Ethics of Islam

2– Vice which looks like chastity: People tricked with this vice
do not commit evil deeds and do not run after satisfying their
appetites. Outwardly, they are mature and virtuous people who
possess knowledge and good morals. Therefore, they are praised
and respected everywhere by everybody. They are treated well by
people who possess wealth and position. They are bombarded
with presents, and the income from (the obligatory almsgiving
termed) zakât and from votive offerings fills their wallets. Remiss
as they are in performing the (obligatory acts of worship called)
farz as well as in (those virtuous and blessed acts of worship
called) sunnat when they are alone, their bodies have been
enervated with the assiduous steadiness they have displayed in
the performance of supererogatory prayers, when in company.
Their lower selves (nafs al-ammâra) are extremely vigorous. They
are truthful in people’s view, but faithless in the sight of Allâhu
ta’âlâ. False shaikhs of Tasawwuf and men of religion pursuing
worldly advantages are current examples.
Some villagers abstain from meals cooked in city centers, and
others do not purchase good food because of their stinginess.
People who observe them think that they are dervishes, although
in actual fact they are insatiable, unchaste and high-toned liars
under the guise of contentment.
3– The vice which looks like generosity: A person who has
this habit has earned his property quite easily by way of
inheritance or smuggling or hoarding or lottery or lotto, instead
sweating for it. Therefore, he does not appreciate how hard it is
to accumulate wealth by permissible means. So he spends his
money either for prohibited (harâm) purposes or on
unnecessary things. He spends his money on things not approved
by wisdom or Islam. Stupid people seeing him spending freely
think of him as a generous person. In reality, he does not possess
the virtue generosity. Earning and saving money or property is
like going uphill with a heavy load on one’s back. Spending
money is like letting a spherical stone roll downhill from a
mountain top. Poverty holds back many people from being
better people. Many people lose their belief because of poverty
and become apostates (murtads). It is stated in a hadîth-i-sherîf:
“Poverty is a blessing for my Sahâba. Being rich will be a
blessing for Muslims who will live in later times close to
Doomsday.”
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