Al-Ithaar: Preferring Others to Yourself – Altruism
One of the attributes of the believers is that they prefer others to their own selves. This quality is called الايثار Al-Īthār. In English, the best word, in my opinion is the word “Altruism”. Allah says in the Qur’an,
وَالَّذِينَ تَبَوَّؤُوا الدَّارَ وَالْإِيمَانَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ يُحِبُّونَ مَنْ هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ حَاجَةً مِّمَّا أُوتُوا وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
“But those who before them, had homes (in Medina) and had adopted the Faith,- show their affection to such as came to them for refuge, and entertain no desire in their hearts for things given to the (latter), but give them preference over themselves, even though poverty was their (own lot). And those saved from the covetousness of their own souls,- they are the ones that achieve prosperity.” [Abdullah Yusuf Ali Translation 59:9]
The words of Allah,
وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ
“…and they give them preference over themselves, even they too are poor…”
Not only do they give to others before themselves, but they do so in a state of poverty and difficulty. Is that not the test of a true believer? That one prefers his brother to himself? A famous story has been narrated in the two Sahih’s (i.e. Bukhārī & Muslim), that Imām Al-Baghawī uses in his tafsīr. He maintains that this āyah was revealed in the following situation: Abu Hurayrah (radhiya Allahu ‘Anhu) reports that a man came to the beloved Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam) and said, “I am famished!” He (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam) sent for one of his wives and she said to Him (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam) , “By the one who sent you with Truth, I have nothing but water!” He did so with all of his wives (radhiya allāhu ‘anhum) and they all responded in the same manner. Then the Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam) said,
من يضيف هذا الليلة؟
“Who will give hospitality tonight?” Immediately a man of the Ansār said, “I, Oh Rasūlullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam) !” So the Ansarī man took the poor man to his home, and he (radhiya allāhu ‘anhu) said to his wife, “Honor the guest of Rasūlullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam) !” [In another narration he said to her: “Is there anything with you (of food)?” She said, “No! except the children’s food!] So he said, “Divert them with something else (i.e. keep them busy). When they get hungry for dinner, put them to sleep. When our guest comes in, put out the lamp and we will pretend we are eating.” So they sat down and the guest ate, and they spent the night hungry. In the morning the man went to the Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam) and the Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam) said to him, “Allah was astonished (‘ajiba and also reported “pleased”) at how you treated your guest last night!…[The report of Imām Al-Baghawī then has this āyah being revealed here].”
The suffix is in the dual form ‘kumā’, so the Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam) was also conveying that to the wife of the Ansārī man (radhiya allāhu ‘anhumā) as well.
This shows the exemplary and truest form of Islamic altruism. That one would put a needy individual before one’s self, is of the highest forms of Islamic Adab. As Allah says, “…They are those who are successful…”
The best example, our beloved Master Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam), always preferred others to his own self. A woman had handmade him an izār (waistecloth). A man noticed its beauty and demanded that the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam) give it to him. Upon hearing this, some of the Sahābah (radhiya allāhu ‘anhum) condemned the man because the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam) wore it only out of need. The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam) sent the man the izār. ((Reported by Al-Bukhārī in his Sahīh )) There are numerous examples of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam) preferring others to himself.
At this point I would like to share some notes that I took at the Suhba in Virginia (June of 2007). Shaykh Nuh Keller was asked, “How do we remove the fear of poverty…so that we can give.” I am mentioning this specific question because one of the ways to implement altruism is to remove egoism, or the concept of “I”. “I – أنا” is the way of the capitalists. It is the way of greed and self-centeredness. The solution, in my view, is within the answer of Shaykh Nuh. I am taking his response from my notes so I will only be highlighting the major points of benefit (as I saw it at the time). I can still picture the Shaykh, as the nūr emitted from his limbs, answering the questioner,
Shaykh Nuh reminded us that the scholars of tasawwuf say, “The most repulsive of repulsive is the Sūfī Ash-Shahīh (the cheap sufī).” The solution is: Pretend to be generous. Give the first amount that comes to one’s mind!” The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam) said, “What disease is more diseased than being cheap!” The Shaykh also said: “The Heart is taught by the hand; Free your heart from imaginary fears!”
-He mentioned that what happens to the person willing to give is that he says $10 and then he thinks that insufficient so he increases it, then Shaytān comes to him and whispers some more, so in the end the person may end up not giving at all. The solution: Give the first amount that comes to one’s mind!
- Pretend: Just do it! Don’t hesitate. The hands will train the heart. If you do an act often, that act will change the nafs, subdue it, and eventually conquer the desires. The result of such is caring more for others than yourself.
-Trust Allah: Allah says, “and Verily he loves those who place their trust in Him…”
Oh Allah make us of those who care more for others than ourselves. Bless your prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alā Ālihi wa sallam), his family, his companions, and those that follow them in righteousness. Āmīn!
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- Until It’s Gone : The Muslimah - [...] left for themselves. There was the story of the companion and his wife, who really showed us what true ...
Jazakallah. Very nice advice indeed.
Imam Zaid Shakir and Hamza Yusuf spoke wonderfully at ISNA this year in these two lectures where they spoke about ithaar. A must listen!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7644779307462764326
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6621966337406835400
The lecture by Hamza was very powerful. It is the Jesse James who are running the banks and institutions in our times!