Ahsan Hanif – Quran Tafseer – Page 46 – The Best Charity is to Keep it Secret
![Ahsan Hanif](https://artwork.muslimcentral.com/ahsan-hanif-150x150.jpg)
AI: Summary ©
AI: Transcript ©
You're gonna shave on
me.
Cinematic monumental ly or barakato Bismillah R Rahman r Rahim Al hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Alameen or aktiviteter multiplane will not run in Allah volley meanwhile Asha to Allah. Allah Allahu Allahu la sharika Illa who Oberlin on earth here in Washington in the Vienna Mohamed Abdul Hora sudo Mustafa Lamine Allahumma salli wa sallim wa barik ala Abdullah sadaqa Muhammad wa ala alihi wa sahbihi H Marina my bath Welcome to a another episode of outer seal page by page and inshallah to Allah today we are on page 46 of the book of Allah subhanaw taala which is the third Joe Surah Baqarah. In the previous episode, we mentioned a number of verses that spoke about the examples and parables that
Allah azza wa jal gave concerning the people who give charity and depending on their intention and the manner in which they give that charity ALLAH SubhanA data gave different descriptions. So we have the example of the one who spends for other than the sake of Allah subhanaw taala has an intention which is insincere, and Allah azza wa jal describe that as being something or like the example of a person who doesn't benefit that they have, it's like an earth or soil, but underneath it is all hard rock and they will be exposed. And then Allah azza wa jal give the example of the person who spent for the way of Allah subhanaw taala. And how those are the people who have a
fertile field of produce, and the heavy rain that comes upon it doubles the yield and harvest that they have. And then Allah azza wa jal gave the example of the person who spends in the way of Allah but they also do some evil they hold favor upon others, the company that charity with hurtful words and actions. And so those people are like the example of a person who has a field that is ripe for harvest, but they are inherently weak themselves and have no one else to help them. And if that continues, then there are people whose Gardens will be destroyed. And Allah azza wa jal told us also in the previous episode, as we mentioned, that Shavon promises poverty that has shaped bonds promise
to people, whereas Allah azza wa jal promises that He will give to them from his forgiveness and from his abundant mercy and provision Subhana who Wattana Allah subhanaw taala in this
in today's episode, these verses that we're still going through in this passage, are still pertaining to charity and sadaqa. So Allah azza wa jal then says in verse 271, our older bIllahi min ash shaytani R Rajim wama forgotten me never gotten old adatom In netherwing in Hola Hola. Hola, more. Well melody Lonnie me and I mean,
whatever you may give a vow to give a need Allah azza wa jal knows it well, and those who do wrong will have no one to help them. Allah subhanaw taala says that Allah azza wa jal knows what people intent. So what you give and the manner in which you give it is known to Allah subhanaw taala. Those people who give in secret, Allah azza wa jal knows what they do. Those people who give them they don't really realize or they don't really count what they're giving, they just give the path of Allah azza wa jal, Allah knows what they give. And Allah subhanaw taala knows also the vows that you are making, in terms of that which you are give giving. And just as Allah azza wa jal also knows the
intention behind the vow and the intention behind the giving. As we mentioned before that there are people who give only for Allah sake, there are people who could give for the dunya and for showing off and for the priests of people. And there are people who give when they may have a mixed intention, they may want something back from that person in one way or another over time, but they're also giving for the path of Allah subhanaw taala. All of this is known by Allah azza wa jal, Allah subhanaw taala says for in Allah, Allah, indeed Allah knows it. Well Amanda volley Mina Manansala and indeed those who do wrong will have no one to help them meaning that if your intention
is impure, you're from those people who do it for other than Allah sake, then Allah azza wa jal will hold you to account for this as we said, Allah subhanaw taala exposes such people either in this life or in the next life.
In verse 271, Allah subhanaw taala then says to do so the path if any Mahi what took for her what to do and for Cara ephah Hua you know, lecom will you feel one commune Si, t come? Allah homie, manta Imelda, una Hamid, if you give charity openly it is good. But if you keep it secret and give to the needy in private, then it is better for you and they will alone and they will atone for some of your bad deeds. Indeed Allah is well aware of that which you do. Allah subhanaw taala and speaks about an issue that many people when it comes to charity, it is something which they are concerned with. It is something it was one of the prominent questions that comes to people's minds. It is something
which people often grapple with. And that is the question of should I
They give my charity publicly or privately, meaning that should other people know that I'm giving charity. So we often see, for example, people calling for charity and it's done an open forum. For example, it's a it's a charity dinner on a standard in the masjid for some project for the community, or it's done in such a way that the people donating and giving would be known to the people that it was public in that way. Or should I give charity which is in private? Should I give it quietly and privately with no one knowing my name and so on? And Allah azza wa jal says here in took the Socratic funnier in Mahi, if you were to give it openly it is good. There is no harm in
doing so it is not haram in Islam to give it in openly. And this is an important verse here, because Allah azza wa jal is making a distinction between this issue here and what Allah subhanaw taala mentioned in previous verses, and that is Allah azza wa jal holds people to account for their intention. But that intention, if it is pure, and it is sincere for Allah sake, or you're one of those people who for example, a show that you can give charity openly was having sincerity in your heart, then there is no there is no sin or harm in doing so. And we know from the sunnah of our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in a number of
occasions called people to give sadaqa openly, and they did so. And it wasn't the case that no you have to go privately or you have to hide or you have to come individually to the prophets on Allahu Allahu Sena. But rather than run occasions, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would call people to give openly and they will do so. So for example, one example being the read prayer, as as mentioned, a number of a hadith that the prophets on Allah, wherever you will send them went with beloved, the Allah one to the women on the day of read, and he gave them their own reminder. And he reminded them of Allah subhanaw taala. And then he prompted them, encourage them to give sadaqa and
he told them give sadaqa and so the women started to take off their jewelry, their rings, and their necklaces, and so on. And they started to put it in the cloth that beloved, the Allah one was holding around, so that people could place their wealth within it. And so that's an example is open charity give in the path of Allah. And so the people they can see, oh, she's doing this and he's doing this and so on. Another example of this being in the time of the prophets of Allah, what do you send him? When the prophets of Allah wherever you send them would fundraise for jihad for his expeditions and his military campaigns? He would call the companions to the masjid and then he would
say to them, that we have to go and fight so and so we're going to wage war with so and so and so, given the path of Allah subhanaw taala. So, people would come and they would spend and there is a number of narration for example, of the companions giving you the path of Allah azza wa jal, for example, such as Earth man, Immanuel, our fan of the Allah Who, who gave and gave and gave, to the extent that in some generations the Prophet said from salAllahu alayhi wa sallam, no harm will come to us, man after this day. And so if a person has sincerity, there is no harm in them giving charity publicly, forever. However, Allah azza wa jal says, we're waiting for her what to * for Cara for
Hawa, you will let them but if you were to keep it quiet secret, and to give it to the needy in private than that is better for you mean the general principle is that it is better to give charity in secret, rather than announcing it or telling people or doing it publicly. It is better to give it in secret and we already mentioned in the previous episode, the Hadith of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam concerning the seven who will be given shade on the day of judgment from amongst them is the one who gives charity secretly, to the extent that the left hand doesn't know what the right hand gives, as the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, in that particular narration and
Hadith that's the general principle, to go privately and privately meaning that no one knows not the purpose and no one else around you knows and you give it for the sake of Allah azza wa jal, and one of the primary reasons that it is better is because it is more likely to preserve the sincerity and purity of your intention. Whereas if you were to give it openly, even if you had a good intention, sometimes shaytan comes to a person during the act of giving, after the act of giving, and that intention can be manipulated can be transformed or changed. The whisperings of shape can make a person think in a different way. And so some people may fear that for themselves. So Allah azza wa
jal says this way you'll safeguarded from it. However, to give charity in public according to a number of the scholars of Islam, sometimes it is more virtuous and more rewarding than giving it in secret. It is more rewarding sometimes to go against the general principle. As we know the prophets of Allah, why do you send them did for example, in issues and causes where there is a great reward or a great benefit for the community that you call them together, rather than approaching people individually, and that's why you have in our time, charity dinners, mosque, fundraisers, and so on and so forth. And that is because these people come together. They're told this is what we need from
you. And they come and they give and in many ways, they encourage one another, they give from one another, they help one another in terms of their act. And the Prophet told us from Allah while he was still in the hadith of on one occasion, he was asking for charity and the people were being slightly slow in giving until one of the companions to
defending against something. And then another one saw this and they gave us and then the people started giving the prophets of Allah where it will send them segments. And if Islam is sooner than Hassan, whosoever establishes a good practice in this religion, then you will have his reward and the share of the reward of everyone who comes and follows in the footsteps without diminishing any of their reward. And likewise for the one who establishes an evil practice in Islam as well. So definitely feel someone who encourages you will the first person you help you prompt whatever, then there is something which can have a great effect upon the people around you and the community. And
in that case, it is one of those occasions when public charity is better the caveat always been, so long as you have sincerity in your heart. If that position, being in that situation, giving charity in that way is going to corrupt your intention, then it is Never better. Because even if you're encouraging others the origin of the action, that sincerity or the intention of the action in your heart is corrupted. And because of that everything which follows then also becomes corrupted. And so therefore it is better for you then to refrain from that particular situation or that particular circumstance, that occasion because you're not one of those people that can discipline your
intention. But if you can, you can work on it, you can maintain the act of sincerity for the sake of Allah subhanho wa Taala when you can ignore what other people may say in terms of praise and in terms of looking at you and so on. That stuff which doesn't bother you doesn't make a difference to you. Because you know that your act is for Allah sake you're seeking you have your eyes on the reward of Allah alone and his pressure alone subhanaw taala nothing else matters to you. Everything else is insignificant what people may say or not say whether it's good or bad or positive or negative, it is only you and Allah Azza does reward that you focus upon then it is good to give an
occasion in public, especially if you will prompt and encourage others. Otherwise the general rule generally speaking is that you try to keep your sadaqa said and keep it as one of those private acts between you and between Allah subhana wa Tada. Allah azza wa jal says either way where you can feel unconvincing, your article, it will atone for your bad deeds charity is one of the greatest ways of atoning and exploiting for your bad deeds. Will Allah Who Bhima Tama Luna Kabir and indeed Allah azza wa jal knows full well, that which you do. In the next verse, verse 272, Allah subhanaw taala then says, laser Arnica. Houda Humala, Kin Allah heya de me,
mama, two people mean hiring fairly, full cecum warmer to the corner in Liberty Hall.
Warmer to feel calm inquiry we're failing to fly to the moon. It is not for you on Messenger of Allah to guide imperata It is Allah who guides whosoever He wills, whatever charity you give will benefit yourselves, provided you do it for the sake of Allah subhanho wa Taala and whatever you give will be repaid to you in full and you will not be wronged. Allah azza wa jal is taught is telling us here. Now not every person gives charity in that way. There are people who have corrupt intentions, people who are amazing people who are stingy, you cannot guide everyone. You cannot make everyone do good. It is in the hands of Allah azza wa jal, whomsoever receives guidance and whosoever does not,
but Allah subhanaw taala says to us mentioning a principle that we mentioned before that which you do you ultimately benefit from it yourself. As the Prophet told us on Allah wa sallam said, as the Prophet said and told us that Allah azza wa jal said that the Hadith and footsy Yep, the Adam in NEMA here, oh child of Adam, these are your deeds. Allah azza wa jal says in nama see how Allah come I have just recorded them for you. So Allah azza wa jal says that they are yo good deeds from an mucha Hyun finished Medela so if you find good in those deeds and praise Allah woman which erotica Farah Illumina Illa neffs, and we'll find other than this, then let them blame only themselves. It
is your deeds, Allah azza wa jal records them you are the one who ultimately benefits in terms of reward in terms of expansion for your sins in terms of gaining Allah's blessing and His mercy and His favor, and an abundance in his increasing his blessings and so on. This is what you benefit from, so long as you do it for the sake of Allah, so long as it is done for Allah's pleasure, and that which you do of God and the spend of God that Allah azza wa jal will repay you for and more in terms of what you will receive and reward in this life and in the next Allah azza wa jal blesses you in this life, and Allah subhanaw taala will give you the greatest of rewards in the next life.
In verse 273, Allah subhanaw taala then says, little football or Lavina or Cyril visa vie de la isla, you're stuck in your own adornment fill RB Cebu Umoja Hill, Cebu Mujahid who Alvernia Amina taffeta reform to an E form Mishima homeless alone and NASA in halfa. Woman to feel calm in hiring in the lobby Eileen
give to those who are only occupied and Allah's weight and cannot travel in the land for trade. The knowing might think them which because of the self restraint, but you will recognize them by the characteristic of not begging persistently. Indeed Allah is aware of any good that you give Allah subhanaw taala in his restaurant or simply three is a beautiful verse that speaks about the poor, that you should seek out in terms of giving to charity. There is an obligatory type of charity, which is a cat and Allah Azza will mention as we will come across the verse in Surah, Toba inshallah to Allah when we reach that part of the Quran, Allah Azza dimensions to the eight categories of
recipient recipients of zakat. These are the people that use the cat is due to and that is given to them. When it comes to your charity, your sadaqa your optional charity, Allah azza wa jal says that there is a group of people that are poor and needy, that you should seek out that they have more right to and Allah azza wa jal tells us generally, that, that Allah subhanaw taala tells us generally that the poor are needy or worthy, but Allah azza wa jal praises this type of whole person, for the way that they conduct themselves and the characteristics that they possess. And one of the things that therefore we benefit from this verse is that you don't necessarily control the
circumstances that you are in some people Allah azza wa jal has given to them wealth they're born, which they're born comfortable financially, or they grow up and Allah Azza blesses them in terms of the career and their job and their earning power. And other people, Allah azza wa jal has decreed that they are poor, that they're born in a poor family, that their circumstances mean that they will always be poor, that despite their natural intelligence and abilities, and so on, they're not able to earn money because that's one of the things that is of a personal provision. So one of those things that Allah azza wa jal has decreed, and written for a person, for each and every single
person and people differ in that regard. Nothing to do with how good a person is or evil, how noble thou pious or how how implies they may be, that is something which Allah azza wa jal has decreed. However, what you do have control over is the way that you manage that circumstance, the way that you deal with that circumstance, your character in that circumstance, the way that you respond to that circumstance. And so Allah azza wa jal does not praise the wealthy for simply being wealthy, nor the poor for simply being poor. But Allah praises both of those groups for the way that they deal with that situation in a manner that is pleasing to Him. Subhana wa Tada. So the wealthy if
they use their wealth, to please Allah to come closer to Allah to help the poor or needy. Allah praises them, because they use their wealth in a way that is pleasing to Allah because they were wealthy. And likewise the poor here Allah azza wa jal praises them, not because they're simply poor, but because of the patients that they show, because of the self resistance that they show, because of the discipline that they show because of the, of the of the, of the pleasure that they show me the decree that Allah azza wa jal has given to them. Allah subhanaw taala says little Fukuhara in Medina, CEO visa vie de la la highest of the Aruna Durban Filardo, there was a group of poor people
who are stuck, they're not able to trade the work that they just just a circumstance. This isn't speaking about the person who is poor, but because they choose to be poor, they can earn they have the potential to earn and get a job, but they just lazy, they don't want to work. They don't want to be for most those people who earn and that is a group of people that you find, you find people that don't want to work they just want to take from the government and it's handouts, they just want to that's something which Islam doesn't like. And that is why in Psalm a hadith, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, Don't give sadaqa to those people. They have the ability to go on and they
just pour because they want to be poor. They're choosing to be poor, not because they can't go and work and earn a living and manage their affairs. Yes, they may never be wealthy, but they have enough to suffice themselves they can earn enough to suffice themselves in their family, but they just don't want to. And so that is something which Allah Azza doesn't like it's not praised in the Sharia. These people don't have that opportunity. They're all in that circumstance. Their circumstances mean that they are genuinely poor. However, Allah azza wa jal says, Yes, Cebu Umoja who are going Yeah, I mean, a tough these people, an ignorant person will think that they are rich.
Why? Because they have tariff. tariff of means that the people who don't make it known that they're poor, you wouldn't know by looking at them that they're poor. They don't beg. They don't ask. They have a level of honor and, and self honor that they that they want to preserve, that they don't actually like people knowing the situation financially and so on. And the people who know them intimately, or the people who can see behind this will know that difficult, they're in a difficult situation. They're struggling, they're in hardship, but they don't go in and I'm sick. They don't want to proclaim it. They're not constantly complaining. They're constantly telling people they're
not constantly going around. Those are people that Allah azza wa jal, loves, loves because of the way that they conduct themselves, loves because of the honor that they're trying to maintain. In the most difficult of circumstances as the companions of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam were how many of them lived as we know, we're homeless, from the people of the sofa as they're known, that lived and resided in the masjid of the prophets of Allah wa Do you sell him? too poor to eat too poor to find some
thing to drink too poor to work too poor to find shelter, clothing, all of this stuff, but you don't find them begging. You don't find them going around seeking stuff you know, they will people who are pleased with the decree that Allah azza wa jal gave to them. That is why Allah subhanaw taala says to God, for whom we see him now, you know them by their character, you know them by the attributes lie as Aluna NASA in Haifa, they're not the people who constantly beg Yes, sometimes they may ask for help. Sometimes they may. They may hint, as some of the companions will do when they're really hungry, they go to a companion, they hint. And maybe sometimes the companion understands the hint.
And so they give them some food, invite them home for dinner. Sometimes the compilers don't take the hint, they don't understand the hint. And so they leave that person for that person won't go the next step and say, Hello, I'm telling you, I'm hungry, I need food. I'm poor, they wouldn't go to that level of luck. They don't beg. Last Aluna NASA in Haifa, what they request they make an honorable way. They do it in a way that is good, that is befitting of the character of a Muslim for us for going overboard. Being excessive, being persistent being someone who's following other people. No, that's not the way and it is not the character character they have Allah azza wa jal
appeases is pleased with these people. And he is from amongst these are from amongst the people that are not saying that you should seek out one or two people in hiring for inshallah hubby here, Eileen, and that which you give them indeed Allah azza wa jal is one of where these are a group of people that you will find in every community that has them. Every community has families that are struggling, single mothers, orphans, people who are widows, and so people who are struggling financially, but you wouldn't really know it. They're not the, you know, generally poor people that are known in the community, they're not the people that are constantly asking, Okay, but there are
people in every community. And so when people often come, and they say, Oh, we have a car, but we want to send it abroad, we don't want to give you here, because there's no poor people in the UK in the US in the West, because it's rich, and everyone's got money. That's not the case. There are so many people who are needy, so many people who are in difficult situations in the West in these countries, despite all of the benefits that they may receive, and all of the help that they may receive from the government and other places, they still need money standing up for them, doesn't help them, especially in times of difficulty in times of an increase in the cost of living, and so
on and so forth. Those people exist everywhere. You just don't know them, because they don't advertise themselves. You don't know them, because they're not the people who come and beg and ask of you, but they exist and they are there. And so if you go to your local masjid, you go to your local charity, Muslim charity, and they will tell you, we know these families, we know these people, we know who they are. And if you give us user, can you help us? We will make sure to shout Ouattara that it goes to them. And so sometimes we are very quick to send our money abroad. And and yes, no doubt there are people who are abroad, who need that money who are going through extremely difficult
circumstances as well. But it is also wrong to dismiss the people around you. If you can't help your neighbors and the community around you, then that is also a short falling or shortcoming that needs to be addressed. And the final verse on this page, verse 274, Allah subhanaw taala, then says, a lady in a young mother, whom the lady when is the wrong,
father, whom Jerome Jerome, there'll be murder, hopefully he doesn't own. Those who give out have their own possessions of their own wealth, by night and by day in private and public, they will have their reward with the Lord, no fear for them, nor will they ever grieve. Allah subhanaw taala tells us in this verse, that those who spend from that which Allah azza wa jal has given to them of their wealth. And they're constantly people of South Africa, they are known as being of the people of South Africa, because they're constantly giving in every situation, they give by night, and they give by day they give an open and they give in secret. And so there are people they will look at
every opportunity to come closer to Allah subhanaw taala. And they will take it, someone comes to them at night, for the hero of the campaign at night, on there in the midst of Russia, and it's night, and they're told to give the will give, and if it's during the daytime, they will give and if it's something which is in open and public, and as we said they have sincerity in their heart, they will, they will allow the opportunity to go away from them, but they will give and they will give in secret as well. There are people who are people of charity in this way, and that is why Allah azza wa jal describes him in this way, because it is a sign of this sincerity, that they're constantly
giving doesn't make a difference to them. It's open, no secret, it's day or night there are people who just give in charity Allah azza wa jal, it says, concerning them, they will have their reward with their Lord, Allah subhanaw taala will give to them they'll reward in full and some of those rewards have already been mentioned in previous verses. While hopefully him Allah who has known they will never fear nor will they have any grief meaning they don't fear that which will come ahead of them in terms of the next life because Allah azza wa jal will safeguard them from his punishment, nor do they grieve in terms of that which they leave behind their family and so on. Because Allah
azza wa jal will preserve them and from the greatest benefits of giving charity and sadaqa is this the
Allah subhanaw taala blesses the person's family after they have left this world, through the generosity and through their giving and through their charity, just as they have helped others and then good. Then Allah azza wa jal likewise does good to their descendants and to their family members that they leave behind. So their children, their grandchildren, the people that they leave behind Allah subhanaw taala looks after them with his divine protection is divine aid and help and with that, we come to the end of today's episode, May Allah azza wa jal bless you all BarakAllahu li comm also Allahu Allah Nabina Muhammad wa ala alihi wa sahbihi Ultramarine was cinnabar Alikum
rahmatullahi wa barakato listening
C