ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Principles of Upbringing Children Chapter 50: Magnanimity Generosity and magnanimity are excellent traits in a person. A magnanimous person strives hard to acquire wealth, but he will not have excessive attachment to riches. He wants wealth, but to share it with others. He doesn’t believe in hoarding wealth. He spends his life with his family and wholeheartedly participates in the welfare activities of the community. He helps the deprived and the needy.

He makes the right use of his wealth. A parsimonious person hoards wealth. He neither spends it on himself nor gives a helping hand to the needy. Such a person will be amassing wealth for the posterity. Islam has condemned miserliness and praised generosity in very clear terms. The Prophet of Islam says: “Generosity is a part of iman ( the Faith) and the iman shall take one to the Heaven."[^1] "Generosity is such a tree in the Heaven the branches of which have reached the Earth.

Whosoever caught hold of one of the branches, he will reach the Heaven."[^2] “ Behisht ( the Heaven ) is the home of the generous people."[^3] “Allah is Munificent and Generous and likes generosity in men."[^4] The Prophet of Islam said: “It is not proper for the mumin ( the pious ) to be miserly and cowardly."[^5] Generosity and magnanimity attract hearts and affections. People like a generous person and respect him. With generosity and magnanimity hearts can be subdued.

The Prophet of Islam says: “A generous person is closer to Allah’s creations and the Heaven. He is away from the Hell. The miserly person is away from Allah, His creations ( the men) and the Heaven. But he is closer to the Hell Fire."[^6] A miserly person doesn’t pay the legitimate rights. He therefore becomes eligible of the Retribution on the Day of Reckoning. .Generosity makes a person acceptable here and also in the Hereafter.

The quality of generosity is instinctive as are the other virtues of men. But the parents have to nourish these qualities in their children. It is true that every child is born with his own individual nature, but some natures readily accept to become generous and others tend towards miserliness. The parents training and upbringing can have important effect on the moulding of the natures of the children.

They can influence the child in curbing the miserly tendencies to a greater extent and encourage him to be more generous.