How Can a University Student Be Generous?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yakti

Question

How can a university student be generous?

Answer

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, his Family, and all his Companions.

Generosity

Generosity, benevolence, and kindness are among the noble qualities that a Muslim must embody in all their forms and in all circumstances.

Generosity, for example, should not be limited to material giving, such as feeding others, spending money on those in need, or honoring family, guests, and friends. Rather, it can be broader, encompassing all forms of good character, positive interactions with people, assistance, and support, whether moral or material. All of this is rooted in the teachings of the Shariah. Allah (Most High) says:

“And do (what is) good so that you may be successful.” [Quran, 22:77]

Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“Every joint of a person must perform a charity each day the sun rises: reconciling between two people is a charity, helping a man with his animal so that he may ride it or lifting his belongings onto it is a charity, a good word is a charity, and every step you take towards prayer is a charity, and removing a harmful object from the road is a charity.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

Abu Dharr Jundub Ibn Junada (Allah be pleased with him) reported: I said: “O Messenger of Allah, what deeds are the best?” He said:

“Faith in Allah and striving in His cause.” I said: “Which necks (slaves) are best (to free)?” He said: “The most valuable to their owners and the most expensive.” I said: “What if I cannot do that?” He said: “Help a worker or do something for someone who is clumsy.” I said: “O Messenger of Allah, what if I am unable to do some of these deeds?” He said: “Refrain from harming people, for that is an act of charity which you bestow upon yourself.” [Ibid.]

He also said: “Do not belittle any good deed, even meeting your brother with a cheerful face.” [Muslim]

Different Ways to Be Generous

Based on this, a university student can be generous in the following ways:

• If he is financially able, he will honor his friends and classmates by inviting them to meals or drinks, giving them study materials and supplies as gifts—especially to those who are poor—or helping them with other financial burdens like tuition fees or rent, and so on. These actions are greatly rewarded and fall under the category of supporting students of knowledge.
• By assisting them academically, such as re-explaining certain topics, preparing lecture notes for those who missed classes, or helping with educational projects, among other things.
• He embodies high moral conduct in interactions with all people, especially with those he interacts with regularly, such as classmates and teachers. This includes humility, offering advice, cooperation, forgiveness, having a good opinion of others, speaking kindly, smiling, and maintaining a cheerful demeanor, among other virtues.
• He dedicates part of his time and skills to volunteer charitable work, helping those in need in his area of expertise. For example, he provides medical assistance to the poor or offers technical help to students in fields like electronic engineering and information systems.

It is important for the student to continue these acts after graduation, allocating a portion of his work and expertise to benefit the poor and needy, seeking the pleasure of Allah (Most High).

Summary

Every Muslim—especially a student of knowledge—should strive to be generous as much as they can. There are many ways to do good, and the doors of generosity are wide open.
One must always remember to have the right intention and sincerity for the sake of Allah (Most High) before any action. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds.

Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Abdul Sami‘ al-Yakti