Altruism Is the Language of the Great Persons

06/02/2025| IslamWeb

 

Author: Dr. Khalid Sa`d Al-Najjar

Altruism is the greatest hidden and apparent ornament. It is a sign of one’s firm belief and strong trust in what the Most Beneficent has provided him. It is a mark of loving one’s brothers, and proof of a soul free from the poison of selfishness, greed, and egotism. The true believer, who sincerely loves his brothers, is the one who gives what he possesses, even when he needs it himself. He may go hungry to feed others, work hard for his brothers’ comfort, and stay awake so that his loved ones can sleep peacefully.

Altruism is to prioritize others in worldly matters that one is in need of, unlike selfishness in which one acquires good and seizes it for himself and not for other people.

Altruism is the highest level of dealing with others, followed by justice, which is to give each individual their due right. The worst level of treatment is selfishness. Altruism elevates society to the peak of security, as its members rise above their worldly desires, each prioritizing his brother’s needs. They do not think about demanding their full rights, let alone indulging in selfishness and self-obsession.

Allah, the Almighty, says, “And [also for] those who were settled in al-Madinah and [adopted] the faith before them. They love those who emigrated to them and find not any want in their breasts of what the emigrants were given but give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful.” (Quran 59: 9)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man came to the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). He sent a message to his homes that they should send him if they had anything (to entertain his guest). They all sent back a reply that they had nothing but water. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked (his Companions), “Who will entertain this guest?” One of the Ansar volunteered to serve the guest. This Companion took him and said to his wife, “Honor the guest of the Messenger of Allah.” She responded that they only had the food of their children and nothing more. He said to her, “Prepare the meal to serve, set the lantern and send the children to sleep if they want their dinner.” When they decided to have their meal, she prepared the food and set the lantern after putting her children to sleep. She then stood pretending to set right the lantern but, while doing so, she extinguished it. Both husband and wife sat down leaving an impression on their guest that they were partaking in the meal with him. Both of them passed the night in hunger. In the morning, that Companion went to the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) who said to him, “Tonight Allah laughed or wondered at your action.’ Then, Allah, the Almighty, revealed His saying, ‘But give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation.’” (Quran 59: 9)

Throughout human history, there has never been a collective event like the reception of the Muhajirun (emigrants from Makkah to Madinah) by the Ansar (the People of Madinah who welcomed the Muhajirun and supported them) with such noble love, generous giving, willing participation, and eagerness to provide shelter and bear burdens. It is even reported that no emigrant settled in the house of an Ansari except through a draw, because the number of those eager to offer hospitality exceeded the number of the emigrants!  

Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “Reflect on the wisdom of Allah’s decree, where the All-Wise, All-Knowing has destined that people would be favored over the Ansar in worldly matters, even though they are the people of altruism. This is so that He may reward them for their altruism as they preferred their brothers in this world over themselves with high ranks in the Paradise of Eden, above all others. At that moment, the virtue and rank of their selflessness become apparent, and those who were favored over them in worldly matters will realize their great bounty and blessings. This is Allah’s grace, which He grants to whom He wills, and Allah is the Possessor of great bounty. So, if you see that people are preferred over you in worldly matters while you are among those who practice altruism, be sure that this will be in your interest.”

He () also said, “Altruism means that you prefer others over yourself in matters that are not forbidden by religion, and do not cut off your path, or waste your time.” This means that you prioritize their interests over your own in things like feeding them while you go hungry, clothing them while you remain naked, and giving them water to drink while you remain thirsty, provided that this does not lead to harm or destruction that is impermissible in religion. For example, you should not prefer others over yourself with your wealth to the extent that you end up destitute, begging from others. Similarly, altruism should not involve doing what is forbidden by religion, as doing so is foolishness and incapacity that is condemned by Allah and people.

Altruism should not cut off your path, meaning that your preference for others should not cause you to neglect your path toward Allah. Examples include preferring a companion over your remembrance of Allah, your devotion, and your focus on what pleases Him. Doing so means that you prioritize them over Allah and prefer what does not deserve to be prioritized over what you should seek of Allah’s pleasure and favor. In this case, you will be as a traveler on the straight path who meets a man, stops to talk to him, and becomes distracted, losing track of his companions. This is the situation of most people with sincere seekers of Allah, leading them to loss. So many people prioritize others over Allah, while few prioritize Allah over anything else!

Similarly, altruism that corrupts the time of the one who is selflessly giving is also reprehensible. For example, if someone prioritizes others over his own time and causes his heart to be divided to seek others' interests, or if he prioritizes others over something that has already attracted his heart and mind toward Allah and then causes his heart to be scattered by diverting his attention to it, this is also an unworthy form of altruism.

Likewise is altruism that involves the occupation of the heart and mind with others’ concerns and interests, which are not obligatory upon you, instead of focusing on beneficial thoughts and dedicating the heart to Allah, and other similar situations. This is the case of most people and the prevailing status among them.

With respect to anything that brings righteousness to your heart, your time, and your condition with Allah, do not prioritize anyone over it. If you do, you are prioritizing Satan over Allah without realizing it. Reflect on the state of most people in their prioritization of things over Allah, things that cause harm and never bring benefit. What ignorance and foolishness could be greater than this!

From this perspective, scholars discussed the issue of altruism in matters of closeness to Allah and stated that it is either dislikeable or forbidden. This includes situations such as when someone prioritizes another person to stand in the first row during prayer while he stands behind, or when he gives preference to someone by sitting closer to the Imam on Friday sermon, or when he gives preference to someone in announcing Adhan and Iqamah, or when he grants others the opportunity to gain knowledge through depriving himself of it.

They also discussed the altruism of `Aaishah (may Allah be pleased with her) in permitting `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) to be buried in her room beside the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). They responded by saying that a deceased person's deeds end with his death, so it is not conceivable to prioritize others over oneself in the matter of good deeds after death. Rather, it is a prioritization of a noble and honorable place for someone more worthy of it than she is. Therefore, this altruism is a way of drawing closer to Allah, the Almighty, by the one making such a sacrifice. Allah knows best.

Altruism cannot be achieved except through three things: honoring the rights of others, detesting greed, and aspiring to noble qualities of character.

First: honoring the rights. That is because the one who holds the rights in high esteem will fulfill their duties, and care for them properly. They regarded neglecting rights to be a grave matter. They believe that if they do not reach the level of altruism, they will not fulfill those rights as they should do. Therefore, they consider altruism to be a precautionary measure for fulfilling them.

Second: detesting greed. When one detests and hates greed, they commit to altruism, as they see that there is no escape from this hateful greed except through altruism.  

Third: the desire for noble traits. According to one’s desire for them, they will practice altruism, for it is the highest level of noble qualities of character.

Famous sayings:

·        Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) said, “There was a time when none of us felt more entitled to a dinar or dirham than his Muslim brother. But now, in this time, the dinar and dirham are more beloved to us than our Muslim brother.”

·        Yahya ibn Mu`adh Ar-Razi said, “I am amazed by a man who shows off his knowledge to people, while they are creatures like him; by a man who still has wealth and yet His Lord asks him for a loan (i.e. to offer charity); and by a man who seeks the love of a created being, while Allah calls him to love Him.” Then, he recited, “And Allah invites to the Home of Peace and guides whom He wills to a straight path.” (Quran 10: 25)

·        Muhammad ibn Wasi` said, “I never rejected fulfilling anyone’s needs while I was able to fulfill them, even if it caused my wealth to perish.”

·        Ibn Taymiyyah said, “Altruism in things while in need of them is greater and loftier than simply giving charity with love. Not every person who gives charity is loving and altruist, and not every charity-giver is in need of his charity. A person may give what they love while keeping part of it for himself, so his love for charity does not reach the level of those who are in need of their charity.”

·        Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “The characteristic of the lover (of charity) is altruism, while the nature of the one who pretends (to give charity) is selfishness.”

How can we attain such people?

·        Mansur Al-Ghadari said, “I saw Al-Hafiz Abdul-Ghani Al-Maqdisi in Egypt during a famine, giving away his dinner for three nights, while going to bed hungry.”

·        Al-Rabi` ibn Khuthaym craved some sweets, and when they were prepared, he invited the poor to eat. His wife said, “You made us work hard but did not eat yourself.” He replied, “Did anyone else eat other than me?!”

·        `Abbas ibn Dihqan said, “No one left this world as he came to it except for Bishr ibn Al-Harith. A man came to him during his illness, complaining of poverty. Bishr took off his shirt and gave it to him, then borrowed a garment and died while wearing it.”

·        Hammad ibn Abi Hanifah said, “A female servant who used to serve Dawood At-Ta'i asked him, 'Would you like me to cook some fatty food for you?’ He replied, ‘I would like that.’ She cooked the food and brought it to him. He then asked her, ‘How are the orphans of so-and-so?’ She said, ‘They are in the same situation.’ He said, ‘Take this food to them.’ She replied, ‘You haven’t eaten anything fatty for so long.’ He said, ‘When they eat this, it will ascend to the Throne, and when I eat it, it will go into the sewer.’”

·        Abu Al-Hasan Al-Antaki said, “More than thirty people gathered at his house, and they had a limited number of loaves of bread, which were not enough to satisfy them all. They broke the bread, blew out the lamp, and sat down to eat. When they finished and lifted the plates, the food was exactly as it had been, and no one had eaten from it, as they had preferred their companions over themselves.”

·        Mus`ir said, “We roasted a chicken for Nafi` ibn Jubayr, and a beggar came. He gave the chicken to the beggar. Someone commented on this, and he replied, ‘I am seeking what is better than it.’”