Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #73

Chapter: Prohibition of miserliness and covetousness:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَأَمَّا مَن بَخِلَ وَاسْتَغْنَىٰ * وَكَذَّبَ بِالْحُسْنَىٰ * فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْعُسْرَىٰ * وَمَا يُغْنِي عَنْهُ مَالُهُ إِذَا تَرَدَّىٰ﴾

{But he who is greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient. And denies al-Husna; We will make smooth for him the path towards difficulty; And what will his wealth benefit him when he goes down (in destruction).} [Surah al-Lail (92): 8-11]

And He تعالى said:

﴿وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ﴾

{And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, then they are the successful ones.} [Surah al-Taghaabun (64): 16]

From Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen of Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen (3/410-412):

Shaikh رحمه الله said:

The author (Imaam al-Nawawee) رحمه الله mentioned in his book, Riyaadh al-Saaliheen:

Chapter: Prohibition of al-Bukhl (البخل) and al-Shuh (الشح).

Al-Bukhl (miserliness): It is to not spend on that which is Waajib (compulsory) and where one is required to spend. (Examples: spending on parents, children, honoring the guests etc.)

Al-Shuh (covetousness): It is an envious greed to possess something which one does not have (especially the property of another person) and it is more severe than al-Bukhl.

Al-Shaheeh is a person who envies what others have and also prevents from spending that is with him. The Bakheel is a person who is reluctant to spend from the things which he has, on things which have been made compulsory upon him by Allaah to spend on, like Zakaah, acts of kindness and where one is required to spend generously.

Both – al-Bukhl and al-Shuh – are reprehended and blameworthy acts. Allaah تعالى disparages those who are stingy and encourage people to be stingy. And Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ﴾

{And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, then they are the successful ones.} [Surah al-Taghaabun (64): 16]

Then the author رحمه الله used as evidence the two verses from the Book of Allaah:

The first verse: and it is regarding al-Bukhl, and it is the statement of Allaah تعالى:

﴿وَأَمَّا مَن بَخِلَ وَاسْتَغْنَىٰ * وَكَذَّبَ بِالْحُسْنَىٰ * فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْعُسْرَىٰ * وَمَا يُغْنِي عَنْهُ مَالُهُ إِذَا تَرَدَّىٰ﴾

{But he who is greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient. And denies al-Husna; We will make smooth for him the path towards difficulty; And what will his wealth benefit him when he goes down (in destruction).} [Surah al-Lail (92): 8-11]

These verses are in continuation of the verses which were before it, the saying of Allaah تعالى:

﴿فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَىٰ وَاتَّقَىٰ * وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَىٰ * فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ﴾

{As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allaah and fears Him, and believes in Al-Husna, We will make smooth for him the path of ease (goodness).} [Surah al-Lail (92): 5-7]

The person who believes in the truth (Islaam) and spends on that which has been made obligatory for him to share – from the knowledge and wealth – and he fears Allaah عز وجل, for such will be made smooth for him the path towards ease. Meaning, Allaah تعالى will ease (and guide) him towards the easy paths in this world and in the hereafter.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied to his Companions when he informed them:

مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا وَقَدْ كُتِبَ مَقْعَدُهُ مِنَ الجَنَّةِ، وَمَقْعَدُهُ مِنَ النَّارِ

“There is none of you but has his place written for him in Paradise or in the Hell- Fire.” They said: O Allaah's Messenger! Shall we depend (on this fact and give up work)? He صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

اعْمَلُوا فَكُلٌّ مُيَسَّرٌ

“Carry on doing (good deeds), for everybody will find it easy to do (what will lead him to his destined place).” Then he صلى الله عليه وسلم recited: {As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allaah, and believes in the Best reward from Allaah (i.e. Allaah will compensate him for what he will spend in Allaah's way). So, We will make smooth for him the path of ease. But he who is a greedy miser....for him, the path for evil.} [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1362, 4945, 4946, 4947, 4948, 4949, 6217, 6605, 7552) and Saheeh Muslim (2647)]

So think within yourself, do you really belief in giving away and spending on that which has been made obligatory to spend on and out of fear of Allaah عز وجل. If so, then you will be the path of ease will be made smooth for you s; and the opposite for the opposite.

And from being a miser is what has been mentioned in the Hadeeth of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:

البَخِيلُ الَّذِي مَنْ ذُكِرْتُ عِنْدَهُ فَلَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَيَّ

“The stingy person is the one before whom I am mentioned, and he does not send Salaah upon me.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhee (3546) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him. This is being stingy at the time when the name of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم is mentioned, through whom Allaah تعالى had guided the people. Being miser and not sending Salaah upon him, whereas he is the first and the foremost one to be prayed upon!

And His تعالى saying:

﴿وَاسْتَغْنَىٰ﴾

{and thinks himself self-sufficient}, meaning: he thinks that he is free from wants and believes that he is not in need of the Mercy of Allaah – and Allaah’s refuge is sought. So, he does not act on that which he has been commanded by Allaah.

﴿وَكَذَّبَ بِالْحُسْنَىٰٰ﴾

{And denies al-Husna}, meaning: he denies the statement of truth, i.e. which has come in the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم.

﴿فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْعُسْرَىٰ﴾

{We will make smooth for him the path towards difficulty}, his affairs will be made difficult for him, which have been made easy for those fearing Allaah. He will find it difficult to be obedient (to the commands of Allaah), it will be heavy for him to be obedient, Salaah will become heavy to offer, giving Sadaqah will become heavy, fasting will become heavy, performing Hajj will become heavy, everything will become difficult for him.

﴿وَمَا يُغْنِي عَنْهُ مَالُهُ إِذَا تَرَدَّىٰ﴾

{And what will his wealth benefit him when he goes down (in destruction)}, meaning: what benefit will his wealth be for him when he is going down the path of self destruction? The answer is: nothing will benefit him. This wealth, for which he became stingy, will not save or protect him from punishment of Allaah nor benefit him in any way.

As for the second Aayah which the author presented as evidence in regards to covetousness, the statement of Allaah تعالى:

﴿وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ﴾

{And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, then they are the successful ones.}, meaning: whosoever Allaah تعالى shields from the covetousness of his own self, and he does not envies what other people have, then his is the successful one.