and commendation, escaping blame, and attaining the best or most fitting state,” we reply:

We do not concede that someone who gives to earn Allah’s praise and commendation and escape His blame is not generous. Rather, such a person is generous by the agreement of the prophets and messengers, all Allah’s believing servants, and all the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth. Likewise, if someone gives so that his gift may bring him closer to Allah Most High, be better for him in His sight, raise his rank, or place him in the standing he ought to have before Allah, we do not concede that he is not generous. The same applies among speakers of every language, whether Muslims or unbelievers: anyone who gives to attain what they regard as better and higher, and to earn praise and commendation from the highest authority for something for which they consider it fitting to seek such praise and commendation, is regarded by them as generous.

Thus, his statement:

“Whoever gives generously to gain honor or praise, or so that his action may be fitting for him, is seeking recompense and is not generous,”

is not conceded, nor is there any evidence for it.

Rather, the thirteenth point is this:

Such a person is generous by the agreement of rational people from every nation; indeed, he is the one who gives generously. Allah Most High says:

“If you do good,