Real generosity

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was never asked for something and he replied saying no. He never replied saying no. One day a non-Muslim came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم — a man by the name of Safwan ibn Umayyah — and he says, "I'm poor, I'm needy, give me from the one-fifth that Allah gave you."

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him, "I have all of this wealth." It's in a valley between two mountains. Imagine like a whole warehouse full of wealth. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "This whole warehouse is yours." This huge amount between these two mountains — all of it is yours.

This man was shocked. He didn't expect that. He came to his people and he said to them:

"O my people, all of you become Muslim from today."

Why? What happened? Did Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم do magic? Did he do some spell? What happened? Did he put something in your food?

He says:

"No — for indeed Muhammad gives in such a way like he does not fear poverty." (Sahih Muslim, Book 30, Hadith 5730)

The Secret of True Generosity

This is the secret — to be giving, to be generous. One does not have to have everything. One has to just have one thing: the trust that Allah will provide.

We think to be generous, I have to be rich. Sometimes you realize the most shrewd and miserly people in the world are the richest people — they count every penny. And sometimes the most generous people are the people who don't have much to their name. Allah didn't give them much in wealth, so He gave them a big heart — so they are willing to give.