Hadith #2685

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The provided Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the significance of giving wealth for the sake of fulfilling the rights of Allah. Let us delve into the exegesis of this amazing Hadith in light of the Quran.

The key words in this Hadith are (giving) "إعْطاءُ", (this wealth) "هذا المالِ", (the rights of Allah) "حُقُوقِ اللّهِ", and (the door of generosity) "بابِ الجُودِ".

The word (giving) "إعْطاءُ" signifies the act of bestowing something upon someone willingly and generously. It implies a selfless act of charity and benevolence. In the context of this Hadith, it refers to giving one's wealth for the sake of fulfilling the rights of Allah.

The phrase (this wealth) "هذا المالِ" emphasizes the importance of giving from one's own possessions. It implies that the act of giving should not be limited to surplus or excess wealth, but rather it should include a portion of one's own wealth, regardless of its magnitude.

The phrase (the rights of Allah) "حُقُوقِ اللّهِ" refers to the obligations and duties that are incumbent upon Muslims towards Allah. These rights include acts of worship, such as prayer, fasting, and pilgrimage, as well as fulfilling the needs of the less fortunate, supporting charitable causes, and contributing to the welfare of society.

The phrase (the door of generosity) "بابِ الجُودِ" signifies that giving for the sake of fulfilling the rights of Allah is an entryway to the realm of generosity. It implies that by giving generously, one not only fulfills their obligations towards Allah but also attains a higher level of moral excellence and righteousness.

To further understand the significance of giving for the sake of fulfilling the rights of Allah, let us turn to the Quran for guidance.

Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:177):

Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves.

This verse emphasizes that true righteousness lies not merely in performing outward rituals, but in sincerely believing in Allah and manifesting that belief through acts of charity and giving. It highlights the importance of giving wealth, even if one has an attachment to it, to those in need and for the betterment of society.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Insan (76:8-9), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) describes the righteous believers, saying:

And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive, [saying], 'We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude.'

These verses exemplify the selflessness and sincerity of those who give for the sake of fulfilling the rights of Allah. They give not for personal gain or recognition but solely to seek the pleasure of Allah and to fulfill their obligations towards Him.

The exegesis of this Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the importance of giving wealth for the sake of fulfilling the rights of Allah. It emphasizes that true generosity lies in selflessly giving from one's own possessions, regardless of their magnitude. By doing so, one not only fulfills their obligations towards Allah but also attains a higher level of moral excellence and righteousness. May Allah guide us all to be generous and fulfill the rights of Allah in the best possible manner.