Al-Wahhāb - The One Who Gives Freely, Without Thoughts of Compensation, The Granter of Bounty
A gift is a present that is free from thoughts of compensation and other selfish interests. The one who gives many gifts of this nature is known as a generous giver. Generosity, gifts and presents (of this kind) are truly inconceivable except from God Most High, for He is the One who gives every needy person that which he needs, and He does this not with thoughts of compensation or other selfish interests either now or later.
(In the pure sense of the word) generosity and gifts cannot exist in man, for if the performance of a (given) deed were not more important (to him) that its non-performance, he would not take initiative in the matter. Therefore, his performance of it is for his own purposes. But the person who freely spends everything he possesses, including his very life, for the sake of God Most High, though not for the purpose of achieving the blessings of Paradise or protection from the punishment of hell or for anything considered desirable now or later of the human portions, (certainly) such a one is (considered) worthy of being called a giver and a generous person. Below him (in rank) is the one who has been liberal in order that he might attain the blessings of Paradise. And below him is the one who has been liberal in order that he might attain a good reputation.
It is the same with the one who worships God for the sake of Paradise, for God Most High has made it the means and not the end of man’s quest (for proximity to him). Means are distinguished in the fact that one would not seek to obtain them if one could achieve one’s end without them. Similarly if one could achieve one’s (material) goals without gold, no one would love gold or desire it for what is loved in reality is not gold but that which can be obtained through it. If one who worships God for the sake of Paradise could attain it without worshipping God, then he would not worship him. That which he (truly) desires and seeks is Paradise and nothing else.
As for the one who desires nothing but God and seeks nothing but Him, the one whose portion lies in the (anticipated) joy of meeting God and being near to Him, and his association with the heavenly host of angels who are near His presence, (certainly) one says of such a person that he serves God for the sake of God, not in the sense that he seeks no gain but rather in the sense that God Most High is his gain, and in addition to Him he seeks no gain (at all).
