Lesson 50 Moral Excellence: Faithfulness to Generosity

Faithfulness: Faithfulness is the opposite of betrayal and is found in one’s full commitment to a promise or an agreement.

Faithfulness brings grace and reward from Allah.

Forbearance Forbearance is patience and self-control especially during times of anger.

The prophets displayed the most forbearance.

Forgiveness: Forgiveness is to forget harm and its impact within the heart, and it is more than just pardoning.

Forgiveness is a sign of established belief.

Forgiveness is an attribute of the prophets and pious people.

Generosity: Islam calls to generosity and prohibits stinginess and avarice.

A condition for generosity is that it should be done without reproach or hurt.

Evidence From Qur ’ an and Sunnah

Faithfulness: Allah says: ﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِ ﴾ [ المائدة : 1]

This means: “O you who believe! Fulfill (your) obligations.” (Al-Ma’idah: 1)

Allah says: ﴿ وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِ اللهِ إِذَا عَاهَدتُّمْ وَلاَ تَنقُضُوا الأَيْمَانَ بَعْد تَوْكِيدِهَا وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُمُ اللهَ عَلَيْكُمْ كَفِيلاً ﴾ [ النحل : 91]

This means: “And fulfill the Covenant of Allah (Bay'ah: pledge for Islam) when you have covenanted, and break not the oaths after you have confirmed them, and indeed you have appointed Allah your surety.” (An-Nahl: 91)

Allah says: ﴿ وَأَوْفُوا بِالْعَهْدِ إِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْئُولاً ﴾ [ الإسراء : 34]

This means: “And fulfil (every) covenant. Verily! The covenant will be questioned about.” (Al-Isra’: 34)

Allah says: ﴿ وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ ﴾ [ البقرة : 177]

This means: “And who fulfill their covenant when they make it, and who are patient in extreme poverty and ailment (disease) and at the time of fighting (during the battles). Such are the people of the truth and they are Al- Muttaqun (the pious).” (Al-Baqarah: 177)

Allah says: ﴿ الَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ اللهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مِيثَاقِهِ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللهُ بِهِ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِي الأَرْضِ أُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ﴾ [ البقرة : 27]

This means: “Those who break Allah’s Covenant after ratifying it, and sever what Allah has ordered to be joined, and do mischief on earth, it is they who are the losers.” (Al-Baqarah: 27)

Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) said: “Three are the signs of a hypocrite: When he speaks, he tells lies, when he makes a promise, he acts treacherously, and when he is trusted, he betrays (whoever trusted him).” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Four are the qualities which, when found in a person, make him a sheer hypocrite, and one who possesses one of them, possesses one characteristic of hypocrisy until he abandons it. They are: When he is entrusted with something, he betrays trust; when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he acts treacherously; and when he argues, he behaves in a very imprudent, insulting manner.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

Forbearance: Allah says: ﴿وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلاَماً ﴾ [ الفرقان : 63]

This means: “And when the foolish address them (with bad words) they reply back with mild words of gentleness.” (Al-Furqan: 63)

Allah says: ﴿ وَإِذَا سَـمِـعُوا اللَّغْوَ أَعْرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَقَالُوا لَنَا أَعْمَالُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَالُكُمْ سلاَمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ لاَ نَبْتَغِي الْجَاهِلِينَ ﴾ [ القصص : 55]

This means: “And when they hear al­Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk), they withdraw from it and say: To us our deeds, and to you your deeds. Peace be to you. We seek not the ignorant.” (Al-Qasas: 55)

And: ﴿ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ ﴾ [ المؤمنون : 3]

This means: “And those who turn away from al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood, and all that Allah has forbidden).” (Al-Mu’minun: 3)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “The strong man is not that who wrestles, but the strong man is that who controls himself in a fit of rage.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “And if a man imputes to you of bad things he knows you possess, do not impute to him bad things that you know he has.” (Reported by Abu-Dawud)

A man said to the Messenger of Allah (SAWS): “I have relatives with whom I try to maintain ties of relationship, but they sever their relations with me; whom I treat kindly but they treat me badly, with whom I am gentle but who are rough to me.” He replied, “If you are as you say, it is as if you are applying hot ashes to them (they will bear the results of such bad conduct) and you will not be without a supporter against them from Allah as long as you do so.” (Reported by Muslim)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “The one who swallows up anger in spite of possessing the power to give effect to his anger will be called out by Allah, the Exalted, to the forefront of the creatures on the Resurrection Day and will be put to option about any pure- eyed virgin he will like.” (Reported by Abu-Dawud and at-Tirmidhiyy)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said to Ashajj (RA): “You possess two such qualities as Allah loves. These are forbearance and leniency.” (Reported by Muslim)

Forgiveness: Allah says: ﴿فَاعْفُوا وَاصْفَحُوا حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ اللهُ بِأَمْرِهِ ﴾ [ البقرة : 109]

This means: “But forgive and overlook, till Allah brings His Command.” (Al-Baqarah: 109)

Allah says: ﴿ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاصْفَحْ إِنَّ اللهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴾ [ المائدة : 13]

This means: “But forgive them, and overlook (their misdeeds). Verily, Allah loves good­doers.” (Al-Ma’idah: 13)

Allah says: ﴿ فَاصْفَحِ الصَّفْحَ الْجَمِيلَ ﴾ [ الحجر : 85]

This means: “So overlook (O Muhammad SAWS), their faults with gracious forgiveness.” (Al-Hijr: 85)

Allah says: ﴿ وَلاَ تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلاَ السَّيِّئَةُ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُعَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ ﴾ [ فصلت : 34]

This means: “The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allah ordered the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly), then verily! He, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend.” (Fussilat: 34)

Allah says: ﴿ فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللهِ ﴾ [ الشورى : 40]

This means: “The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof, But whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah.” (Ash-Shura: 40)

And says: ﴿ وَلَمَن صَبَرَ وَغَفَرَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَمِنْ عَزْمِ الأُمُورِ ﴾ [ الشورى : 43]

This means: “And verily, whosoever shows patience and forgives that would truly be from the things recommended by Allah.” (Ash-Shura: 43)

Ibn Kathir reported that the Prophet (SAWS) said, on the Conquest of Makkah: “O you people of Quraysh! What do you think of the treatment that I am about to accord to you?” They replied: O noble brother and son of noble brother! We expect nothing but goodness from you.

Upon this he said: I speak to you in the same words as Yusuf (the Prophet Joseph) spoke unto his brothers: “No reproach on you this day.” (Yusuf: 92) The Prophet then added, “Go your way, for you are freed ones.”

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Allah augments the honor of that who forgives.” (Reported by Muslim)

Generosity: Allah says: ﴿فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَى وَاتَّقَى * وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَى * فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْيُسْرَى * وَأَمَّا مَنْ بَخِلَ وَاسْتَغْنَى * وَكَذَّبَ بِالْحُسْنَى * فَسَنـُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْعُسْرَى * وَمَا يُغْنِي عَنْهُ مَالُهُ إِذَا تَرَدَّى ﴾ [ الليل : ]

This means: “As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him, And believes in Al- Husna (goodness). We will make smooth for him the path of ease. But he who is greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient. And gives the lie to Al-Husna. We will make smooth for him the path for evil; And what will his wealth benefit him when he goes down (in destruction).” (Al-Layl: )

Allah says: ﴿ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ﴾ [ الحشر : 9]

This means: “And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful.” (Al-Hashr: 9)

Allah also says: ﴿ وَأَنفِقُوا مِن مَّا رَزَقْنَاكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلاَ أَخَّرْتَنِي إِلَى أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ﴾ [ المنافقون : 10]

This means: “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.” (Al-Munafiqun: 10)

And says: ﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنفِقُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ وَمِمَّا أَخْرَجْنَا لَكُم مِّنَ الأَرْضِ وَلاَ تَيَمَّمُوا الْخَبِيثَ مِنْهُ تُنفِقُونَ﴾ [ البقرة : 267]

This means: “You who believe! Spend of the good things which you have (legally) earned, and of which We have produced from the earth for you, and do not aim at that which is bad to spend from it.” (Al-Baqarah: 267)

Allah says: ﴿ لَن تَنَالُوا البِرَّ حَتَّى تُنفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِن شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ ﴾ [ آل عمران : 92]

This means: “By no means shall you attain Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, etc., it means here Allah's Reward, i.e. Paradise), unless you spend (in Allah's Cause) of that which you love; and whatever of good you spend, Allah knows it well.” (Al-`Imran: 92)

And says: ﴿ مَثَلُ الَّذِيِنَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنْبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنْبُلَةٍ مِائَةُ حَبَّةٍ وَاللهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَاللهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴾ [ البقرة : 261]

This means: “The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower.” (Al-Baqarah: 261)

There are many more verses that urge people to be generous.

Allah's Messenger (SAWS) said: “Every day, servants (of Allah) get up at morn, two angels descend. One of them says: O Allah, give him more who spends (for the sake of Allah), and the other says: O Allah, bring destruction to one who withholds.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

Allah's Messenger (SAWS) said: “And give up miserliness as it was a cause of perishing those who lived before you. It drove them to shed each others' blood and breach each others' sanctity.” (Reported by Muslim)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “He who believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him show hospitality to his guest.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

He (SAWS) also said: “Two qualities are not in a Muslim; stinginess and bad manners.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “What is most evil in a man are alarming niggardliness and unrestrained cowardice.” (Reported by Abu-Dawud)

Allah's Messenger (SAWS) said: “No envy except in two: A man whom Allah has given property, empowering him to dispose of it (on what is right), and a man whom Allah has given wisdom by which he judges and teaches it.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

Allah's Messenger (SAWS) said: “Who among you considers the wealth of his heirs dearer to him than his own wealth?” They replied: O Allah's Messenger! There is none among us but loves his own wealth more.

The Prophet said, “So his wealth is whatever he spends (in Allah's Cause) during his life (on good deeds) while the wealth of his heirs is whatever he leaves after his death.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Protect yourselves from Hell-fire even though by giving half of a date in charity.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)