Care for the vulnerable and human dignity
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These teachings concern people whose needs can be overlooked: the poor, orphans, debtors, neighbors, strangers, and people under another’s authority. The entries preserve the particular duties and examples behind the wider call to mercy.
Poverty, orphans, debt, and practical care
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The Qur’an presents righteousness as including faith, prayer, keeping promises, patience, and giving cherished wealth to relatives, orphans, the poor, stranded travelers, people who ask for help, and people seeking freedom from bondage.5661
“Righteousness is not in turning your faces towards the east or the west. Rather, the righteous are those who believe in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Books, and the prophets; who give charity out of their cherished wealth to relatives, orphans, the poor, ˹needy˺ travellers, beggars, and for freeing captives; who establish prayer, pay alms-tax, and keep the pledges they make; and who are patient in times of suffering, adversity, and in ˹the heat of˺ battle. It is they who are true ˹in faith˺, and it is they who are mindful ˹of Allah˺.” (Sūrat al-Baqarah 2:177), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿۞ لَّيْسَ ٱلْبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ ٱلْمَشْرِقِ وَٱلْمَغْرِبِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلْبِرَّ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ وَٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَءَاتَى ٱلْمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ ذَوِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينَ وَٱبْنَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَٱلسَّآئِلِينَ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَى ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱلْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَـٰهَدُوا۟ ۖ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ فِى ٱلْبَأْسَآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَحِينَ ٱلْبَأْسِ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُتَّقُونَ ١٧٧﴾ سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ -
The Qur’an condemns people who repel orphans and do not encourage feeding the poor.
“Have you seen the one who denies the ˹final˺ Judgment? That is the one who repulses the orphan and does not encourage the feeding of the poor.” (Sūrat al-Māʿūn 107:1-3), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿ أَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى يُكَذِّبُ بِٱلدِّينِ ١ فَذَٰلِكَ ٱلَّذِى يَدُعُّ ٱلْيَتِيمَ ٢ وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ ٱلْمِسْكِينِ ٣﴾ سُورَةُ المَاعُونِ -
The Qur’an praises freeing an enslaved person and feeding an orphaned relative or a poor person during hunger as difficult forms of goodness.5456
“And what will make you realize what ˹attempting˺ the challenging path is? It is to free a slave, or to give food in times of famine, to an orphaned relative, or to a poor person in distress.” (Sūrat al-Balad 90:12-16), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْعَقَبَةُ ١٢ فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ ١٣ أَوْ إِطْعَـٰمٌ فِى يَوْمٍ ذِى مَسْغَبَةٍ ١٤ يَتِيمًا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ ١٥ أَوْ مِسْكِينًا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍ ١٦﴾ سُورَةُ البَلَدِ -
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ compared caring for widows and the poor to striving in God’s cause, worshipping through the night, or fasting through the day.
“The one who works for the widow and the poor is like one striving in God’s cause, or like one who prays through the night and fasts through the day.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 535321343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that a person who cares for an orphan would be close to him in Paradise.
“I and the caretaker of an orphan will be in Paradise like this,” and he brought his index and middle fingers together. — Sahih al-Bukhari 600521343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that relieving another person’s hardship, easing a debtor’s difficulty, and protecting another person’s dignity are acts for which God gives reward.
“Whoever relieves a believer of a worldly hardship, God will relieve him of a hardship on the Day of Resurrection.” — Sahih Muslim 2699a31443
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The Qur’an requires a creditor to give more time to a debtor who genuinely cannot repay and encourages forgiving the debt as charity.
“If it is difficult for someone to repay a debt, postpone it until a time of ease. And if you waive it as an act of charity, it will be better for you, if only you knew.” (Sūrat al-Baqarah 2:280), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿وَإِن كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ مَيْسَرَةٍ ۚ وَأَن تَصَدَّقُوا۟ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ٢٨٠﴾ سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ -
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told of a creditor whom God forgave because he gave people time and was lenient with those in financial hardship.
“Give time to one in ease, and overlook one in hardship.” Then God overlooked him. — Sahih al-Bukhari 207721343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that sincerely spending on one’s own family counts as charity.
“When a Muslim spends on his family seeking reward, it is charity for him.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 535121343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that it is better to leave one’s heirs financially secure than to leave them poor and dependent on others.
“To leave your heirs well provided for is better than leaving them poor, begging from people.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 535421343
Neighbors, hospitality, and communal responsibility
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that a believer must not harm his neighbor.
“Whoever believes in God and the Last Day must not harm his neighbor.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 601821343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said Gabriel instructed him so repeatedly about neighbors that he thought neighbors might eventually be given inheritance rights.
“Gabriel kept instructing me concerning the neighbor until I thought he would make the neighbor an heir.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 601421343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught believers to honor their guests, protect their neighbors, and discipline their speech.
“Whoever believes in God and the Last Day should honor his guest.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 601821343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ encouraged people to feed others and greet both those they knew and those they did not know.
A man asked, “What part of Islam is best?” He said: “Feed people, and greet those you know and those you do not know.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 1221343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ compared believers in their mutual affection and compassion to one body that shares the pain of any injured part.
“The believers in their mutual affection, mercy, and compassion are like one body: when one limb suffers, the whole body responds with sleeplessness and fever.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 601121343
Human dignity, social status, and freedom from abuse
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After Abu Dharr insulted another man through his mother, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ rebuked him and described the attitude as a remnant of pre-Islamic ignorance.
“You are a man in whom there remains ignorance.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 3021343
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In the same rebuke, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ required masters to feed and clothe enslaved people to the same standard as themselves.
“Your servants are your brothers whom God placed under your authority. Feed them from what you eat and clothe them from what you wear.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 3021343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also taught that if a servant was given work too heavy to manage, the master had to help with it.
“Do not burden them with what overwhelms them; and if you burden them, then help them.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 3021343
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The Qur’an repeatedly prescribes freeing enslaved people as a way to repair serious wrongs, and Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explicitly praised setting people free.
“Whoever frees a Muslim slave, God will save from the Fire a limb of his for every limb he freed.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 251721343
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The Qur’an teaches that all human beings come from a common origin and that racial or tribal background does not determine a person’s worth before God.
“O humanity! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may ˹get to˺ know one another. Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (Sūrat al-Ḥujurāt 49:13), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ ١٣﴾ سُورَةُ الحُجُرَاتِ -
The Qur’an states that God has honored the children of Adam as human beings.
“Indeed, We have dignified the children of Adam, carried them on land and sea, granted them good and lawful provisions, and privileged them far above many of Our creatures.” (Sūrat al-Isrāʾ 17:70), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿۞ وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَـٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَفَضَّلْنَـٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًا ٧٠﴾ سُورَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ -
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that wrongfully striking or beating an enslaved person could require setting that person free.
“Whoever slaps or beats his slave, the expiation for it is to set him free.” — Sahih Muslim 1657b31443
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In a hadith reporting words from God, selling a free person into slavery and consuming the price is named among the wrongs for which God will be the offender’s adversary on the Day of Judgment.
“I will be the opponent of… a man who sells a free person and consumes the price.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 227021343
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Bilal, a formerly enslaved Abyssinian Muslim, became the best-known caller to prayer in Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ community, and Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told him that he had heard his footsteps ahead of him in Paradise.
“Tell me of the deed you have done in Islam for which you most hope, for I heard your footsteps before me in Paradise.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 114921343
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The Qur’an expressly forbids killing children out of fear of poverty.
“Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ ‘Come! Let me recite to you what your Lord has forbidden to you: do not associate others with Him ˹in worship˺. ˹Do not fail to˺ honour your parents. Do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for you and for them. Do not come near indecencies, openly or secretly. Do not take a ˹human˺ life—made sacred by Allah—except with ˹legal˺ right. This is what He has commanded you, so perhaps you will understand.’” (Sūrat al-Anʿām 6:151), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿۞ قُلْ تَعَالَوْا۟ أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ أَلَّا تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِهِۦ شَيْـًٔا ۖ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۖ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَوْلَـٰدَكُم مِّنْ إِمْلَـٰقٍ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلْفَوَٰحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ ۖ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلنَّفْسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ١٥١﴾ سُورَةُ الأَنۡعَامِ -
The Qur’an treats unjustly consuming an orphan’s property as a grave offense, not merely neglect of the orphan’s physical needs.
“Indeed, those who unjustly consume orphans’ wealth ˹in fact˺ consume nothing but fire into their bellies. And they will be burned in a blazing Hell.” (Sūrat al-Nisāʾ 4:10), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَٰلَ ٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ ظُلْمًا إِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِى بُطُونِهِمْ نَارًا ۖ وَسَيَصْلَوْنَ سَعِيرًا ١٠﴾ سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
Charity, shared responsibility, and dignity in giving
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that moral good is within everyone’s reach: even a small gift, a good word, a cheerful face, removing an obstacle, or helping another person can count as charity.
“Do not belittle any good deed, even meeting your brother with a cheerful face.” — Sahih Muslim 262631443
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that giving charity does not diminish a person’s wealth.
“Charity does not diminish wealth.” — Sahih Muslim 258831443
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In recounting a command given to the Children of Israel, the Qur’an compares unjustly killing one person with killing all humanity and saving one life with saving all humanity.
“That is why We ordained for the Children of Israel that whoever takes a life—unless as a punishment for murder or mischief in the land—it will be as if they killed all of humanity; and whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity. ˹Although˺ Our messengers already came to them with clear proofs, many of them still transgressed afterwards through the land.” (Sūrat al-Māʾidah 5:32), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ أَنَّهُۥ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًۢا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَآ أَحْيَا ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًا ۚ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ ٣٢﴾ سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ -
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that God judges people by their hearts and deeds, not by their appearance or wealth.
“God does not look at your faces and your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds.” — Sahih Muslim 2564c31443
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ appointed Zayd ibn Haritha, who had formerly been enslaved, to positions of command and later appointed Zayd’s son Usama. When people objected to Usama’s leadership, he defended both father and son as worthy of command.
“If you criticize his leadership, you used to criticize his father’s leadership before. By God, he was worthy of leadership.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 3729-373021343; Sahih al-Bukhari 446921343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told his followers to free captives, feed the hungry, and visit the sick.
“Free the captive, feed the hungry, and visit the sick.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 304621343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that lineage cannot compensate for a person’s failure in deeds and character.
“Whoever is slowed by his deeds will not be accelerated by his lineage.” — Sahih Muslim 2699a31443
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The Qur’an teaches that a kind word and forgiveness are better than charity followed by humiliation, hurt, or reminders of the giver’s generosity.
“Kind words and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Self-Sufficient, Most Forbearing.” (Sūrat al-Baqarah 2:263), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿۞ قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَآ أَذًى ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَنِىٌّ حَلِيمٌ ٢٦٣﴾ سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ -
When his companions asked what someone without money could give, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ named working, helping a person in distress, encouraging good, and finally simply refraining from harming others.
“Let him help one in desperate need… and if he does not, let him refrain from evil; that is charity for him.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 602221343
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When Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas thought his status distinguished him from weaker members of the community, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ reminded him that victory and provision may come through those very people.
“Are you given victory and provision except through the weak among you?” — Sahih al-Bukhari 289621343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught people to show mercy to the young and respect the rights of the elderly.
“He is not of us who does not show mercy to our young and recognize the right of our elders.” — Jami at-Tirmidhi 192051643
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The Qur’an says public charity is good but giving privately to the poor can be better.
“To give charity publicly is good, but to give to the poor privately is better for you, and will absolve you of your sins. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” (Sūrat al-Baqarah 2:271), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿إِن تُبْدُوا۟ ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِىَ ۖ وَإِن تُخْفُوهَا وَتُؤْتُوهَا ٱلْفُقَرَآءَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۚ وَيُكَفِّرُ عَنكُم مِّن سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ٢٧١﴾ سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ -
The Qur’an established a contractual route by which enslaved people could obtain freedom and required owners to help finance it.5456 The same verse forbids forcing enslaved women into prostitution for profit.
“And let those who do not have the means to marry keep themselves chaste until Allah enriches them out of His bounty. And if any of those ˹bondspeople˺ in your possession desires a deed of emancipation, make it possible for them, if you find goodness in them. And give them some of Allah’s wealth which He has granted you. Do not force your ˹slave˺ girls into prostitution for your own worldly gains while they wish to remain chaste. And if someone coerces them, then after such a coercion Allah is certainly All-Forgiving, Most Merciful ˹to them˺.” (Sūrat al-Nūr 24:33), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿وَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ نِكَاحًا حَتَّىٰ يُغْنِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَبْتَغُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِمَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُمْ فَكَاتِبُوهُمْ إِنْ عَلِمْتُمْ فِيهِمْ خَيْرًا ۖ وَءَاتُوهُم مِّن مَّالِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ ءَاتَىٰكُمْ ۚ وَلَا تُكْرِهُوا۟ فَتَيَـٰتِكُمْ عَلَى ٱلْبِغَآءِ إِنْ أَرَدْنَ تَحَصُّنًا لِّتَبْتَغُوا۟ عَرَضَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ وَمَن يُكْرِههُّنَّ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ إِكْرَٰهِهِنَّ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ٣٣﴾ سُورَةُ النُّورِ -
In a single verse, the Qur’an places worship of God beside duties to parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, neighbors, companions, travelers, and people under one’s authority.
“Worship Allah ˹alone˺ and associate none with Him. And be kind to parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, near and distant neighbours, close friends, ˹needy˺ travellers, and those ˹bondspeople˺ in your possession. Surely Allah does not like whoever is arrogant, boastful.” (Sūrat al-Nisāʾ 4:36), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿۞ وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِهِۦ شَيْـًٔا ۖ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا وَبِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱلْجَارِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْجَارِ ٱلْجُنُبِ وَٱلصَّاحِبِ بِٱلْجَنۢبِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًا فَخُورًا ٣٦﴾ سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
Sources for this page
The numbered citations identify the works in the complete bibliography. Verse and report numbers appear with the evidence; the source guide explains the distinctions between scripture, hadith, and early biography.
References used: 1, 2, 3, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 36, 43, 54, 56, 61.