As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary
Today’s selection is from Surah 2, Al-Baqarah or the Cow, verses 261-273. These verses contain a parable about spending in charity, what makes charity worthless, charity vs just showing off, spending the best portion of one’s wealth, the advantage of giving in private and lastly, who is eligible for charity.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is that of a grain that sprouts into seven ears, each bearing one hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He wishes. Allah has boundless knowledge.[261] Those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah and do not follow their charity with reminders of their generosity or injure the feeling of the recipient, shall get their reward from their Lord; they shall have nothing to fear or to regret.[262] Kind words and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is Self-sufficient, Forbearing.[263] 2:[261-263]
O believers! Do not make your charity worthless by reminders of your generosity or by injury to the recipient’s feelings, like those who spend their wealth to be seen by people and believe neither in Allah nor in the Last Day. Their parable is like a hard barren rock covered with a thin layer of soil; a heavy rain falls, leaving it just a bare stone. Such people will not gain any reward that they thought they had earned. Allah does not guide the unbelievers.[264] 2:[264]
The example of those who spend their wealth to seek the pleasure of Allah and to strengthen their souls is like a garden on a high and fertile ground: when heavy rain falls on it, it yields up twice its normal produce; and if no rain falls, even a light moisture is sufficient. Whatever you do is in the sight of Allah.[265] Would any one of you like that his garden, which is full of palm trees, grape vines, and all kinds of fruits and watered by running streams, be blasted and consumed by a fiery whirlwind at the time when he has become too old and his children are too feeble to earn anything? Thus Allah makes His revelations clear to you so that you may ponder over them.[266] 2:[265-266]
O believers, spend in Allah’s Way the best portion of the wealth you have lawfully earned and that which We have produced for you from the earth, and do not pick out for charity those worthless things that you yourselves would not accept but with closed eyes. Bear in mind that Allah is Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.[267] Shaitãn threatens you with poverty and prompts you to commit what is indecent, while Allah promises you His forgiveness and bounties, and Allah has boundless knowledge.[268] He grants wisdom to whom He pleases; and whoever is granted wisdom is indeed given a great wealth, yet none except people of understanding learn a lesson from it.[269] 2:[267-269]
Whatever you spend in charity or whatever vow you make, surely Allah knows it. The wrongdoers shall have no helpers.[270] To give charity in public is good, but to give to the poor in private is better and will remove from you some of your sins. Allah is aware of your actions.[271] O Prophet, you are not responsible for their guidance, it is Allah Who guides whom He pleases. Whatever wealth you spend in charity, it is to your own advantage; provided you give to seek the pleasure of Allah. Whatever wealth you spend for the sake of Allah, will be paid back to you in full, and you will not be wronged.[272] Charity is for those needy people who are engaged so much in the cause of Allah that they cannot move about in the land to earn their livelihood: the ignorant think that they are wealthy on account of their modest behavior. You can recognize them by their look because they do not make insistent demands on people. Whatever you spend on them, surely Allah knows it.[273] 2:[270-273]
Ameen.
This concludes today’s episode of the 17 Verses Podcast. I hope that this selection has helped increase your understanding of the holy Qur’an just a little bit.
Thank you and be well.