Lessons from Nahjul Balagha [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Sermons
Sermon
141

SERMON 141

Against misplaced generosity

He who shows
generosity to those who have no claim to it or who are not fit for
it would not earn anything except the praise of the ignoble and
appreciation of bad persons, although as long s he continues
giving, the ignorant will say how generous his hand is, even
though in the affairs of Allah he is a miser.

Therefore, to
whosoever Allah gives wealth he should use it in extending good
behaviour to his kinsmen, in entertaining, in releasing prisoners
and the afflicted; in giving to the poor and to debtors, and he
should endure (the troubles arising out of) the fulfilment of
rights (of others) and hardships in expectation of reward.
Certainly, the achievement of these qualities is the height of
greatness in this world and achievement of the distinctions of the
next world; if Allah so wills.