Likewise, when a person commands someone else to do what is good, wishes that he agree to it, or forbids him from something wrong, he must treat that other person with a kindness that secures his aim—attaining the desired good and warding off the disliked harm—for souls cannot endure bitterness unless mixed with a measure of sweetness; it cannot be otherwise. For this reason Allah has ordered the reconciliation of hearts, even allocating a share of the zakah for “those whose hearts are to be won over.”

The Most High said to His Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“Show forgiveness, enjoin what is right, and turn away from the ignorant.” (Surah al-A‘raf 7:199)

And He said:

“…and enjoin one another to patience and enjoin one another to compassion.” (Surah al-Balad 90:17)

One must therefore be both patient and merciful; this is true courage and genuine generosity.

For that reason Allah at times couples prayer with zakah—zakah being beneficence toward people—and at other times joins both of them to patience. All three are indispensable: prayer, zakah, and patience. The interests of the believers stand on these pillars, both for the refinement of their own souls and the reform of others—especially as turmoil and tribulation grow more intense, for the greater the trial the greater the need. Indeed, the need for magnanimity and patience is common to every child of Adam; without them neither their religious nor their worldly affairs can be set right.

[Condemnation of Stinginess and Cowardice]

Thus, all people praise courage and generosity—these are precisely the traits poets most often extol in their verse—and they mutually condemn stinginess and cowardice. Matters on which all human beings agree can only be true, just as they agree on praising honesty and justice and censuring falsehood and oppression. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said, when