Surah 2. Al-Baqara, Ayah 273
| لِلْفُقَرَاءِ الَّذِينَ أُحْصِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ضَرْبًا فِي الْأَرْضِ يَحْسَبُهُمُ الْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَاءَ مِنَ التَّعَفُّفِ تَعْرِفُهُمْ بِسِيمَاهُمْ لَا يَسْأَلُونَ النَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا ۗ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ |
| Transliteration | : | li- al- fuqaraa' 'alladhena uh.s.iro fe sabel 'allaah laa yastat.econ d.arb(an) fe al- 'ard. yah.sab -hum al- jaahil aghniyaa' min at- tacaffuf tacrif -hum bi- semaa -hum laa yas'alon an- naas ilh.aaf(an) wa- maa tunfiqo min khayr fa- 'inna 'allaah bi- -hi calem |
| Pickthall | : | (Alms are) for the poor who are straitened for the cause of Allah, who cannot travel in the land (for trade). The unthinking man accounteth them wealthy because of their restraint. Thou shalt know them by their mark: They do not beg of men with importunity. And whatsoever good thing ye spend, lo! Allah knoweth it. |
| Asad | : | [And give] unto [such of] the needy who, being wholly wrapped up in God's cause, are unable to go about the earth [in search of livelihood].261 He who is unaware [of their condition] might think that they are wealthy, because they abstain [from begging]; [but] thou canst recognize them by their special mark: they do not beg of men with importunity. And whatever good you may spend [on them], verily, God knows it all. |
| Malik | : | 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. |
| Yusuf Ali | : | (Charity is) for those in need who in Allah's cause are restricted (from travel) and cannot move about in the land seeking (for trade or work). The ignorant man thinks because of their modesty that they are free from want. Thou shalt know them by their (unfailing) mark: they beg not importunately from all and sundry. And whatever of good ye give be assured Allah knoweth it well. 322 |
Note - 261I.e., those who have devoted themselves entirely to
working in the cause of the Faith - be it by spreading,
elucidating or defending it physically or intellectually
- or to any of the selfless pursuits extolled in God's
message, such as search for knowledge, work for the
betterment of man's lot, and so forth; and, finally,
those who, having suffered personal or material hurt in
such pursuits, are henceforth unable to fend for
themselves.
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Note - 322Indiscriminate acts of so-called charity are condemned as
they may do more harm than good (see ii 262). The real
beneficiaries of charity are here indicated. They must be
in want. And the want must be due to some honorable
cause. For example, they may be doing some unpaid
service, such as teaching, or acquiring knowledge or
skill, or be in exile for their faith, or in other ways
be prevented from seeking employment or doing strenuous
work. "God's cause" must not be narrowly interpreted.
All sincere and real service to humanity comes within the
definition. Such men do not beg from door to door. It
is the duty of those who are well-to-do, or of the Public
Purse, to find them out.
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I.e., those who have devoted themselves entirely to working in the cause of the Faith - be it by spreading, elucidating or defending it physically or intellectually - or to any of the selfless pursuits extolled in God's message, such as search for knowledge, work for the betterment of man's lot, and so forth; and, finally, those who, having suffered personal or material hurt in such pursuits, are henceforth unable to fend for themselves. |
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Indiscriminate acts of so-called charity are condemned as they may do more harm than good (see ii 262). The real beneficiaries of charity are here indicated. They must be in want. And the want must be due to some honorable cause. For example, they may be doing some unpaid service, such as teaching, or acquiring knowledge or skill, or be in exile for their faith, or in other ways be prevented from seeking employment or doing strenuous work. "God's cause" must not be narrowly interpreted. All sincere and real service to humanity comes within the definition. Such men do not beg from door to door. It is the duty of those who are well-to-do, or of the Public Purse, to find them out. |
