In Giving Lies the
Secret of Finding

Responding with modesty to an arrogant person elevates you. In this way, adopting the attitude of modesty becomes a source of success for the modest person.

The Prophet of Islam one observed: “By giving alms wealth does not decrease. And when a believer forgives, God grants him greater honour. And the believer who is modest for the sake of God, is raised by God on high.” (Sahih Muslim 2588)

Ethics, in other words, is a matter of giving. When one says good words to another, or behaves in a good manner, it shows that he loves him. Similarly, when one gives monetary aid that is also giving something to others.

Such giving seems to be unilateral. That is, the individual without getting anything in return is giving of what belongs to him. But this is an ethical matter and is not unilateral. The truth is that in giving lies the secret of finding.

In a society where people help one another in monetary terms, there will be the tendency to spend rather than hold on to one’s wealth. In that way the distribution of wealth will increase and the urge to exploit others will cease. In such an environment, it is but natural that the giver becomes a recipient of society’s benefits in many ways. When such a society flourishes, its benefit will reach everyone—the giver as well as the taker.

When anyone is arrogant to you, if you do not react to this but rather adopt the way of modesty, according to the law of nature, your status becomes elevated and that of the arrogant person is lowered. In this way, adopting the attitude of modesty becomes a source of success for the modest person.