Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) was the most generous of people.

Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) was the most generous of people.

An Arab man once entered Medina and asked about the most generous person in the city. He was directed to Imam Hussain (peace be upon him). The man entered the mosque and found the Imam in prayer. He stood behind him and recited the following poem:

“The one who hopes in you is never disappointed, and the one who knocks on your door comes seeking generosity. You are generous and trustworthy, and your father was the slayer of the wicked. If it weren’t for the guidance of your ancestors, we would have been engulfed by the flames of Hell.”

When Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) finished his prayer, he asked Qanbar, “Do we have any wealth left from Hijaz?” Qanbar replied, “Yes, four thousand dinars remain.” The Imam said, “Bring them here, for a true needy person has come.” Qanbar brought the dinars, and the Imam took off his cloak, wrapped the dinars in it, and handed it through the door, feeling shy because the amount was small. He then recited:

“Take this, for I apologize to you, and know that I have deep concern for you. If I had more wealth, I would shower it upon you like a flood, But the times are hard, and my hand is short of wealth.”

The Arab man took the dinars and began to cry. Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) asked, “Are you crying because what I gave you is too little?” The man replied, “No, I cry because such generous hands will one day be buried in the earth.”

In another instance, Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) gave fifty thousand and five hundred dinars, along with his own cloak, to a man in need. He said, “By God, if I had anything more, I would have given it to you. I hope to receive my reward from God.”

Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) also gave an Arab woman three thousand sheep and three thousand dinars in return for food she provided to him during a journey. And when a teacher taught one of Imam Hussain’s children the Surah Al-Fatiha, the Imam filled his mouth with pearls as a reward.

These are just a few examples of Imam Hussain’s (peace be upon him) boundless generosity. He was known to recite:

“When the world smiles upon you, give it away to those in need before it slips away, For generosity will not deplete your wealth when it comes, and miserliness will not preserve it when it departs.”