1336 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Charity does not diminish wealth; whenever a servant pardons, Allah only increases him in honor; and no one humbles himself for Allah’s sake except that Allah raises him.” Recorded by Muslim (1).

What is drawn from the ḥadīth:
This narration contains three wise rulings and noble etiquettes:

First: “Charity does not diminish wealth.” This embraces three meanings:

1. Allah causes wealth to grow through charity, purifies it, and places blessing within it; calamities are averted and both tangible and intangible blessings descend upon it.
2. The reward obtained by giving charity compensates for the apparent reduction; when the giver’s assets decrease on one side, he is granted something greater on another.
3. Allah replaces what was spent with a recompense that offsets the outflow—and may even increase it. The Almighty says, “Whatever you spend, He will replace it” (Sabaʾ 34:39); and, “Who is it that will lend Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over” (al-Baqarah 2:245).

Second: “Allah only increases a servant who forgives in honor.”
The statement encourages pardoning the offender and not retaliating for his wrongdoing, even though retaliation is permissible. Forgiveness when one is able to exact retribution enjoys a lofty station with Allah and with people:
• With Allah: He, exalted is He, loves the forgiving person because he does good, and He instills love for him upon the earth.
• With people: When they learn that someone forgave despite having the power to act, he gains high standing and great prestige in their eyes, and they look upon him with respect and veneration, whereas the vindictive person does not