Chapter VII: Evils of Wealth and Miserliness
Hazrat Huzaif ah reported : Many Muslims were martyred in the Bittle of Yarmuk. I was seeking to give water to my cousin in the battle field. When I founded him, I gave him water to drink.
Just at that time, a maaby his side raised a cry — water, water. My cousirn told me to give water first to that man. When I came to him with water. I recognised him and he was Hisham-b-A's. I said : I am giving you water. Just at that time, another man was crying : Water, water, Hisham then give signal that he should first be given wa4er. Before I came to him with water, he breathed his last. Then I came to Hisham with water only to find that he also had expired. Then I came to my cousin with water only to find that h^ralso had expired.
Hazrtt Abbas-b-Dihkan reported : Man cannot go out of the world in the condition in which he came to the world. Only the saint Bashar Haft remained in that condition. At the time of his death, one man came to him and complained of his wants. He gifted his only shirt to him and put on another after borrowing it from another and then he expired.
LIMIT OF CHARITY AND MISERLINESS
One party say that not to spend where Shariat orders to spend is the limit of miserliness and that he who pays what is
J
Vol-III Love of wealth 197
obligatory on him is not a miser. Another party say that he is a miser who feels pain in giving charity. Similarly there are differences regarding limit to charity. Some say that the limit to charfty is that which is given without rebuke. Some say that it is charity which is given without asking. The fact is that wealth has been created with a special object, that is to remove the wants of men. No to spend where expense is compulsory is miserliness. To spend where it is not compulsory is extravance. The middle course between these two extremes is good. God says : Don't keep your hands tieud to your neck, nor spreacitto most spreading — 7:29 Q. God says : When they spend, (they don't misuse nor are miser. They stand between these two — 25 : 67 Q.
So to spend wealth proportionately and to save money to the compulsory proportion is generosity. This is not sufficient if it is given by bodily limbs buys satisfaction of mind is necessary without any dispute or argument.