Chapter on the Virtue of Generosity and Munificence

Hadith.1707 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) 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 (as) 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 (as) replied: "They are those who are kind to their brothers in both ease and hardship." Then Imam (as) said: "O Jamil, indeed, for the wealthy, it is easier to do this. However, Allah (swt) the Exalted has praised the one with little who gives despite their own need. Allah (swt) 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)."

Translation: Bab Ul Qaim Publications·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

Hadith.1708 - Imam (as) said: "A young person who is generous but overwhelmed by sins is more beloved to Allah (swt), the Almighty and Glorious, than an old worshiper who is stingy."

Translation: Bab Ul Qaim Publications·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

Hadith.1709 - It is narrated: "Allah (swt), the Almighty and Glorious, revealed to Musa (as) not to kill the Samaritan, saying, 'Indeed, he is generous.'"

Translation: Bab Ul Qaim Publications·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

Hadith.1710 - The Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, said: "Whoever fulfills what Allah (swt) has made obligatory upon him is the most generous of people."

Translation: Bab Ul Qaim Publications·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

Hadith.1711 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) 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."

Translation: Bab Ul Qaim Publications·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

Hadith.1712 - The Messenger of Allah (swt), peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: "Whoever is certain of compensation (from Allah (swt)), his soul will be generous in spending." And Allah (swt), the Exalted, says: "And whatever you spend of anything [in His cause], He will replace it; and He is the best of providers.".

Translation: Bab Ul Qaim Publications·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

Hadith.1713 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) regarding the words of Allah (swt), the Exalted, "Thus Allah (swt) 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 (swt), the Exalted, out of miserliness. Then he dies and leaves it behind for someone who either uses it in the obedience of Allah (swt) or in His disobedience. If it is used in obedience to Allah (swt), 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 (swt), he will have enabled the person who committed sins with that wealth, furthering their disobedience to Allah (swt), the Exalted."

Translation: Bab Ul Qaim Publications·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

Hadith.1714 - The Messenger of Allah (swt), 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."

Translation: Bab Ul Qaim Publications·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

Hadith.1715 - It is narrated from Al-Fadl ibn Abi Qurrah Al-Samandi that he said: Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) 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 (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, has provided him."

Translation: Bab Ul Qaim Publications·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

Hadith.1716 - The Messenger of Allah (swt), 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."

Translation: Bab Ul Qaim Publications·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

Hadith.1717 - The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "If Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, has no need for a servant, He tests him with miserliness."

Translation: Bab Ul Qaim Publications·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

Hadith.1718 - The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) 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 (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, and other acts of goodness. It is forbidden for a miser to enter Paradise."

Translation: Bab Ul Qaim Publications·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

Hadith.1719 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "The acts that bring salvation are feeding the hungry, spreading peace, and praying at night while people are asleep."

Translation: Bab Ul Qaim Publications·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.