Excellence of generosity
The Prophet didn’t like to keep wealth with him even for a short time
It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Uqba bin al Haarith, he says: In Madina, I offered ‘Asr Salaat along with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). The Prophet ended the Salaat with Salaam, immediately got up, bounded over the necks of people and entered one room among the rooms of the Blessed Wives. The Companions got worried on this swift departure of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). When he came back and saw that the people were astonished at his haste, he said: I remembered an item of gold which remained in the house. Thus, I didn’t like it in that it would stop from (attaining) the proximity of Almighty Allah. Thus, I have ordered that it be distributed.
Bukhari has related this Hadith.
In another Hadith of Bukhari, it says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: I had left a lump of gold, which was of Zakaat, in the house. Thus, I considered it bad that I should keep it with me even for the space of a single night.
The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) didn’t like leaving behind wealth after his demise
It is narrated on the authority of the mother of the believers Hadhrat ‘Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her), she says: In the days of the illness of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), I had 6 or 7 gold pieces and the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) ordered me that I should distribute them among people, but the illness of the Prophet busied me (to such an extent that I couldn’t do it). Then the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) himself asked me: What happened to those gold pieces? I said: By Allah! Your illness has busied me (to such an extent that I could not distribute them on time). The Prophet asked for those gold pieces. He held them in his hand and said: What would be thought (by Almighty Allah) about His Prophet if he met Him in such a state that he still possessed these gold pieces (as leaving behind wealth is against the majesty of Prophethood) (as stated in Mirqaat, Ash’atul Lama’aat)
Imam Ahmad has related this Hadith.
Excellence of generosity and condemnation of miserliness
It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: There is no day on which 2 angels do not descend (from the heavens) at dawn. One among them keeps saying: O Allah! Give the recompense (in this world and the hereafter) to those who spend (in good causes and increase his wealth). The second keeps saying: O Allah! Destroy the wealth of the miser.
Bukhari and Muslim have unanimously related this Hadith.
[Excerpted from Noor ul Masabeeh, Vol. 4, Kitaab uz Zakaat]