Surah 2. Al-Baqara, Ayah 263
| ۞ قَوْلٌ مَعْرُوفٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَا أَذًى ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ حَلِيمٌ |
| Transliteration | : | qawl macrof wa- maghfirah khayr min s.adaqah yatbac -haa 'adha(n) wa- 'allaah ghaney h.alem |
| Pickthall | : | A kind word with forgiveness is better than almsgiving followed by injury. Allah is Absolute, Clement. |
| Asad | : | A kind word and the veiling of another's want259 is better than a charitable deed followed by hurt; and God is self-sufficient, forbearing. |
| Malik | : | Kind words and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is Self-sufficient, Forbearing. |
| Yusuf Ali | : | Kind words and the covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is free of all wants and he is Most Forbearing. 309 |
Note - 259For the rendering of maghfarah (lit., "forgiveness") in
this context as "veiling another's want" I am indebted to
Baghawi's explanation of this verse.
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Note - 309A very high standard is set for charity. (1) It must be
in the way of God. (2) It must expect no reward in this
world. (3) It must not be followed by references or
reminders to the act of charity. (4) Still less should
any annoyance or injury be caused to the recipient; e.g.
by boasting that the giver relieved the person in the
hour of need. Indeed, the kindness and the spirit which
turns a blind eye to other people's faults or
short-comings is the essence of charity: these things
are better than charity if charity is spoilt by tricks
that do harm. At the same time, while no reward is to be
expected, there is abundant reward from God - material,
moral, and spiritual - according to His own good pleasure
and plan. If we spend in the way of God, it is not as if
God was in need of our charity. On the contrary our
short-comings are so great that we require His utmost
forbearance before any good that we can do can merit His
praise or reward. Our motives are so mixed that our best
may really be very poor if judged by a very strict
standard.
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A very high standard is set for charity. (1) It must be in the way of God. (2) It must expect no reward in this world. (3) It must not be followed by references or reminders to the act of charity. (4) Still less should any annoyance or injury be caused to the recipient; e.g. by boasting that the giver relieved the person in the hour of need. Indeed, the kindness and the spirit which turns a blind eye to other people's faults or short-comings is the essence of charity: these things are better than charity if charity is spoilt by tricks that do harm. At the same time, while no reward is to be expected, there is abundant reward from God - material, moral, and spiritual - according to His own good pleasure and plan. If we spend in the way of God, it is not as if God was in need of our charity. On the contrary our short-comings are so great that we require His utmost forbearance before any good that we can do can merit His praise or reward. Our motives are so mixed that our best may really be very poor if judged by a very strict standard. |
