267- YOU WHO BELIEVE, SPEND OUT OF THE GOOD AND PURE THINGS YOU EARNED, AND OUT OF WHAT WE BROUGHT FORTH FOR YOU FROM THE EARTH, AND DO NOT SEEK THE EVIL OF IT TO SPEND, THE THINGS YOU WILL NOT TAKE EXCEPT WITH CLOSED EYES; AND KNOW THAT ALLAH IS FREE OF ALL NEEDS, WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE AND GRATITUDE.

When the Muslims migrated from Makah to Medina, many of them had to escape in secret without their money or possessions and were poor.  The residents of Medina; the Ansar (supporters) helped them out and were very charitable to them.  Many would bring food and dates etc and hang it in the mosque for those in need to eat all they want. 

Some of them however used to bring their lesser quality dates and food and keep the better ones.  Allah the Highest sent down this Ayah to tell them that Allah does not need their charity and is able to provide whom He wills.  It is us who need to give charity to please Allah the Highest and earn His reward.

Allah the Highest is telling us not to give the evil items, which we would not take ourselves except with closed eyes.  What are these evil things?

Things can be evil in:

1-    In itself literally meaning bad dates, torn cloths, food which went of or we do not like to eat etc.   Charity is better from out of the average of what we each or drink or dress.  Allah the Highest said about ransoming “FROM THE AVERAGE OF WHAT YOU FEED YOU FAMILIES”  (S:5 A:89)

2-    Evil from the religious and morale point of view.  Such as stolen good, good or food acquired by fraud, things bought with money earned by Haram (forbidden) means.  Allah the Highest does not accept such charity. 

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Allah is good and pure and does not accept anything except the good and pure.  Allah commanded the believers with the same command He gave the messengers “O MESSENGERS, EAT FROM WHAT IS GOOD AND PURE AND DO RIGHTEOUS DEEDS, FOR I KNOW ALL THAT YOU DO” and He said: “YOU WHO BELIEVE EAT OUT OF THE GOOD AND PURE THINGS YOU EARNED ………..” Then Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “A man will be travelling for a long time, disheveled and dusty, and then he raises his hands to heavens and says: “O Lord, O Lord, while his food is from Haram, his drink from Haram, his cloths from Haram, and all of him from Haram.  How will he be answered?”  (M: Zakah; 65 & T: Adab; 41 & A: 2; 328)

Allah the Highest increases and multiplies the charity from Halal (good and pure) means.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “He who gives a Sadaqah (charity) as much as a date which should be of Halal (good and pure) earnings.  Allah receives it into his right hand and will increase it for him, looking after it as one looks after a foal, until it becomes as big as a mountain”  (T:Tawheed;23 & A:2;331)

Allah the Highest does not bless any thing earned by Haram, and does not accept charity from Haram.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “There is not a slave who earns wealth by Haram and Allah blesses it, not to give Sadaqah (charity) from it and it will be accepted, or if he leaves it behind him, it will be his provision for the Hell-Fire.  Allah does not erase the bad by the bad, but erases the bad by the good, the evil doe not erase the evil” (A: 1; 387)

Allah the Highest tells us that these things are things we would not take except with closed eyes.  Closed eyes to it what is bad about it.  Ignoring it or pretending not to notice, otherwise we will not take ourselves.  Such things we turn a blind eye to their evil, are the things Allah the Highest does not accept.

B: Bukhari   M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

Da: Daremy   Ma: Ibn Magah                   N: Nesae      T: Termezi