No. 22 – Bite Size Ramadan 1444 -2023
Day 22 Being Sincere in giving Charity
by
al-Hafidh Emaad ad-Deen Isma’eel Ibn Katheer
(d. 774 A.H.)
Translated
By
Abbas Abu Yahya
Allaah Ta’ala said:
﴿ٱلَّذِینَ یُنفِقُونَ أَمۡوَ ٰلَهُمۡ فِی سَبِیلِ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ لَا یُتۡبِعُونَ مَاۤ أَنفَقُوا۟ مَنࣰّا وَلَاۤ أَذࣰى لَّهُمۡ أَجۡرُهُمۡ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ وَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَیۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ یَحۡزَنُونَ ٢٦٢ ۞ قَوۡلࣱ مَّعۡرُوفࣱ وَمَغۡفِرَةٌ خَیۡرࣱ مِّن صَدَقَةࣲ یَتۡبَعُهَاۤ أَذࣰىۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَنِیٌّ حَلِیمࣱ ٢٦٣ یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُبۡطِلُوا۟ صَدَقَـٰتِكُم بِٱلۡمَنِّ وَٱلۡأَذَىٰ كَٱلَّذِی یُنفِقُ مَالَهُۥ رِئَاۤءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا یُؤۡمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡیَوۡمِ ٱلۡـَٔاخِرِۖ فَمَثَلُهُۥ كَمَثَلِ صَفۡوَانٍ عَلَیۡهِ تُرَابࣱ فَأَصَابَهُۥ وَابِلࣱ فَتَرَكَهُۥ صَلۡدࣰاۖ لَّا یَقۡدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَیۡءࣲ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا یَهۡدِی ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِینَ ٢٦٤﴾
[البقرة ٢٦٢-٢٦٤]
《Those who spend their wealth in the Cause of Allah, and do not follow up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury, their reward is with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
Kind words and forgiving of faults are better than Sadaqah (charity) followed by injury. And Allah is Rich (Free of all wants) and He is Most-Forbearing.
O you who believe! Do not render in vain your Sadaqah (charity) by reminders of your generosity or by injury, like him who spends his wealth to be seen of men, and he does not believe in Allah, nor in the Last Day. His likeness is the likeness of a smooth rock on which is a little dust; on it falls heavy rain which leaves it bare. They are not able to do anything with what they have earned. And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.》
[Baqarah: 262- 264]
al-Hafidh Emaad ad-Deen Isma’eel Ibn Katheer (d. 774 A.H.) said
‘Allaah Ta’ala praises those who spend from their wealth in the path of Allaah and do not follow up what they give of goodness and charity with reminders of their generosity which they gave. They do not follow up with what they give of generosity with reminders ofwhich they gave, neither in statements nor in actions.
As for Allaah saying : ﴿وَلا أَذًى﴾《or with injury》
Meaning that they do not follow up with injury and harm forcefully to the one to whom they did good to, otherwise they would invalidate the good they did previously.
Then Allaah Ta’ala promised them a great reward for not following up with injury and harm, He said:
﴿لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِم﴾《their reward is with their Lord》
Meaning that their reward is from Allaah and not from anyone other than Him.
﴿وَلا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِم﴾《On them shall be no fear》meaning, they shall not fear that which they will face of the difficulties on the Day of Judgement.
﴿وَلا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ﴾ 《nor shall they grieve.》
Meaning, nor shall they grieve over whom they left behind of children and what passed them by from the worldly life and its beautification, they are not in any distress over them, this is because they have passed on to that which is better for them.
Then Allaah Ta’ala said:
﴿قَوْلٌ مَعْرُوفٌ﴾《Kind words》
Meaning, saying a good word and Dua for a Muslim.
﴿وَمَغْفِرَة﴾《and forgiving of faults》
Meaning, forgiveness for oppression whether in statement or deeds.
﴿خَيْرٌ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَا أَذًى﴾《are better than Sadaqah (charity) followed by injury.》
﴿وَاللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ﴾ 《And Allaah is Rich (Free of all wants)》meaning, not in need of His creation.
﴿حَلِيمٌ﴾《and He is Most-Forbearing.》 Meaning, forbearing, forgives, is gracious and pardons.
There are Ahadeeth mentioned about the prohibition of reminders of your generosity after giving charity.
In Saheeh Muslim from Abu Dharr who said that the Messenger of Allaah sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam said:
“ثلاثة لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَلَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ، وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ، وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ: الْمَنَّانُ بِمَا أَعْطَى، وَالْمُسْبِلُ إِزَارَهُ، وَالْمُنَفِّقُ سِلْعَتَهُ بِالْحَلِفِ الْكَاذِبِ” .
‘There are three types of people whom Allaah will not talk to on the Day of Judgement nor will He look at, nor purify, and they will have a painful punishment. They are the one who follows reminders of him giving charity, the one who lets his garment hang below his ankles, and the one who sells his commodity with a false oath.’
From Abul Darda from the Prophet sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam who said:
لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ عَاقٌّ، وَلَا مَنَّانٌ، وَلَا مُدْمِنُ خَمْرٍ، ولا مكذب بقدر
‘The one who is disobedient to his parents will not enter Paradise, nor the one who follows up his charity with reminder, nor the alcoholic nor the one who belies Qadr (fate).’[1]
This is why Allaah Ta’ala said:
﴿يأيها الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُبْطِلُوا صَدَقَاتِكُمْ بِالْمَنِّ وَالأذَى﴾
《O you who believe! Do not render in vain your Sadaqah (charity) by reminders of your generosity or by injury》
Allaah informed us that the charity which is followed by reminders and injury of that charity will be nullified.
So the reward for that charity will not be given due to the following up of reminders and injury.
Then Allaah Ta’ala said:
﴿كَالَّذِي يُنْفِقُ مَالَهُ رِئَاءَ النَّاسِ﴾
《like him who spends his wealth to be seen of men》
Meaning, do not invalidate your charity with reminders and injury, like the one who invalidates his giving of charity to show off to the people.
He manifests to the people that he intends the Face of Allaah, but in reality he intended the praise of the people or fame for having beautiful characteristics, so that he would be thanked among the people or so that it could be said that he is such a generous person etc, from the worldly aims without at all looking at the dealing with Allaah Ta’ala or desiring His pleasure and Allaah’s great reward, and that is why Allaah said:
﴿وَلا يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِر﴾
《and he does not believe in Allaah nor in the last day》
Then Allaah Ta’ala brings a similitude for the one who shows off with his charity. Dhihhak said, ‘As for the one who follows up his charity with reminder and injury, then Allaah said,
﴿فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ﴾
<< His likeness is the likeness of a smooth rock >> it is clean and a smooth rock.
﴿عَلَيْهِ تُرَابٌ فَأَصَابَهُ وَابِلٌ﴾ وَهُوَ الْمَطَرُ الشَّدِيدُ
<< on which is a little dust; on it falls heavy rain >> which is a heavy rainfall.
Allaah said:
﴿فَتَرَكَهُ صَلْدًا﴾
<< on which is a little dust; on it falls heavy rain which leaves it bare >>
Meaning, so the heavy rain left the rock bare, meaning left it smooth and dry, meaning, it has nothing left on it from dust, in fact all of it had gone, meaning, just like the deeds of those who show off, they will go away and disappear away from Allaah, even if the actions appear to the people, but they will be like dust.
And that is why Allaah said:
﴿لَا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى شَيْءٍ مِمَّا كَسَبُوا وَاللَّهُ لا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ﴾
<< They are not able to do anything with what they have earned. And Allaah does not guide the disbelieving people.>>
ARABIC
تفسير ابن كثير — ابن كثير (٧٧٤ هـ)
﴿ٱلَّذِینَ یُنفِقُونَ أَمۡوَ ٰلَهُمۡ فِی سَبِیلِ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ لَا یُتۡبِعُونَ مَاۤ أَنفَقُوا۟ مَنࣰّا وَلَاۤ أَذࣰى لَّهُمۡ أَجۡرُهُمۡ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ وَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَیۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ یَحۡزَنُونَ ٢٦٢ ۞ قَوۡلࣱ مَّعۡرُوفࣱ وَمَغۡفِرَةٌ خَیۡرࣱ مِّن صَدَقَةࣲ یَتۡبَعُهَاۤ أَذࣰىۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَنِیٌّ حَلِیمࣱ ٢٦٣ یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُبۡطِلُوا۟ صَدَقَـٰتِكُم بِٱلۡمَنِّ وَٱلۡأَذَىٰ كَٱلَّذِی یُنفِقُ مَالَهُۥ رِئَاۤءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا یُؤۡمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡیَوۡمِ ٱلۡـَٔاخِرِۖ فَمَثَلُهُۥ كَمَثَلِ صَفۡوَانٍ عَلَیۡهِ تُرَابࣱ فَأَصَابَهُۥ وَابِلࣱ فَتَرَكَهُۥ صَلۡدࣰاۖ لَّا یَقۡدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَیۡءࣲ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا یَهۡدِی ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِینَ ٢٦٤﴾ [البقرة ٢٦٢-٢٦٤]
يَمْدَحُ تَعَالَى الَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ، ثُمَّ لَا يُتْبِعُونَ مَا أَنْفَقُوا مِنَ الْخَيْرَاتِ وَالصَّدَقَاتِ مَنًّا عَلَى مَنْ أَعْطَوْهُ، فَلَا يَمُنُّونَ عَلَى أَحَدٍ، وَلَا يَمُنُّونَ بِهِ لَا بِقَوْلٍ وَلَا فِعْلٍ.
وَقَوْلُهُ: ﴿وَلا أَذًى﴾ أَيْ: لَا يَفْعَلُونَ مَعَ مَنْ أَحْسَنُوا إِلَيْهِ مَكْرُوهًا يُحْبِطُونَ بِهِ مَا سَلَفَ مِنَ الْإِحْسَانِ.
ثُمَّ وَعَدَهُمْ تَعَالَى الْجَزَاءَ الْجَزِيلَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ: ﴿لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِم﴾ أَيْ: ثَوَابُهُمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ، لَا عَلَى أَحَدٍ سِوَاهُ ﴿وَلا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِم﴾ أَيْ: فِيمَا يَسْتَقْبِلُونَهُ مِنْ أَهْوَالِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ﴿وَلا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ﴾ أَيْ: [عَلَى] مَا خَلَّفُوهُ مِنَ الْأَوْلَادِ وَمَا فَاتَهُمْ مِنَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَزَهْرَتِهَا لَا يَأْسَفُونَ عَلَيْهَا؛ لِأَنَّهُمْ قَدْ صَارُوا إِلَى مَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُمْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ.
ثُمَّ قَالَ تَعَالَى: ﴿قَوْلٌ مَعْرُوفٌ﴾ أَيْ: مِنْ كَلِمَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ وَدُعَاءٍ لِمُسْلِمٍ ﴿وَمَغْفِرَة﴾ أَيْ: غَفَرَ عَنْ ظُلْمٍ قَوْلِيٍّ أَوْ فِعْلِيٍّ ﴿خَيْرٌ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَا أَذًى﴾
قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي حَاتِمٍ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُفَيْلٍ قَالَ: قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَعْقِلِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ قَالَ: بَلَغَنَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: “مَا مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ قَوْلٍ مَعْرُوفٍ، أَلَمْ تَسْمَعْ قَوْلَهُ: ﴿قَوْلٌ مَعْرُوفٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَا أَذًى﴾ ” ﴿وَاللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ﴾ [أَيْ] : عَنْ خَلْقِهِ.
﴿حَلِيمٌ﴾ أَيْ: يَحْلُمُ وَيَغْفِرُ وَيَصْفَحُ وَيَتَجَاوَزُ عَنْهُمْ.
وَقَدْ وَرَدَتِ الْأَحَادِيثُ بِالنَّهْيِ عَنْ الْمَنِّ فِي الصَّدَقَةِ، فَفِي صَحِيحِ مُسْلِمٍ، مِنْ حَدِيثِ شُعْبَةَ، عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ مُسْهِر، عَنْ خَرَشَةَ بن الحر، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسلم: “ثلاثة لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَلَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ، وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ، وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ: الْمَنَّانُ بِمَا أَعْطَى، وَالْمُسْبِلُ إِزَارَهُ، وَالْمُنَفِّقُ سِلْعَتَهُ بِالْحَلِفِ الْكَاذِبِ” .
وَقَالَ ابْنُ مَرْدَوَيْهِ: حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الدُّورِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا هُشَيْمُ بْنُ خَارِجَةَ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ عُقْبَةَ، عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ مَيْسَرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِدْرِيسَ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ: “لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ عَاقٌّ، وَلَا مَنَّانٌ، وَلَا مُدْمِنُ خَمْرٍ، ولا مكذب بقدر” وَرَوَى أَحْمَدُ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ، مِنْ حَدِيثِ يُونُسَ بْنِ مَيْسَرَةَ نَحْوَهُ.
ثُمَّ رَوَى ابْنُ مَرْدَوَيْهِ، وَابْنُ حِبَّانَ، وَالْحَاكِمُ فِي مُسْتَدْرَكِهِ، وَالنَّسَائِيِّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ الْأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: “ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا يَنْظُرُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ: الْعَاقُّ لِوَالِدَيْهِ، وَمُدْمِنُ الْخَمْرِ، وَالْمَنَّانُ بِمَا أَعْطَى” .
وَقَدْ رَوَى النَّسَائِيُّ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ عَمِّهِ رَوْحُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ، عَنْ عَتَّابِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، عَنْ خُصَيْفٍ الْجَزَرِيِّ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ: “لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مُدْمِنُ خَمْرٍ، وَلَا عَاقٌّ لِوَالِدَيْهِ، وَلَا مَنَّانٌ” .
وَقَدْ رَوَاهُ ابْنُ أَبِي حَاتِمٍ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْمِنْهَالِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ الْمَوْصِلِيِّ، عَنْ عَتَّابٍ، عَنْ خُصَيف، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ
وَرَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيُّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ، عَبْدِ الْكَرِيمِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ الْجَزَرِيِّ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، قَوْلُهُ.
وَقَدْ رُوِيَ عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ وَعَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ أبي هريرة، نحوه
ولهذا قال تعالى: ﴿يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُبْطِلُوا صَدَقَاتِكُمْ بِالْمَنِّ وَالأذَى﴾ فَأَخْبَرَ أَنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ تَبْطُلُ بِمَا يَتْبَعُهَا مِنَ الْمَنِّ وَالْأَذَى، فَمَا يَفِي ثَوَابَ الصَّدَقَةَ بِخَطِيئَةِ الْمَنِّ وَالْأَذَى.
ثُمَّ قَالَ تَعَالَى: ﴿كَالَّذِي يُنْفِقُ مَالَهُ رِئَاءَ النَّاسِ﴾ أَيْ: لَا تُبْطِلُوا صَدَقَاتِكُمْ بِالْمَنِّ وَالْأَذَى، كَمَا تَبْطُلُ صَدَقَةُ مَنْ رَاءَى بِهَا النَّاسَ، فَأَظْهَرَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ يُرِيدُ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَا قَصْدُهُ مَدْحُ النَّاسِ لَهُ أَوْ شُهْرَتُهُ بِالصِّفَاتِ الْجَمِيلَةِ، لِيُشْكَرَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ، أَوْ يُقَالَ: إِنَّهُ كَرِيمٌ وَنَحْوَ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْمَقَاصِدِ الدُّنْيَوِيَّةِ، مَعَ قَطْعِ نَظَرِهِ عَنْ مُعَامَلَةِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَابْتِغَاءِ مَرْضَاتِهِ وَجَزِيلِ ثَوَابِهِ؛ وَلِهَذَا قَالَ: ﴿وَلا يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِر﴾
ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ تَعَالَى مَثَلَ ذَلِكَ الْمُرَائِي بِإِنْفَاقِهِ -قَالَ الضَّحَّاكُ: وَالَّذِي يُتْبِعُ نَفَقَتَهُ مَنًّا أَوْ أَذًى -فَقَالَ: ﴿فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ﴾ وَهُوَ جَمْعُ صَفْوانة، وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ: الصَّفْوَانُ يُسْتَعْمَلُ مُفْرَدًا أَيْضًا، وَهُوَ الصَّفَا، وَهُوَ الصَّخْرُ الْأَمْلَسُ ﴿عَلَيْهِ تُرَابٌ فَأَصَابَهُ وَابِلٌ﴾ وَهُوَ الْمَطَرُ الشَّدِيدُ ﴿فَتَرَكَهُ صَلْدًا﴾ أَيْ: فَتَرَكَ الْوَابِلُ ذَلِكَ الصَّفْوَانَ صَلْدًا، أَيْ : أَمْلَسَ يَابِسًا، أَيْ: لَا شَيْءَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ التُّرَابِ، بَلْ قَدْ ذَهَبَ كُلُّهُ، أَيْ: وَكَذَلِكَ أَعْمَالُ الْمُرَائِينَ تَذْهَبُ وَتَضْمَحِلُّ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَإِنْ ظَهَرَ لَهُمْ أَعْمَالٌ فِيمَا يَرَى النَّاسُ كَالتُّرَابِ؛ وَلِهَذَا قَالَ: ﴿لَا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى شَيْءٍ مِمَّا كَسَبُوا وَاللَّهُ لا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ﴾ .
[1] [Authenticated by Ahmad Shakir in Umdatu tafseer]
From Salim bin Abdullaah bin Umar from his father who said that the Messenger of Allaah sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam said:
‘There are three types of people whom Allaah will not look at on the Day of Judgement, the one who is disobedient to his parents, the alcoholic and the one who follows up with reminders after giving charity.’
[Collected by Nisa’ee, Ahmad and graded Hasan by Al-Albaani in Silsilah as-Saheehah no. 3099]