Part 21

And which defect is more serious than miserliness?!" Abu Bakr, like the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) considered miserliness to be one of the most serious diseases or defects. In Sahih Muslim, on the authority of Sulaiman ibn Rabi'ah: Umar said: "The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) carried out a division of property, and I said: `By Allah, others are more deserving than these (who have been given).' The Prophet said: `They gave me the choice, either they would ask me in an improper and outrageous manner, or they would call me miserly, and I am not a miser.'" Enjoining Right & Forbidding Wrong - 42 Translated by Salim Abdallah ibn Morgan The prophet here is saying: They have asked me in a way which is not proper, so that if I give them, that is fine, but if I do not, they will say "He is miserly." Thus, they gave me the choice between two evils, and left me no other choice: improper asking, or being called miserly. Being called a miser is more serious of an evil, so I repel the greater evil by giving them. Types Of Miserliness Miserliness is a general category within which are various types - some are major sins, and some are not major sins. Allah said: [Let not those who were miserly with what Allah gave them of His bounty imagine that it is good for them, rather it is very bad for them. They will be emburdened with all that they were miserly with on the day of Qiyama.] Quran 3/180 [Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and be gracious towards your two parents ... Verily Allah loves not every proud and arrogant one, those who are miserly, and enjoin miserliness on others.] Quran 4/36-37 [And nothing prevented their (i.e. the hypocrites) expenditures from being accepted except for the fact that they have rejected faith in Allah and in His Prophet. They attend the prayer only with laziness, and they spend of their wealth only reluctantly and with dislike.] Quran 9/54 [And, when He gave them of His bounty, they were miserly with it. They turned away, rejecting. And so, Allah decreed for them after that hypocrisy in their hearts until the day when they will meet Him.] Quran 9/76-77 [Whoever is miserly, denies only himself] Quran 47/38 [And so woe unto those who pray * But are unmindful of their prayers * Those who only strive (in their prayers) to be seen by people, and who withhold even minor acts of generosity.] Quran 107 Enjoining Right & Forbidding Wrong - 43 Translated by Salim Abdallah ibn Morgan [As for those who build up wealth of gold and silver, and do not spend of it in the path of Allah, warn them of a painful punishment. On the day when it (i.e. the gold and silver) will be heated up on the fires of hell, and it will be used to brand their foreheads and their sides and their backs, (it will be said to them:) This is what you hoarded away for your selves, so taste that which you used to hoard.] Quran 9/34-35 There are very many verses in the Quran which enjoin giving and spending and generosity, and criticize whoever neglects them, and all of that is a criticism of miserliness. Criticism Of Cowardice In the Quran, Allah's criticism of cowardice is also found in very many verses, such as in the following: [And anyone who gives them (i.e. the enemy in war) his back on that day (of battle) except as a stratagem of warfare, or to regroup with other fighters, has come back with a great anger from Allah, and his dwelling place is hell, and what an evil place to end up.] Quran 8/16 [And they (i.e. the hypocrites) swear by Allah that they are of you, while they are not of you, rather they are a people afraid (to oppose the believers openly) * If they were to find any place of refuge or some caves, or even any uncomfortable place in which to conceal themselves, they would turn to it in great haste (because of the intensity of their concealed hatred for Islam and the Muslims).] Quran 9/56-57 [When a clear chapter is sent down and fighting is mentioned therein, you can see those in whose hearts is disease looking at you as one in the throes of death.] Quran 47/20 [Did you not see those to whom it was said: "Be non-violent, establish the prayer, and give the zakah?" And then, when fighting was made obligatory upon them, lo, some of them fear people as the fear of Allah or an even stronger fear. They say: "Our Lord, why have you made fighting obligatory upon us?