By
Arman Neyazi, New Age Islam
10
September 2021
Allah
and His Apostle Prophet Muhammad Pbuh Denounce the Mental Trait of Miserliness
The Most
Main
Points:
1. Miserliness
is an evil trait that corrupts the soul of the concerned human being.
2. All those
who are blessed and can afford to play a Messiah must play the spiritual role
of graciousness leaving aside all kinds of excuses.
3. Wealth
accumulated through miserliness is not worth it as it does not serve the
purpose one desires.
4. Our
graciousness will be rewarded handsomely hereafter that is our permanent abode.
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(Photo courtesy): ahlesunnatuljamaat/miserliness-and-its-harms
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Miserliness
is an evil trait that corrupts the soul of the miser. A miser is a person who
loves his wealth more than even himself. Miserliness is an illness that takes
into grip the wellbeing of his or her family but it affects the people around
him. By birth, all human beings are gracious and kind but the worldly trait of
miserliness corrupts the soul of the person. A miser ceases to think properly and
desists from all the good work that pleases Allah the Creator and His Apostle
Prophet Muhammad Pbuh.
Allah says
in the Holy Quran:
Those who are miserly with what God has granted
them out of His grace should not think that it is good for them; on the contrary,
it is bad for them. Whatever they meanly withhold will be hung around their
necks on the Day of Resurrection.... (Ali 'Imran - 180) — Abdul Haleem
Miserliness
destroys the life in here and hereafter. Allah the Most Gracious has described
miserliness in His revelations on various occasions, commanding the believers
to be gracious with His creation. Allah, the All-Knower says in the Holy Quran:
Those who hoard up treasures of gold and silver
and spend them not in the way of Allah; give them the news of a painful
punishment, on the Day when that (wealth) will be heated in the Fire of Hell
and with it will be branded their forehead, their sides, and their backs, (and
it will be said to them:) ‘This is the treasure which you hoarded for
yourselves. Now taste of what you used to hoard. See for yourselves what they
feel like’
(At-Tawbah: 34-35)
There are
certain unsocial traits of the personality that human being develops due to
various evils spread in the society and miserliness is one of them. There is no
one to be blamed for that. Allah the All-Knower and His messenger, Prophet
Muhammad Pbuh denounce the mental trait of miserliness the most as such people
become a slave to their worldly gains and in the process get lost in the
darkness of their irresponsible behaviour towards their family, friends and the
society. People with the habit of miserliness get aloof from their families and
society and they do not even acknowledge it. The worst thing is that a miser
does not achieve anything in life here or for the life hereafter as one of the
Prophetic traditions mentioned below says:
"The
first of this Ummah was reformed with abstinence and certainty of belief, and
the last of this Ummah will be destroyed by miserliness and longing."
Narrated by Ahmad and Tabarani in AI Awsat and AI Baihaqi.
Zakat,
Fitrah and charity have the greatest approval of Allah the Almighty Creator and
His Messenger Prophet Muhammad Pbuh. Allah bestows His forgiveness and
blessings on those who care for the poor, needy and helpless people. Allah the
Most Gracious says in the Holy Quran:
[Charity is] for the poor who have been
restricted for the cause of Allah, unable to move about in the land. An
ignorant [person] would think them self-sufficient because of their restraint,
but you will know them by their [characteristic] sign. They do not ask people
persistently [or at all]. And whatever you spend of good - indeed, Allah is
Knowing of it. -
(Surat Al-Baqarah [2:273)
Have you seen the one who denies the ˹final˺ Judgment? That is the one who
repulses the orphan and does not encourage the feeding of the poor. (Al-Ma'un - 1-3)- Dr Mustafa
Khattab
The
revelations of the Holy Quran and Prophetic traditions, given below are to
introduce us to our inborn Islamic essence of kindness, inclusiveness and
brotherhood which generates ‘graciousness’ that Allah loves the most.
Quranic
Verses on Miserliness and the Misers' Fate
Surely,
those who disbelieve, their wealth and their children shall not suffice them in
the least against Allah. Those are the fuel of the Fire - (Ali 'Imran - 10)
Mufti Taqi Usmani
... and for
consuming the people's money illicitly. We have prepared for the disbelievers
among them painful retribution. (An-Nisa - 161)
O you who
believe, many of the rabbis and the monks do eat up the wealth of the people by
false means and prevent (them) from the way of Allah. As for those who
accumulate gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah, give them
the ‘good news of a painful punishment, — (At-Tawbah - 34) Mufti Taqi Usmani
He boasts,
"I spent so much money!" - (Surah Al-Balad - 6)
"Then,
there has succeeded them a posterity who have given up prayers (i. e. made
their prayers to be lost, either by not offering them or by not offering them
perfectly, or by not offering them in their proper fixed times, etc.) and have
followed lusts. So they will be thrown in Hell." (Maryam: 59)
Prophetic
Traditions on Miserliness and the Destiny of Misers
"He who sleeps on a full stomach whilst
his neighbour goes hungry is not one of us." (Prophet Muhammad)
"How
wonderful is the case of a Believer! There is good for him in whatever happens
to him -and none, apart from him, enjoys this blessing. If he receives some
bounty, he is grateful to Allah and this bounty brings good to him. And if some
adversity befalls him, he is patient, and this affliction, too, brings good to
him" (Muslim)
“Allah has
enjoined upon rich Muslims a due to be taken from their properties
corresponding to the needs of the poor among them. The poor will never suffer
from starvation or lack of clothes unless the rich neglect their due. If they
do, Allah will surely hold them accountable and punish them severely.” (Related
by At-Tabarani in Al-‘Aswat and as-Saghir)
Whoever
relieves a believer’s distress of the distressful aspects of this world, Allah
will rescue him from a difficulty of the difficulties of the Hereafter - Sahih
Muslim
“Protect
yourself from hell-fire even by giving a piece of date as charity.” (Al-Bukhari
and Muslim)
The world
needs to adopt graciousness and come forward to help those who require their
inclusive essence. Looking at the prevailing situation in the world today, it
is an absolute truth that there are millions of people that are homeless,
penniless and hungry. They all are at the mercy of God, therefore, humankind
being a vicegerent of God needs to come to the rescue of their fellow beings.
This is not
a time to play the blame game and escape the need to fulfil our humanitarian
responsibilities. All those who are blessed and can afford to play a Messiah
must play the spiritual role of graciousness leaving aside all kinds of
excuses. World’s graciousness today will wipe out the curse of poverty and it
will again be brimming with Allah’s graciousness and kindness towards
humankind.
My wealth
has been no use to me, — (Al-Haqq: 28) Abdul Haleem
A portion
of their money was set aside for the beggar and the needy. - (Adh-Dhariyat -
19)
The example
of those who give their money seeking GOD's pleasure, out of sincere
conviction, is that of a garden on high fertile soil; when heavy rainfalls, it
gives twice as much crop. If heavy rain is not available, a drizzle will
suffice. GOD is Seer of everything you do. (Surah Al-Baqarah - 265)
The Quranic
Ayat mentioned above are a clear indication that the wealth accumulated through
miserliness is not worth it as it does not serve the purpose one desires. On
the other hand, our leaving miserliness and being gracious will bless us with
God’s forgiveness and the world will be a garden of highly fertile soil.
Being
Gracious and Generous
No matter how old or young you are, you can practice being generous to
others!
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Allah the
Most Gracious has born all human beings with the essence of the positivities
required to be sympathetic, gracious, inclusive, and an advocate of pluralistic
ethos. Therefore, there is nothing to be cultivated in our personae to be
sympathetic and kind towards the victims of the war and sectarianism, terrorism
and militancy. Our graciousness will be rewarded handsomely hereafter that is
our permanent abode. Rise to the occasion and remember what God and His Apostle
say:
“Who is he
that will lend God a goodly loan, which God will double unto his credit and
multiply many times? It is God that gives (you) Want or Plenty, and to Him
shall be your return” (Al-Baqarah: 245).
“O you who
believe! Shall I lead you to commerce that saves you from a grievous Penalty?
You should believe in God and His Apostle and should strive (your utmost) in
the cause of God, with your property and your lives. That will be best for you
if you but knew” (Surah As-Saf: 1011)
“Spend (in
charity) out of the (wealth) whereof He hath made you heirs" (Al-Hadid: 7)
Prophet
Muhammad Pbuh says:
Allah
smiles at the person who stretches out his hand to give charity, and whoever
Allah smiles at is forgiven. Holy Prophet (SAW)
Charity
keeps away from its givers, the heat of the grave, and on the Day of Judgement,
the believer will be in the shade of his charity. Holy Prophet (SAW)
And
Allah Knows the Best.
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Arman
Neyazi is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/miserliness-corruption-soul-generous/d/125339