1. How to Treat People

Treat people the way you like to be treated.

Hasan ibn Muhammad Deilami, Aalam al-din fi Sifat al-Moumenin, p.297.

2. Good Temper 

The best of virtues is being good-tempered. 

al-Shaykh al-Saduq, Al-Khisal (The Traits), p.29.

3. Serving Allah in Imam Hasan (AS)'s View

Whoever serves Allah sincerely, Allah will make all the universe serve him/her. 

Warram b. Abi Firas al-Hilli, Tanbih al-khawatir wa nuzhat al-nawazir , vol.2, p.108.

4. Giving Thanks

The one who doesn't give thanks for his/her blessings is a worthless person.

Ibn Shu'ba al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-'uqul, p. 233.

5. The Month of Ramadan

Allah has made the month of Ramadan like a competition for His servants, to compete for His satisfaction with each other through obeying Him. 

Ibn Shu'ba al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-'uqul, p.236.

6. Your Neighbor

Treat your neighbor kindly to be worthy of being a Muslim.

al-'Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-anwar, vol.78, p.112.

7. Think and Contemplate

I advise you to think and contemplate since they enliven an insightful person's heart and are the key to wisdom.

Hasan ibn Muhammad Deilami, Aalam al-din fi Sifat al-Moumenin, p.297.

8. Consulting in Imam Hasan (AS)'s Words

Consulting in groups leads you toward success. 

Ibn Shu'ba al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-'uqul, p.233.

9. A True Friend

A true friend is always on your side, whether in hardships or comforts. 

 al-'Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-anwar, vol.78, p.114. 

10. The Meaning of Patience according to Imam Hasan (AS) 

Patience means restraining from anger and having yourself under control.

Ibn Shu'ba al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-'uqul, p.227. 

11. Your Creation is Not Vain

O' servants of Allah, beware that Allah had not created you in vain, nor left you on your own. Instead, He had determined the years of your lives and has distributed your sustenance among you. This way, any wise person will realize his/her worth and that he/she won't get more than what has been determined for him/her.

Ibn Shu'ba al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-'uqul, p.234.

12.This Life and the Life that Is to Come

Strive for this life as if you will live forever, and make every effort for the life that is to come as if you will die the next day. 

Muhammad Reza, Ali and Muhammad Hakimi, Al-Hayat (Life), vol.4, p.62.

13. A Reflection on this World by Imam Hasan (AS)

This world is the dwelling of pain and hardship, and whatever rests here is doomed to mortality. Allah had informed us of this world's workings to learn our lessons from it. He has warned us beforehand so that no excuse will remain at the end for us. Therefore, be pious in dealing with what is temporal (i.e., this world) and seek what is eternal (the afterlife). 

Muhammad b. 'Ali b. Shahrashub, Manāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib, vol.4, p.31. 

14. The Quran

Verily, the lights of guidance in this Quran leads toward prosperity. This Quran heals hearts and souls. 

al-'Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-anwar, vol.75, p.11.

15. The Right and Wrong

There is a thin line between what is right and wrong; what you see with your own eyes is the right thing, and what you hear or is told about might be wrong. 

Ibn Shu'ba al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-'uqul, p.229.

16. Be Grateful

Being grateful for the blessings and being patient in hardships, are the virtues to which you can't find any negative side. 

Ibn Shu'ba al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-'uqul, p.234.

17. Your Religion 

Verily, people are slaves to this world and its wealth and make their religion a means of reaching their (worldly) purposes and do whatever it takes to build an ideal life. Therefore, when faced with a trial, few will adhere to their religions.

Qadi Nur Allah Shushtari, Ihqaq al-haqq, vol.11, p.234.

18. Know Allah

Whoever knows Allah, will fall in love with Him. 

Warram b. Abi Firas al-Hilli, Tanbih al-khawatir wa nuzhat al-nawazir, vol.1, p.52. 

19. The Blessings 

The blessings are unappreciated as long as they are at hand, yet their worth will be appreciated as soon as they are lost.

al-'Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-anwar, vol.78, p.115.

20. Meanness 

Meanness is considering what you own as the reason for your honor, and what you give away as waste. 

Ibn Shu'ba al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-'uqul, p.225.

 21. Poverty 

Poverty is the greed that is not satisfied with anything.

 Ibn Shu'ba al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-'uqul, pp.225&226.

22. Ponder as Imam Hasan (AS) Says

I advise you to piety and constant pondering since thinking is the root of all virtues.

Warram b. Abi Firas al-Hilli, Tanbih al-khawatir wa nuzhat al-nawazir, vol.1, p.52.

23. The Ability to Supplicate

When Allah blesses someone with the ability to supplicate to Him, He surely gives his/her prayers the chance of being granted. 

 al-'Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-anwar, vol.78, p.113.

24. An Unnecessary Burden 

Expressing your opinion on the subject, which is not related to you, puts an unnecessary burden on your shoulders.

Ibn Shu'ba al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-'uqul, p.226.

25. The Sign of Abasement

Being afraid of honesty and expressing the truth is a sign of abasement.

Ibn Shu'ba al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-'uqul, p.226.

26. Three Destructive Things in Imam Hasan (AS)'s Words

There are three things that bring destruction to people; pride, greed, and envy. 

al-'Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-anwar, vol.78, p.111. 

27. The Best Chance to Forgive

The best chance for a benevolent person to forgive a guilty one is when there is no way out for the latter.

 Hasan ibn Muhammad Deilami, Aalam al-din fi Sifat al-Moumenin, p.297.

28. The Spirit of Generosity

Whoever counts the number of his/her charities, ruins his/her spirit of generosity. 

al-'Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-anwar, vol.78, p.113.

29. The Eyes and the Ears

The most insightful eyes are the ones that are fixed only on the goodness and virtues, and the most receptive ears are the ones who listen to advice and make use of them.

 al-'Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-anwar, vol.78, p.109.

30. Silence, Recommended by Imam Hasan (AS)

At times, silence is a better companion, even if you are a perfect speaker.

 al-Shaykh al-Saduq, Ma'ani l-Akhbar, section no.401. Hadith no. 62. 

31. The Calamities 

The calamities are the keys to blessings and rewards. 

Hasan ibn Muhammad Deilami, Aalam al-din fi Sifat al-Moumenin, p.297.

32. Worshiping Allah

Whoever seeks to worship [Allah] sincerely, should purify him/herself for this purpose. 

Ibn Shu'ba al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-'uqul, p.236.

33. A Precious Wealth 

No wealth is more precious than wisdom.

 Baha' al-Din 'Ali b. 'Isa al-Irbili, Kashf al-ghumma fi ma'rifat al-a'imma, vol.2, p.198.

34. Wisdom

Treating people good-manneredly is a crucial part of wisdom. 

al-'Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-anwar, vol.78, p.111.

35. Teach 

Teach your knowledge to others and learn what others know; this way, you will both improve your own knowledge and learn what you didn't know about.

 Baha' al-Din 'Ali b. 'Isa al-Irbili, Kashf al-ghumma fi ma'rifat al-a'imma, vol.2, p.197.

36. Food for Thought

I wonder how you would think about the food for your body and don't contemplate on the food for your thought? You restrain from eating what is harmful to your body, but fill your mind and soul with what ruins them. 

al-'Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-anwar, vol.1, p.218. 

37. Anger

Your [real] thoughts will be revealed in your anger. 

al-'Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-anwar, vol.78., p.113.

38. Allah's Satisfaction

I guarantee that Allah will grant the prayers of the one whose only purpose is Allah's satisfaction. 

al-'Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-anwar, vol.43. , p.351.

39. Trust Allah

Whoever trusts Allah's best intention,  will only desire what Allah chooses for him/her. 

al-'Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-anwar, vol.78., p.106.

40. Alms-Tax

Giving alms-tax (Zakat) does not reduce your wealth.

al-'Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-anwar, vol.96., p.23. 

Generosity is such an important virtue in the religion of Islam that the holy Quran says with regard to it: “You will never attain piety until you spend out of what you hold dear, and whatever you may spend of anything, Allah indeed knows it” (3:92).

As perfect exemplars of this great ethical virtue, the holy prophet (PBUH&HP) and infallible Imams (AS) always recommended their followers to be unconditionally kind and bountiful with people. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) stated: “A generous person is closer to Allah, to the people and heaven” [1]

God’s Promise to the Generous

Allah says in the Holy Quran:

“As for him who gives and is Godwary, and confirms the best promise, We will surely ease him toward facility” (92:5-7)

Generosity is one of the qualities of the soul which Allah bestows upon His beloved ones, who are not concerned about material wealth and willingly give to others to make the world a better place and reach God’s satisfaction.

In return, The Bountiful Allah has promised to provide the generous with ease and facility both in this world and the hereafter. Under God’s promise to generous people in the verse above, scientific studies also confirm the ease and happiness generosity would bring about. “A huge review of 40 studies on the effect of volunteering on general health and happiness was published in the journal BMC Public Health. The results? Volunteering not only improves well-being and life satisfaction, but it is also linked with decreased depression and a lower risk of dying early” [2].

One Reason Why We Should Be Generous!

One of the most eminent characteristics of the holy infallible Imams was their generosity. It has been narrated that Imam Hassan (AS) granted his whole wealth twice in his lifetime to win Allah’s satisfaction and improve the life of his fellow human beings. He also divided his property with the poor three times, granting half his wealth to the poor altogether, including his own shoes [3]. Money was only a means for him to help the needy. “Once, he was asked: ‘We do not see you disappoint a beggar. Why?’

He replied: ‘I am asking Allah for His favors, and I love to be near Him. I am ashamed, as I am myself in need of Allah, to repulse a beggar. Allah got me used to a habit; to shower me with His bounties, and I get Him used to me showering His bounties on the people. I fear that should I stop my habit, He may stop His habit.’” [4]

This implies the verse of the holy Quran that says:

“Be good [to others] just as Allah has been good to you” (28:77)

It is noteworthy, however, that the infallible Imams never sought excessive asceticism. Neither did they ordain absolute abstinence from worldly delights [i]. Although they were sometimes rich, they willingly wanted to lead the life of the poorest people in the society. So that they could sympathize with them, and show the nothingness of the perishable earthly wealth compared with other eternal values.

But does it mean that Muslims have to give all their wealth away generously like their leaders? In fact, this kind of behavior mostly suits the leaders of a community. What Islam expects from the rest of the people is moderation in generosity.

The Rewards and Consequences of Generosity in Islam  

Along with the social and individual benefits of the generosity in Islam for the giver proven by the researchers, ranging from a better outlook on life to having a lower risk of early death, the Quranic verses also name some more spiritual effects of this act of benevolence:

Achieving the Blessings of Allah

Generosity and charity make us receive the unlimited, immeasurable blessings and mercy of God:

“Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and then do not follow up what they have spent with reproaches and affronts, they shall have their reward near their Lord, and they will have no fear, nor will they grieve” (2:262)

Increase in God’s Provision and Sustenance (Rizq)

God has guaranteed multiplied reward as the replacement of donation and generosity in this world and the hereafter:

“… and He will repay whatever you may spend, and He is the best of providers’” (34:39)

“The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is that of a grain which grows seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains. Allah enhances several fold whomever He wishes, and Allah is all-bounteous, all-knowing” (2:261)

Living with Ease

God showers his endless blessings upon generous people. He makes it easy for them to follow the path of obedience and charity until they are granted a life free from any fears or difficulties:

“Those who give their wealth by night and day, secretly and openly, they shall have their reward near their Lord, and they will have no fear, nor will they grieve” (2:274)

Imperishable Gain

“Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allah and maintain the prayer, and spend secretly and openly out of what We have provided them, expect a commerce that will never go bankrupt” (35:29)

The Reward of the Ultimate Abode

“Those who are patient for the sake of their Lord’s pleasure, maintain the prayer, and spend secretly and openly out of what We have provided them, and repel evil [conduct] with good. For such will be the reward of the [ultimate] abode” (13:22)

In the next part of this article, we will introduce 6 Etiquettes of Generosity and Almsgiving. 

Notes:

[i] Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) says: “there is no monasticism in Islam” [5].

Reference:

1. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 70, p. 308.
2. generosity
3. Imam Hassan Ibn Ali
4. His generosity