Setting
They left me no alternative but that they either beg of me importunately or regard me as a miser, and I am not a miser
They left me no alternative but that they either beg of me importunately or regard me as a miser, and I am not a miser
‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) divided some wealth, and I said to him: "O Messenger of Allah, were not other than those people more deserving of it than them?" He replied: "They left me no alternative but that they either beg of me importunately or regard me as a miser, and I am not a miser."
[Sahih/Authentic.] [Muslim]
Translations
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The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) divided money that he received among some people and gave nothing to others. So ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: Shouldn't you give those whom you have not given, since they are more deserving than those who were given? The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) answered: They were persistent in their demand (to get a share) because of their weak faith. Their situation made me choose between their recourse to importunate demanding or to calling me a miser (for not giving them). So he chose to give them since miserliness was not one of his traits, and also to appease them and win their hearts in favor of Islam.