CRITICISM OF MISERLINESS AND COWARDICE

For this reason, miserliness and cowardice are frequently criticized in the Qur’an and the Sunnah, and courage and forbearance in the path of Allah are praised – in the path of Allah specifically as opposed to that which is not in the path of Allah. The Prophet (sas) said:

“The most evil things which can be found in a person are greedy desire which influences all of his actions, and cowardice which makes him flee.”

And, he said:

“Who is your head man O, children of Salamah?” They said: “Al-Jadd ibn Qais, even though we criticize in him miserliness.” The Prophet said: “And what defect is more serious than miserliness!?”

In another version of the above hadith, the Prophet is reported to have said:

“Verily, no head man can be miserly, rather your head man is Al-Abyadh Al-Ja’ad Al-Baraa’ ibn Ma’rur”

Similarly, in the sahih the statement of Jabir ibn Abdullah to Abu Bakr As-Siddique (May Allah be pleased with him):

“You can either give me, or you can be miserly (tabkhalu ‘anniy.)” Abu Bakr said: “Do you say you can either give me, or you can be miserly?! And which defect is more serious than miserliness?!”

Abu Bakr, like the Prophet (sas) considered miserliness to be one of the most serious diseases or defects.

In Sahih Muslim, on the authority of Sulaiman ibn Rabi’ah:

Umar said: “The Prophet (sas) carried out a division of property, and I said: `By Allah, others are more deserving than these (who have been given).’ The Prophet said: `They gave me the choice, either they would ask me in an improper and outrageous manner, or they would call me miserly, and I am not a miser.'”

The prophet here is saying: They have asked me in a way which is not proper, so that if I give them, that is fine, but if I do not, they will say “He is miserly.” Thus, they gave me the choice between two evils, and left me no other choice: improper asking, or being called miserly. Being called a miser is more serious of an evil, so I repel the greater evil by giving them.