The word karam in Arabic has a very wide range of meanings, denoting nobility, high-mindedness, generosity, magnanimity, kindness, graciousness, and all other such qualities associated with someone of high birth or excellent lineage. It has been translated in this chapter with the English term best suited to the individual contexts of the traditions
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1ـ رسولُ اللهِِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): كَرَمُ الرجُلِ دِينُهُ. |
| 1– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘A man’s nobility is his religion.’[Musnad Ibn Hanbal, v. 3, p. 292, no. 8782] |
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2ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): مَن كَرُمَت نفسُهُ صَغُرَتِ الدُّنيا في عَينِهِ. |
| 2– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He who is noble towards his own self, his desires become contemptible.’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 13, no. 71] |
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3ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): مِن الكَرَمِ الوَفاءُ بالذِّمَمِ. |
| 3– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Nobility is to fulfil financial obligations.’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77, p. 209, no. 1] |
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4ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): نِعمَ الخُلقُ التَّكرُّمُ. |
| 4– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Graciousness is of great manners.’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77, p. 211, no. 1] |
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5ـ الإمامُ الحسنُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): أمّا الكَرَمُ فالتَّبرُّعُ بالمَعروفِ والإعطاءُ قَبلَ السُّؤالِ . |
| 5– Imam Hasan (AS) said, ‘As for generosity, it entails undertaking acts of common courtesy and giving before being asked.’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 44, p. 89, no. 2] |
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6ـ الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): ثلاثةٌ تَدُلُّ على كَرَمِ المَرءِ: حُسنُ الخُلُقِ، وكَظمُ الغَيظِ، وغَضُّ الطَّرْفِ . |
| 6– Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘Three things show the nobility of a person: good manners, suppressing anger, and casting down one’s gaze.’[Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, p. 319] |
