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after He brought you in sight (of the Booty) which ye covet. Among you are some that hanker
after this world and some that desire the Hereafter. Then did He divert you from your foes in
order to test you but He forgave you: for Allah is full of grace to those who believe. 462463
462 The order was: not to leave the post and strictly to maintain discipline. Uhud was in the beginning a victory for the
Muslims. Many of the enemy were slain, and they were retiring when a part of the Muslims, against orders, ran in
pursuit, attracted by the prospects of booty. See note to iii. 121. (3.152)
463 The disobedience seemed at first pleasant: they were chasing the enemy, and there was the prospect of booty. But
when the gap was noticed by the enemy, they turned the flank round the hill and nearly overwhelmed the Muslims.
Had it not been for Allah's grace, and the firmness of their Prophet and his immediate Companions, they would have
been finished. (3.152
4:32 - And in no wise covet those things in which Allah hath bestowed his gifts more freely on some
of you than on others: to men is allotted what they earn and to women what they earn: but ask
Allah of His bounty: for Allah hath full knowledge of all things. 542
542 Men and women have gifts from Allah-some greater than others. They seem unequal, but we are assured that Allah
has allotted them by a scheme by which people receive what they earn. If this does not appear clear in our sight, let
us remember that we have no full knowledge but Allah has. We must not be jealous if other people have more than
we have-in wealth or position or strength or honour or talent or happiness. Probably things are equalized in the
aggregate or in the long run, or equated to needs and merits on a scale which we cannot appraise. If we want more,
instead of being jealous or covetous, we should pray to Allah and place before Him our needs. Though He knows all,
and has no need of our prayer, our prayer may reveal to ourselves our shortcomings and enable us to deserve more
of Allah's bounty or make ourselves fit for it. (4.32)
3:180 - And let not those who covetously withhold of the gifts which Allah hath given them of His
Grace think that it is good for them: nay it will be the worse for them: soon shall the things
which they covetously withheld be tied to their necks like a twisted collar on the Day of
Judgment. To Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is well
acquainted with all that ye do. 483484485
483 The gifts are of all kinds: material gifts, such as wealth, property, strength of limbs, etc., or intangible gifts, such as
influence, birth in a given set, intellect, skill, insight, etc., or spiritual gifts of the highest kind. The spending of all these
things (apart from what is necessary for ourselves) for those who need them, is charity, and purifies our own
character. The withholding of them (apart from our needs) is similarly greed and selfishness, and is strongly
condemned. (3.180)
484 By an apt metaphor the miser is told that his wealth or the other gifts which he hoarded will cling round his neck and
do him no good. He will wish he could get rid of them, but he will not be able to do so. According to the Biblical phrase
in another connection they will hang like a millstone round his neck (Matt. xviii. 6). The metaphor here is fuller. He
hugged his wealth or his gifts about him. They will become like a heavy collar, the badge of slavery, round his neck.
They will be tied tight and twisted, and they will give him pain and anguish instead of pleasure. Cf. also
xvii. 13. (3.180)
485 Another metaphor is now introduced. Material wealth or property is only called ours during our short life here. So all
gifts are ours in trust only; they ultimately revert to Allah, to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens or on earth.
(3.180)
57:24 - Such persons as are covetous and commend covetousness to men. And if any turn back
(from Allah's Way) verily Allah is free of all needs worthy of all praise. 53115312
5311 Neither the Covetous nor the Boasters have any place in the Good Pleasure of Allah. The Covetous are particularly
insidious, as their avarice and niggardliness not only keep back the gifts of Allah from men, but their pernicious
example dries up the streams of Charity in others. (57.24)
5312 It is Charity in Allah's Way that is specially in view here. If people are selfish and withhold their hand, they only injure
themselves. They do not hurt Allah's Cause, for He is independent of all needs, and He will find other means of
assisting His more meagrely-endowed servants; He is worthy of all praise in His care for His creatures. (57.24)
Sunan of Abu-Dawood
Hadith 2044 Narrated by
Abdullah ibn Abbas
A man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him), and said: My wife does not prevent the hand of a man who touches her. He
said: Divorce her. He then said: I am afraid my inner self may covet her. He said: Then enjoy her.
COVENANTS:
Go to UP
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