the worse of the two by giving to them.”

Miserliness is a general category encompassing different forms: some are major sins, while others are not. Allah Most High says:

“Let not those who withhold what Allah has given them of His bounty think that it is good for them. Rather, it is bad for them. What they withheld will be hung around their necks on the Day of Resurrection.”

He also says:

“Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and be good to parents,”

up to His words:

“Indeed, Allah does not love those who are arrogant and boastful—those who are miserly and urge others to be miserly.”

Allah Most High says:

“Nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted except that they disbelieve in Allah and His Messenger, come to prayer only sluggishly, and spend only reluctantly.”

He also says:

“But when He gave them of His bounty, they withheld it and turned away in aversion. So He punished them with hypocrisy in their hearts until the Day they meet Him.”

And He says:

“Whoever is miserly is miserly only to his own detriment.”

He also says:

“So woe to those who pray, yet are heedless of their prayers—those who show off and withhold even small acts of kindness.”

And He says:

“Those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in Allah’s cause—give them tidings of a painful punishment. On the Day it is heated in the Fire of Hell, their foreheads, sides, and backs will be branded with it,”

and so on to the end of the verse.

All the Quran’s commands to give, and its condemnation of those who fail to do so, constitute a condemnation of miserliness. Likewise, its condemnation of cowardice is frequent, as in His words:

“Whoever turns his back on them that day—unless maneuvering for battle or joining another group—has incurred Allah’s wrath. His refuge is Hell, and what an evil destination!”

And His words concerning the hypocrites:

“They swear by Allah