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their motives and conduct. At the same time, this special charity is not made obligatory, lest such persons should be
shut out altogether from chances of the higher teaching on account of their pardonable foibles. (58.12)
63:10 - And spend something (in charity) out of the substance which We have bestowed on you
before death should come to any of you and he should say "O my Lord! why didst thou not
give me respite for a little while? I should then have given (largely) in charity and I should have
been one of the doers of good." 5477
5477 "Substance" or "Sustenance". Whatever good we enjoy comes from Allah, and it is our duty to use some of it in the
service of others, for that is Charity and the service of Allah. Every unselfish act is Charity. And we must not postpone
our good resolutions to the future. Death may come suddenly on us, and we cannot then be allowed to plead for more
time. Every present moment calls urgently for its good deed. (63.10)
64:16 - So fear Allah as much as ye can; listen and obey; and spend in charity for the benefit of
your own souls: and those saved from the covetousness of their own souls they are the ones
that achieve prosperity. 549754985499
5497 "Fear Allah" combined with "as much as you can" obviously means: "lead lives of self-restraint and righteousness": the
usual meaning of Taqwa: see n. 26 to ii. 2. (64.16)
5498 Charity is meant to help and do good to other people who need it. But it has the highest subjective value for the
person who gives it. Like mercy "it blesseth him that gives and him that takes". It purifies the giver's soul: the affection
that he pours out is for his own spiritual benefit and progress. Cf. Coleridge: "He prayeth best who loveth best all
things both great and small, for the Great God Who loveth us, Who made and loveth all". (64.16)
5499 Cf. lix. 9. Our worst enemy is within ourselves,-the grasping selfishness which would deprive others of their just rights
or seize things which do not properly belong to it. If we can get over this covetous selfishness, we achieve real
Prosperity in justice and truth. (64.16)
64:17 - If ye loan to Allah a beautiful loan He will double it to your (credit) and He will grant you
Forgiveness: for Allah is most Ready to appreciate (service) Most Forbearing 55005501
5500 Cf. ii. 245 and n. 276. Our Charity or Love is called a loan to Allah, which not only increases our credit account
manifold, but obtains for us the forgiveness of our sins, and the Capacity for increased service in the future. (64.17)
5501 Cf. xiv. 5, n. 1877; and xxxv. 30, n. 3917. Allah's appreciation of our service or our love goes far deeper than its
intrinsic merits or its specific expression on our side. His reward is beyond our deserts, and passes over out defects.
He judges by our motives, which He can read through and through: see next verse. (64.17)
73:20 - Read ye therefore as much of the Qur'an as may be easy (for you); and establish regular
Prayer and give regular Charity; and loan to Allah a Beautiful Loan. And whatever good ye
send forth for your souls Ye shall find it in Allah's presence yea better and greater in Reward.
And seek ye the Grace of Allah: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.
5771577257735774577557765777
5775 Cf. ii. 2456, and n. 276, where the meaning of "a Beautiful Loan" is explained. See also lvii. 18. The "Beautiful Loan"
should be that of our own souls. We should expect no retums in kind, for that is not possible. But the reward we shall
find with Allah will be infinitely greater and nobler. Cf. the biblical phrase, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven"
(Matt. vi. 20). (73.20)
5776 Any good that we do raises our own spiritual status and dignity. We must not think that when we speak of Allah's
service or Allah's Cause, we are doing anything for His benefit: He is independent of all needs whatsoever. (73.20)
75:31 - So he gave nothing in charity nor did he pray! 5826
5826 His indictment in this and the succeeding verse consists of four counts: (1) he neglected prayer; (2) he neglected
charity; (3) he rejected Truth; and (4) he turned away. In lxxiv. 43-46, the four counts are (1) neglecting prayer; (2)
neglecting charity; (3) talking vanities; (4) denying the Day of Judgment; see n. 5803, Nos. (1) and (2) are identical in
both places, and Nos. (3) and (4) are analogous. Rejecting the truth is equivalent to talking vanities and making an
alliance with falsehoods. Denying the Day of Judgment means behaving as if no account was to be given of our
actions, i.e., turning away from right conduct. An additional touch is found here in verse 33. See next note. (75.31)
Sahih Bukhari Hadith Subjects
Zakat
7. Charity must be from money earned honestly
B 2.491
8. Practicing charity before such time comes when nobody would accept I
10. Charity practiced by a niggardly person
B 2.500, B 2.501
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