This is an article from our monthly newsletter. Sign up to the mailing list.

The Prophet ﷺ was known for his generosity, benevolence, magnanimity, and liberality. These attributes have slightly different meanings:

1. Benevolence (karam) . Scholars say that is to spend cheerfully in what is important and useful. They also call it courage and the opposite of baseness.
2. Liberality . This is to forgo what one is owed by others cheerfully. It is the opposite of ill-nature.
3. Magnanimity is to spend easily and to avoid the acquisition of what is not praised. It is the opposite of tightfistedness.

The ﷺ Prophet had no equal in these noble qualities and no one exceeded him in them. The Prophet ﷺ was the most generous of people, especially in Ramadan. Ibn ‘Abbas said:

The Prophet ﷺ was the most generous of all the people, and he used to become more generous in Ramadan when Gabriel met him.

All who knew him ﷺ would describe as exceedingly generous.

Some accounts from the sirah:
Ibn al-Munkadir heard Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was not asked for anything to which he said, ‘No.’"

Anas said, “A man asked him ﷺ for something and he gave him all the sheep between two mountains. The man returned to his people and said, ‘Become Muslim. Muhammad ﷺ gives the gift of a man who does not fear poverty."

A man came and asked him ﷺ for something. The Prophet ﷺ said, “I do not have anything, but buy something on my account and when I get some money, I will pay for it.” ‘Umar said to him, “Allah has not obliged you to do what you are not able to do!” The Prophet ﷺ disliked that, so a man of the Ansar said, “Messenger of Allah! Spend and do no fear diminution from the Master of the Throne!” The Prophet ﷺ smiled and the pleasure could be seen in his face. He said, “I am commanded to this.”

It is mentioned that Mu‘awwidh ibn ‘Afra’ said, “I brought the Prophet ﷺ a plate of fresh dates and cucumber, and he gave me a handful of jewelry and gold.” Anas said, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not store up anything for the next day.”

Sources: Al Shifa of Qadi Iyad