The texts of the Quran and Sunnah encourage people to give, spend and be generous for the cause of Allah Almighty. In confirmation, He, the Almighty, says (what means): {But whatever thing you spend [in His cause]—He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers.} [Quran 34:39] The Messenger of Allah said: “Every day two angels come down from Heaven, and one of them says, 'O Allah! Give compensation to everyone who spends [in Your Cause],' and the other (angel) says, 'O Allah! Cause damage to every miser.’” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] The Prophet also said: “Charity in no way decreases one’s wealth.” [Muslim]
Whilst we are in the atmosphere of the month of giving, munificence, spending and doing good, this is an invitation that we extend to every wealthy person, to everyone upon whom Allah Almighty bestowed upon and gave out of His bounty, extended his sustenance and provided for him out of His generosity. He should give and spend with generosity. He should give from what Allah Almighty has given him and made him a vicegerent of, remembering the hadith of the Messenger of Allah in which he said:
No doubt, each one of you will stand in front of Allah with no interpreter between him and Allah ... He will look to his right and see nothing but what he sent ahead. He will look to his left and see nothing but what he sent ahead. Then, he will look in front of him and see nothing but Hellfire in front of his face. So let anyone of you save himself from the fire even by giving half a date-fruit (in charity) or even (by saying) a good word.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
This hadith urges man to do all that he can to safeguard himself from the punishment of Allah Almighty. This includes giving in charity and spending with generosity in the causes of good. The Messenger of Allah said:
If one gives what equals one date-fruit from lawfully earned money, and Allah accepts only lawfully earned money, in charity, then Allah will take it with His right (Hand) and enlarge its reward for that person (who has given it), as anyone of you brings up his baby horse, to such an extent that it becomes as big as a mountain. [Al-Bukhari]
It should be known to all that no one will have of his wealth but what he sends ahead for his (life in the) Hereafter and spends in the cause of Allah. The Messenger of Allah asked his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them: “Who among you considers the wealth of his heirs dearer to him than his own wealth?" They replied: “O Messenger of Allah! There is none among us but that he loves his own wealth more." On that, he said: “So his wealth is whatever he spends (in the cause of Allah) during his life (on good deeds) while the wealth of his heirs is whatever he leaves after his death." [Al-Bukhari]
So, my brother and sister, send ahead for your Hereafter, spend out of your wealth and give generously and liberally, as much as you can, no matter how little it may seem. Make your intention sincere, for perhaps a single dirham (given with sincerity) may precede (and is accepted by Allah Almighty before) one thousand (given without sincerity). Let your hand give with munificence. It has been narrated on the authority of Malik ibn Nadhlah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: The Messenger of Allah said:
Hands are of three types: the Hand of Allah, and it is the highest; the hand of the almsgiver, and it follows it; and the hand of the beggar, and it is the lowest. So you should give (in charity) what remains (out of your spending), and do not overburden yourself (by giving what is beyond your capacity).” [Abu Daawood]
Consider with me, my brother and sister, our best model and example who was the most generous of all people, especially during the month of Ramadan. It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, that he said:
The Messenger of Allah was the most generous of all the people and he used to reach the peak of generosity in the month of Ramadan, when Jibreel (i.e. Gabriel), may Allah exalt his mention, used to meet him. Jibreel, may Allah exalt his mention, used to meet him every night of Ramadan, until it would be over, to teach him the Quran. Whenever Jibreel, may Allah exalt his mention, met him, the Messenger of Allah would be the most generous person, even more generous than the strong, uncontrollable wind (in readiness and haste to do charitable deeds).” [Al-Bukhari]
An aspect of his generosity and munificence is that he used to give like one who never fears poverty:
Once, a man came and asked him, and he gave him a large herd of sheep filling a valley between two mountains. Thus, the man returned to his people and said, “O people! Embrace Islam for, by Allah, Muhammad gives like the giving of one who never fears poverty.’” [Muslim]
It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, that some Ansari people asked the Messenger of Allah and he gave them. They asked him once again and he gave them, and so on, until when what he had was used up and he said: “I will never save from you whatever I have of good.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The righteous predecessors set the most excellent examples in imitation of the method of the Prophet with regards to giving and spending with generosity and munificence. In the greatest race known in history, ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, one day said: “Abu Bakr will not precede us (to good) on this day.” He brought half his wealth (to the Prophet ), and the Messenger of Allah asked him: “O ‘Umar! What have you left for your family?” He said: “I have left the like of this.” Then, Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq, may Allah be pleased with him, brought all of his wealth, and the Messenger of Allah asked him: “O Abu Bakr! What have you left for your family?” He said: “I have left Allah and His Messenger for them.” [Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithi; Al-Albaani: good]
‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
He among you whom Allah gives wealth, let him, with it, maintain his ties of kinship; be hospitable to guests; release captives and prisoners; (spend on) the wayfarer, the needy, the poor and the mujahid; and help (himself as well as) others keep patient with calamities. It is with these characteristics that he will attain the dignity of the life of this world and the honor of the Hereafter.
He, may Allah be pleased with him, further said: “Strengthen your faith with (giving in) charity, fortify your wealth with almsgiving, and avert the waves of trial with supplication.”
Abu Haatim said:
Niggardliness is a tree growing in the Hellfire whose branches are in the life of this world. Whoever is attached to any of its branches will be dragged by it into Hellfire. Meanwhile, generosity is a tree growing in the Paradise whose branches are in the life of this world. Whoever is attached to any of its branches will he dragged by it into the Paradise, and Paradise is the abode of the generous.
About the recipients of charity, Al-Fudhayl Ibn ‘Ayaadh said: “They transport our provisions to the Hereafter without fare until they place them in the scale (of deeds) in front of Allah, the Exalted, the Almighty.”
Yahya Ibn Mu‘aath said: “To the best of my knowledge, there is no grain equal in weight to the mountains of this world except that of charity.”
According to ‘Abd-Al-‘Azeez Ibn ‘Umayr “Prayer conveys you midway along the path, fasting brings you to the gate of the Sovereign, and charity admits you to Him.” [Kitaab At-Tabsirah]
In fact, the Muslim nation is in a dire need for such role models nowadays.With the help of them, Allah Almighty supported Muhammad and it is these whom we should imitate and follow.