Charity is a voluntary act whereby people help others with whatever surplus they have with a desire to help others, to help support a cause they believe in, and a sense of purpose or fulfillment from contributing to positive change. Since most of the people around the world live below the poverty line, it is incumbent upon those who live a rather happy to a luxurious life to help those in real need.
Islam lays great emphasis on charity, both obligatory (Zakat) and voluntary (like the Sadaqa or Khairat). There are many commandments in Qur'an and Sunnah about charity so of which we have already shared in our reference page: Selected verses from Qur'an on Importance of Charity in Islam.
However, care must be taken to ensure the quality of charity. That is one should give in charity things one would like for himself. Charity should not be giving out worn out clothes or paltry sum of money that cannot help someone. This is the theme of 267th verse of Surah 2.Al Baqarah given herein under:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَنفِقُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ وَمِمَّآ أَخْرَجْنَا لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَلَا تَيَمَّمُوا۟ ٱلْخَبِيثَ مِنْهُ تُنفِقُونَ وَلَسْتُم بِـَٔاخِذِيهِ إِلَّآ أَن تُغْمِضُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ
O believers! Donate from the best of what you have earned and of what We have produced for you from the earth. Do not pick out worthless things for donation, which you yourselves would only accept with closed eyes.
And know that Allah is Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy. (2:267)
The verse quoted above addresses the concept of giving in charity and highlights the importance of donating what is best and most valuable, both in terms of material wealth and in terms of intentions. Let's break down the meaning of the verse:
Key Elements of the Verse:
- "Donate from the best of what you have earned and of what We have produced for you from the earth":
- This part of the verse emphasizes that when giving in charity (sadaqah), it should come from the best of what you own, both in terms of earnings (income) and what Allah has provided from the earth (such as crops, livestock, etc.). It encourages believers to give from their wealth in a way that reflects their sincere gratitude and devotion to Allah.
- The idea is that the donation should be something that costs the giver. It should not be from excess or leftover resources, but from the best and most valuable things you have, demonstrating true generosity and sacrifice.
- "Do not pick out worthless things for donation, which you yourselves would only accept with closed eyes":
- This part warns against giving items that are of poor quality or worthless, which you would not accept for yourself. It stresses that the sincerity and quality of the donation are important, and one should not donate things that are not of value or that they themselves would not appreciate or accept.
- The phrase "accept with closed eyes" refers to items that are unworthy, things you would avoid or reject if they were offered to you. It suggests that when giving in charity, the donor should reflect on the dignity of the recipients and give in a way that shows respect for them.
- "And know that Allah is Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy":
- This final part of the verse reminds the believers that Allah does not need their charity. Allah is Self-Sufficient (Ghani), meaning He has no need for anyone’s wealth or donations. Everything belongs to Allah, and He is not dependent on His creation.
- The phrase "Praiseworthy" (Hameed) signifies that Allah is worthy of all praise and has all qualities of perfection. The reminder here is that, despite His self-sufficiency, Allah rewards acts of charity and will compensate the donors in a way that is far beyond their expectations, so long as their intention is sincere and their donation is made with a good heart.
Lessons and Principles from this Verse:
- The Importance of Giving with Excellence: Giving charity is not just about the quantity, but also about the quality of the donation. It should come from the best of your wealth, representing sincerity and true sacrifice. Giving what costs you or what you hold dear is a sign of genuine devotion to Allah.
- Purity of Intentions: This verse teaches that giving charity should be done with a pure heart, free from any ulterior motives. It should not be done for recognition or out of a sense of obligation, but as an act of worship and humility, with the goal of pleasing Allah.
- The Dignity of the Recipient: The verse also emphasizes treating those who receive charity with respect. The giver should not donate things that are not worthy, as this would reflect disrespect for the recipients. Sometimes, the charity giver makes it a photo session to publish in the print and electric media. This unwanted advertisement badly hurts the recipient for such acts undermine their dignity.
- Allah’s Self-Sufficiency: Finally, it reminds the believers that charity is not for Allah’s benefit, but for the benefit of those in need and the benefit of the giver. Allah is in no need of material offerings but rewards those who give in charity for the sake of pleasing Him.
Foregoing in view, in this verse, Allah calls the believers to approach charity with sincerity, quality, and respect. The act of giving should reflect a believer's commitment to Allah and should be done in a way that honors both the giver and the recipient. Allah’s reminder that He is Self-Sufficient should encourage people to give with humility, understanding that charity is ultimately for their own spiritual benefit and a means of earning Allah’s pleasure and reward.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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