِفْشَاءُ اَلسَّلاَمِ وَ اَلصَّلاَةُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَ اَلنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ.
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "The acts that bring salvation are feeding the hungry, spreading peace, and praying at night while people are asleep."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh