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Ibn Sīnā then said, in arguing for the denial of will and of wisdom intended as an end:

“An observation: Do you know what generosity is? Generosity is to confer what ought to be conferred, without an ulterior purpose. Perhaps someone who gives a knife to one who ought not to have it is not generous; and perhaps someone who gives in order to receive recompense is conducting a transaction, not being generous. Recompense is not always material; it also takes other forms, including praise and commendation, escaping blame, and attaining the best condition or the condition one ought to be in. Whoever gives generously to gain honour, to be praised, or so that his conduct may be commendable is seeking recompense, not being generous. The truly generous one is therefore he from whom benefits flow without any longing on his part or deliberate pursuit of something that would accrue to him. Know that someone who does something because not doing it would be unbecoming or unbefitting of him is, through the benefit he confers by his action, securing his own deliverance.”

Abū ‘Abd Allāh al-Rāzī said in explanation of this:

“The purpose of this is to explain