Generosity: the Civil Mysticism

“Generosity” that has always had a close association with mysticism throughout the history has also influenced the “civil life” in Islamic societies. This is not just intellectual influence but it brought about social and political changes as well. Some try to reduce “generosity” to common mysticism; this, however, seems not to be able to clarify its role in the development of the social life of the ritual completely. Throughout the history, generosity has penetrated into the social life and work of common people, and, therefore, mixed with their thoughts. It has, thus, been so much able to mix mystical concepts with the civil life that it is regarded as a type of civil mysticism. This paper tries to prove this point.