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179 Practical deeds of charity are of value when they proceed from love, and from no other motive. In this respect, also,
our duties take various forms, which are shown in reasonable gradation: our kith and kin; orphans (including any
persons who are without support or help); people who are in real need but who never ask (it is our duty to find them
out, and they come before those who ask); the stranger, who is entitled to laws of hospitality; the people who ask and
are entitled to ask, i.e., not merely lazy beggars, but those who seek our assistance in some form or another (it is our
duty to respond to them); and the slaves (we must do all we can to give or buy their freedom). Slavery has many
insidious forms, and all are included. (2.177)
180 Charity and piety in individual cases do not complete our duties. In prayer and charity, we must also look to our
organised efforts: where there is a Muslim State, these are made through the State, in facilities for public prayer, and
public assistance, and for the maintenance of contracts and fair dealing in all matters. (2.177)
2:215 - They ask thee what they should spend (in charity). Say: Whatever ye spend that is good is
for parents and kindred and orphans and those in want and for wayfarers. And whatever ye
do that is good Allah knoweth it well. 235
235 Three questions arise in charity: (1) What shall we give? (2) to whom shall we give? and (3) how shall we give? The
answer is here. Give anything that is good, useful, helpful, valuable. It may be property or money; it may be a helping
hand; it may be advice; it may be a kind word; "whatever ye do that is good" is charity. On the other hand, if you
throw away what is useless, there is no charity in it. Or if you give something with a harmful intent, e.g., a sword to a
madman, or a drug or sweets or even money to someone whom you want to entrap or corrupt, it is no charity but a gift
of damnation. To whom should you give? It may be tempting to earn the world's praise by a gift that will be talked
about, but are you meeting the needs of those who have the first claim on you? If you are not, you are like a person
who defrauds creditors: it is no charity. Every gift is judged by its unselfish character: the degree of need or claim is a
factor which you should consider; if you disregard it, there is something selfish behind it. How should it be given? As
in the sight of God; thus shuts out all pretence, show, and insincerity. (2.215)
2:263 - 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
309 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 shortcomings
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. (2.263)
2:264 - O ye who believe! cancel not your charity by reminders of your generosity or by injury like
those who spend their substance to be seen of men but believe neither in Allah nor in the last
day. They are in Parable like a hard barren rock on which is a little soil; on it falls heavy rain
which leaves it (just) a bare stone. They will be able to do nothing with aught they have
earned. And Allah guideth not those who reject faith. 310
310 False charity, "to be seen of men", is really no charity. It is worse, for it betokens a disbelief in God and the Hereafter.
"God seeth well whatever ye do" (ii. 265). It is compared to a hard barren rock on which by chance has fallen a little
soil. Good rain, which renders fertile soil more fruitful, washes away the little soil which this rock had, and exposes its
nakedness. What good can hypocrites derive even from the little wealth they may have amassed? (2.264)
2:267 - O ye who believe! give of the good things which ye have (honorably) earned and of the
fruits of the earth which We have produced for you and do not even aim at getting anything
which is bad in order that out of it ye may give away something when ye yourselves would not
receive it except with closed eyes. And know that Allah is free of all wants and worthy of all
praise. 314315316317
314 According to the English proverb "Charity covers a multitude of sins". Such a sentiment is strongly disapproved in
Islam. Charity has value only if (1) something good and valuable is given, (2) which has been honorably earned or
acquired by the giver, or (3) which is produced in nature and can be referred to as a bounty of God. (1) May include
such things as are of use and value to others though they may be of less use to us or superfluous to us on account of
our having acquired something more suitable for our station in life; for example, discarded clothes, or an old horse or
a used motor car; but if the horse is vicious, or the car engine so far gone that it is dangerous to use, then the gift is
worse than useless; it is positively harmful and the giver is a wrong-doer. (2) Applies to fraudulent companypromoters,
who earn great credit by giving away charity in some of their ill-gotten gains, or to robbers (even if they call
themselves by high-sounding names) who "rob peter to pay Paul". Islam will have nothing to do with tainted property.
Its economic code requires that every gain should be honest and honorable. Even "charity" would not cover or
destroy the taint. 3) Lays down a test in cases of a doubtful gain. Can we refer to it as a gift of God? Obviously the
produce of honest labour or agriculture can be so referred to. In modern commerce and speculation there is much of
quite the contrary character, and charity will not cover the taint. Some kind of art, skill, or talent are God-given: it is
the highest kind of charity to teach them or share their product. Others are the contrary: they are bad or tainted. In
the same way some professions or services may be tainted, if these tend to do moral harm. (2.267)
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