It is narrated from al-Aswad bin Hilal that a man came to Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) and asked about this verse: "And whoever is saved from the greed of his own soul, it is they who are the successful" [Al-Taghabun: 16] , and said: I am a man who cannot manage to be generous, and nothing leaves my hand; I fear that this verse may apply to me. Sayyiduna Abdullah said: "You have mentioned miserliness, and miserliness is a very evil thing. But the 'shuhh' (greed of the soul) that Allah has mentioned in the Qur'an is not this (what you think); rather, it means that you set your eye on the wealth of your brother or of someone else and devour it unjustly." This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, says: I asked My servant for a loan, but he refused to lend to Me; and in his ignorance he says: 'Alas for time! Alas for time!' whereas I am time (its Creator and Master)." Then Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) recited this saying of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic: "If you lend Allah a goodly loan, He will multiply it for you." [Al-Taghabun: 17] This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of Imam Muslim, but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.