What is the difference between stinginess and miserliness?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, what is stinginess, and what is the difference between it and miserliness?
The Shaykh : Stinginess and miserliness are close in meaning, but stinginess is miserliness accompanied by greed for what one does not have. The miser prevents what he has, while the stingy person prevents what he has and seeks what others have. He is like fire that wants to devour. This is the difference. Did you understand?
The questioner : ... Clarification of stinginess
The Shaykh : Stinginess is when a person prevents what he has from being given as charity or obligatory spending, and at the same time, he seeks what others have. You find him panting after the world. The miser may not care whether money comes or goes, but he does not fulfill what is obligatory upon him. Therefore, stinginess is more severely condemned and uglier than miserliness.
The Shaykh : Stinginess and miserliness are close in meaning, but stinginess is miserliness accompanied by greed for what one does not have. The miser prevents what he has, while the stingy person prevents what he has and seeks what others have. He is like fire that wants to devour. This is the difference. Did you understand?
The questioner : ... Clarification of stinginess
The Shaykh : Stinginess is when a person prevents what he has from being given as charity or obligatory spending, and at the same time, he seeks what others have. You find him panting after the world. The miser may not care whether money comes or goes, but he does not fulfill what is obligatory upon him. Therefore, stinginess is more severely condemned and uglier than miserliness.