تويت
Altruism and self sacrificing 
What is Altruism in language? In Arabic altruism (Al-Ethar:الإيثار) is to prefer something over something else, (e.g. When someone prefer someone else over himself). In English, Altruism or selflessness is the principle or practice of concern for of others. It is a traditional in many cultures and a core aspect of various religious traditions, though the concept of "others" toward whom concern should be directed can vary among cultures and religions. Altruism or selflessness is the opposite of Selfishness. Pure altruism consists of sacrificing something for someone other than the self (e.g. sacrificing time, energy, possessions, or Self-sacrifice) with no expectation of any compensation or benefits, either direct, or indirect (e.g., receiving recognition for the act of giving). In Quran, “They said: By Allah! now has Allah certainly chosen you over us (12; 91).” Some of Imam Ali’s AS traditions Stated the virtues of Altruism: Imam Ali (AS) said: -‘The peak of virtues is self-sacrifice.’ -‘Altruism is the peak of beneficence’ - ‘Altruism is the best kindness and the highest rank of belief.’ - ‘ Altruism is the extreme limit of beneficence.’ -‘ Altruism is the noblest beneficence.’ -‘Altruism is the noblest generosity.’ - ‘Altruism is a characteristic of the righteous, and the habit of philanthropists.’ -‘Altruism is the best form of worship and the greatest eminence.’ -‘ Altruism is a virtue, and selfishness is a sin.’ The prophet of Allah Muses AS said, “O my God, show me the ranks of Mohammed and his nation!” He said, “O Muses you will not be able to stand it, but I will show you one level among his level. A lofty, and grandiose. For it I preferred him over you and all the creatures…” then He SWT revealed heaven for him, and saw a level which almost was harmed because of its’ lights and nearness to Allah SWT. He AS said, “O my God, for what reason did you give him this virtue!?” He SWT said, “ for a moral which I specialized for him among them, which is altruism –self sacrifice-. O Muses, no one of them comes to me and did it at a time of his life, unless I felt shy to settle with him, and accommodated him in my heaven, wherever he like” (1). Imam Ali (AS) also said: -‘ The best beneficence is altruism’ - ‘ The best generosity is altruism’ - ‘ Altruism only is sufficient moral’ - ‘Deal fairly with general people, and self-sacrifice with the faithful’ - ‘ The best choice is to use altruism as a moral’ - ‘One of the characteristic of the righteous is to habituate themselves with altruism (2)’ The meaning of Altruism to Imams (AS) The Commander of Faithful Ali b. Abu Talib (AS) said, “Virtues would not be completed without chastity and altruism” He (AS) also said: - ‘ The aim of virtues is altruism’ -‘ When the time of sacrificing against the self, the pure inner of righteous will be revealed’ -‘ By altruism generosity will be deserved’ - ‘Through self-sacrifice do free people become enslaved.’ -‘ by sacrificing your desires you will own freedom of people’ The holy Quran praises the virtues of such persons: The Almighty Allah said in His noble book, “And those who made their abode in the city and in the faith before them love those who have fled to them, and do not find in their hearts a need of what they are given, and prefer [them] before themselves though poverty may afflict them, and whoever is preserved from the niggardliness of his soul, these it is that are the successful ones. (59;9)” The meaning of altruism in narrations Hudhaifah U’dwi, recounts: On the day of Yarmook battle, picking up a container of water, I set out for the battlefield, searching for my cousin, hoping to provide him with a drink in case he happened to be alive. After searching for sometime, I found my cousin who was barely alive. I stooped down beside him and asked him if he needed some water. He nodded. At that very moment, another soldier, who lay near him, heard me and then sighed loudly to indicate that he was very thirsty. My cousin signalled to me to provide water to the soldier first. As I went to attend to the injured soldier, I realized that he was Hishaam Ibn Al-A’as. I asked him whether he needed water. He signalled in the affirmative. Instantaneously, another injured soldier demanded water and Hishaam too refused to drink the water before the other soldier had drunk it. I moved towards the third soldier, but just as I reached him, he breathed his last. Returning to Hishaam, I observed that in this ensuing period, he too had died. I hastened towards my cousin, only to find him dead too (3). Imam Sadiq on describing the perfect among the faithful said, “ they are devoted to their brothers in hardship and ease, they prefer (others) before themselves in bad situations. Allah also Has described them saying , “and prefer [them] before themselves… (4)” He (AS) also commented when Allah SWT described them said , “ doing good has nothing to do with abundance, that because Allah SWT said in his noble book ’and prefer [them] before themselves…. He whose Allah known him for that, Allah has loved him’” (5) Abu Hurayra narrated, ‘A man came to the Prophet (SAWA) and complained to him of hunger, so the Prophet (SAWA) sent a messenger to the homes of his wives, but they said that they had nothing but water. The Prophet (SAWA) asked, ‘Who can host this man tonight?’ So Ali b. Abu Talib (AS) said, ‘I will host him, O Messenger of Allah.’ He came to Fatima (AS) and asked her, ‘What do you have, O daughter of the Prophet?’ She said, ‘We only have food for tonight, but we will give it to our guest.’ He (AS) said, ‘O Daughter of Muhammad. Take the children to bed and put off the lamp.’ The next morning, Ali (AS) came to the Prophet (SAWA) and told him the story. No sooner had he left than Allah, the Exalted, revealed the verse: “…but prefer [others] to themselves…” (6)) In Dur Almanthoor (book) stated that ibn Omar said, “ One of the companions of Messenger of Allah has received a head of an ewe as a gift and said, “ My brother so and so, and his children are more need for this than us” then he sent it for them, then it was being sent from a house to another until seven houses were counted. At the end it was returned to the first house then Allah revealed (and prefer [them] before themselves) (7). The Commander of the Faithful Ali b. Abu Talib (AS) in his address to people after the death of Omar b. Alkhatab, he said , “ tell me for Allah sake! Has this verse (and prefer [them] before themselves) revealed upon anyone other than me?” they said , “ No!” (8) Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘Fatima (AS) had some barley which she made into a sweet paste. When they had finished cooking it and placed it on the table, a poor man came and said, ‘May Allah have mercy upon you.’ So Ali (AS) stood up and gave him a third of it. Soon afterwards, an orphan came and said, ‘May Allah have mercy upon you.’ Ali (AS) stood up and gave him a third. Soon afterwards, a prisoner of war came and said, ‘May Allah have mercy upon you.’ So Ali (AS) gave him the last third, and they did not even taste it. So Allah, the Exalted, sent down the Qur’anic verses honouring them, and they apply to every believer who does the same for the sake of Allah, the Exalted. (9). In a book titled Noor Althaqalain, Aisha narrated, ‘The Prophet (SAWA) had never spent three consecutive days having eaten to his fill until he left this world, although he could have, had he wanted to; but he used to place others before himself. (10)” As soon as Ali (AS) slept in that bed instead of the holy Prophet (SAWA), the Providence questioned His two dear angels, Gabriel and Michael, "I have created brotherhood between both of you and let the life-span of one of you be longer than that of the other. Which one of you wishes to have the life of the other be longer than his own?" Each held his own life dearer. The Almighty said: "Why can't you be like Ali ibn Abu Talib between whom and Muhammad (SAWA) I have created brotherhood, and he has chosen to sleep in Muhammad's bed, offering to sacrifice his own life for his brother?...” Regarding that incident, the verse "And among men is he who sells himself to seek the pleasure of Allah; and Allah is Affectionate to the servants (Qur'an, 2:207)" was revealed(11). Messenger of Allah (SAWA) said, “He who gives (spend) in unrightfully did extravagance. Also, he who prohibited (spending) unrightfully did parsimony” Hence he specialized extravagance with spending on the unrightfully, while the path of rightfulness is the right(12). Al- Sadiq (AS), said to Jamil b. Darraj: “The good ones of you are the generous and the bad ones of you are the miserly. Among the good deeds are to treat the brothers kindly and to fulfill their needs, for these (acts) force the Satan (to turn away from you) and save you from the fires and make you enter Paradise. Jamil, tell your honorable companions about this tradition.” He (Jamil) said: I (i.e. Jamil) said to him: “May I be your ransom, who are my honorable companions?”. He (AS), said: “Those who treat the brothers with kindness during poverty and riches.” He (al- Sadiq) said: “Jamil, this (act) is easy for the doer of the favor. Allah, the Great and Almighty, has praised the doer of the little (favor). He (Allah) said: “ And prefer (others) to themselves though poverty may afflict them, and whoever is preserved from the niggardliness of his soul, these it is that are the successful ones.” (13) 
The virtue of Altruism (self-sacrifice) Abu al-Tufayl narrated, “ Ali (AS) bought a gown, which he liked, so he gave it away in charity. He said, ‘I heard the Prophet (SAWA) saying, ‘When a man places others before himself, Allah, the Exalted, will place him [before others] in Paradise. (14)” Imam Al-Baqir (AS), “There is a heaven of Allah where only three (type of people) enter it:….. and a man preferred his faithful brother on himself for Allah SWT sake.(15)” Commander of the Faithful (AS) Imam Ali (AS), “he who preferred others before himself deserved the title of the virtue(16)” Commander of the Faithful Ali b. Abu Talib (AS), “He who preferred others before himself has became an extreme chivalry(17)” He (AS) also said, “The self-sacrifice doers are among the men of A’raf (The Heights).” Commander of the faithful Imam Ali b. Abu Talib stated in his will to his son Imam Hassan Al-Mujataba (AS): “Humble yourselves with good deeds, and lead them to virtues. Accustom yourselves to patience, and be patient on self-sacrificing of what you like, and do not treat people as they treat you(18)” Imam al-Sadiq (AS), "A sinful but generous young man is dearer to God than a worshipping but stingy old man." References: 1. Tanbih Alkhwater: V1, p.173 2. Ghorarul alhekam: H09350 3. Almostatref: V1, p.157 4. Bihar Alnwar, by Almajlesi: V67, p.351 5. Alkhesal: p.97 6. Alkafi by Alkulaini: V2,p.206, H6 7. Tafsir Althaqalain: V5, p. 287, H60 8. Aldur Almanthor: V8, p.107 9. Alehtejaj: V1, p.333, H55 10. NoorAlthaqlain:V5, p.470, H20.Also, p. 469, H18 &19 11. Tanbih Alkhwater v1, p. 172&173 12. Tanbih Alkhwater v1, p. 172&173 13. ‘Awaed Alaiam by ALmohaqiq Alnaraqi: p.629 14. Man la Yahdoroho Alfaqeeh by Sheikh Alsadoq:V2, p.61 15.Nor Althaqalain: V5, p.285, H52 16. Alkhisal: P131&136 17. Ghorarul Ahekam:H8845 18. Tuhaf al’oqol:p.224