of the deed: whoever clothes another will himself be clothed, whoever feeds another will himself be fed, and whoever gives drink will himself be given drink. Yet the clothing, food, and drink that he will receive are far superior to what he gave away in this world, for only their names have reached us; the true bliss is the bliss of Paradise—no human eye has ever seen it, no ear has ever heard it, nor has it ever occurred to a human heart.

4 – Allah, Exalted is He, says: “And they give food, in spite of their love for it” (76:8). This is the finest form of charity and the loftiest degree of altruism, offered when hearts are attached to wealth and souls yearn for it. Then a divine impulse and a sincere desire for what is with Allah overpower selfish cravings and bodily urges, so the believer prefers others to his own needy self.

Allah also says: “They give preference to others over themselves, even though poverty is their own lot; and whoever is protected from the stinginess of his own soul—it is they who will prosper” (59:9).

Altruism (īthār) means putting those in need ahead of oneself while one is equally in need. It is a station higher than that of those who spend only what they can easily spare or do not truly need.