And Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah have mercy on him—said:

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We have discussed elsewhere how Allah Most High links arrogance and boastfulness with miserliness, as in His words in Sūrat al-Nisāʾ and Sūrat al-Hadīd:

“Indeed, Allah does not love anyone who is arrogant and boastful.”

“Those who are miserly and urge others to be miserly.”

Their opposites are giving and fear of Allah, which entails humility, as He says:

“As for the one who gives and fears Allah.”

He also says:

“Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who do good.”

These two principles encompass religion as a whole, as expressed in the saying: “Reverence for Allah’s command and mercy toward Allah’s servants.” Reverence for Allah’s command is expressed through reverent humility and humbleness, which form the foundation of fearing Allah; mercy toward Allah’s servants is expressed through kindness to them.

These two principles are the very essence of prayer and zakat. Prayer entails reverent humility before Allah, servitude to Him, humbleness before Him, and lowliness before Him—all of which stand opposed to arrogance, boastfulness, and pride. Zakat entails benefiting people and treating them kindly, which stands opposed to miserliness.