ism

269
we brought some calamity on ourselves. The righteous man is not necessarily perfect. In such circumstances his
behaviour is described in the next verse. (3.134)
9:60 - Alms are for the poor and the needy and those employed to administer the (funds); for those
whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in
the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah and Allah is full of
knowledge and wisdom. 1320
1320 Alms or charitable gifts are to be given to the poor and the needy and those who are employed in their service. That
is, charitable funds are not to be diverted to other uses, but the genuine expenses of administering charity are
properly chargeable to such funds. Who are the needy? Besides the ordinary indigent, there are certain classes of
people whose need is great and should be relieved. Those mentioned here are: (1) men who have been weaned from
hostility to Truth, who would probably be persecuted by their former associates, and require assistance until they
establish new connections in their new environment: (2) those in bondage, literally and figuratively: captives of war
must be redeemed: slaves should be helped to freedom-, those in the bondage of ignorance or superstition or
unfavourable environment should be helped to freedom to develop their own gifts: (3) those who are held in the grip of
debt should be helped to economic freedom: (4) those who are struggling and striving in Allah's Cause by teaching or
fighting or in duties assigned to them by the Islamic State, who are thus unable to earn their ordinary living: and (5)
strangers stranded on the way. All thesehave a claim to charity. They should be relieved by individual or organised
effort, but in a responsible way. In this verse, the word sadaqat refers to obligatory charity (zakat). See n. 1318 above.
(9.60)
9:79 - Those who slander such of the believers as give themselves freely to (deeds of) charity as
well as such as can find nothing to give except the fruits of their labor and throw ridicule on
them Allah will throw back their ridicule on them: and they shall have a grievous penalty. 1333
1333 When financial help is necessary for the Cause, every Muslim contributes what he can. Those who can afford large
sums are proud to bring them in of their own free-will, and those who are very poor contribute their mite or their
labour. Both kinds of gifts are equally precious because of the faith and good-will behind them, and only cynics will
laugh at the scantiness of the one or the lavishness of the other. Sometimes they not only laugh, but attribute wrong
motives to the givers. Such conduct is here reprimanded. (9.79)
22:41 - (They are) those who if We establish them in the land establish regular prayer and give
regular charity enjoin the right and forbid wrong: with Allah rests the end (and decision) of (all)
affairs. 2819
2819 "Enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong" is an essential duty of the Muslim Ummah and one of the main
purposes for which it has been raised. (See iii. 104, 110; ix. 71, 111-112, xxii, 41). (22.41)
23:4 - Who are active in deeds of charity;
30:38 - So give what is due to kindred the needy and the wayfarer. That is best for those who seek
the Countenance of Allah and it is they who will prosper. 35503551
3550 For Wajh (Face, Countenance), see n. 114 to ii. 112. Also see vi. 52. (30.38)
30:39 - That which ye lay out for increase through the property of (other) people will have no
increase with Allah: but that which ye lay out for charity seeking the Countenance of Allah (will
increase): it is these who will get a recompense multiplied. 35523553
3552 Riba (literally 'usury' or 'interest') is prohibited, for the principle is that any profit which we should seek should be
through our own exertions and at our own expense, not through exploiting other people or at their expense, however
we may wrap up the process in the spacious phraseology of high finance or City jargon. But we are asked to go
beyond this negative precept of avoiding what is wrong. We should show our active love for our neighbor by spending
of our own substance or resources or the utilization of our own talents and opportunities in the service of those who
need them. Then our reward or recompense will not be merely what we deserve. It will be multiplied to many times
more than our strict account. According to Commentators this verse specially applies to those who give to others,
whether gifts or services, in order to receive from them greater benefits in return. Such seemingly good acts are void
of any merit and deserve no reward from Allah, since He knows the real intention behind such ostensibly good deeds.
(30.39)
3553 Seeking the "Face" or "Countenance" of Allah, i.e., out of our pure love for the true vision of Allah's own Self. See also
n. 3550 above. (30.39)
31:4 - Those who establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity and have (in their hearts) the
assurance of the Hereafter. 3582
3582 The righteous are distinguished here by three marks, which are summed up in the phrase "doers of good", viz.: (1)
they yearn towards Allah in duty, love, and prayer, (2) they love and serve their fellow-men in charity, (3) they win
peace and rest for themselves in the assured hope of the Future. (31.4)
Go to UP
269