270- AND WHATEVER CHARITY YOU SPEND OR NAZR YOU MAKE, ALLAH KNOWS IT, AND THE EVIL-DOERS WILL HAVE NO SUPPORTERS.

271- IF YOU DECLARE THE CHARITY, GOOD IT IS, BUT IF YOU HIDE IT AND GIVE IT TO THE POOR, IT IS BETTER FOR YOU.  ALLAH WILL FORGIVE YOU YOUR WRONG DOINGS. INDEED ALLAH SEES ALL YOU DO. 

Nazr is a vow of charity conditioned by something happens.  Such as when a person vows to give so much when his son or daughter passes their examinations, or someone sick is healed or any calamity passes. This vow should be fulfilled once the condition is met, that is the charity should be given. 

We should always be aware that Allah the Highest knows about our charities and rewards us for it, and knows about the Nazr and whether we fulfilled it or not. 

“AND THE EVIL-DOERS WILL HAVE NO SUPPORTERS” what does this end for the Ayah mean. 

1-    Some people might make a vow to give a charity then when what they hoped for happen, they do not give the charity. 

2-    Some might give the charity with other gains in mind.  For example to be seen and known to be charitable, or to gain something for this charity, or to have an advantage with the person they give charity to. 

This is all evil doing, for it makes the charity which should be given only for Allah’s sake, a means to worldly gains.

Now to the question of whether the charity is better shown or be hidden.  As a general rule, the charity is better given concealed.  This is better for he who receives it and also for him who gives it.  Why?

The person receiving the charity shall not be made to be embarrassed, or ashamed or his needs known to every one. 

The person giving the charity will not be tempted and his soul is better protected from pride and arrogance. 

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Seven kinds of people will be shadowed by Allah’s Shadow when there is no shadow but His; a just Imam (ruler), a young man who grow up in Allah’s care, two men who loved each other because of Allah, they get together by this love and parted with this love, a man who’s heart is attached to the mosques whenever he leaves until he goes back to it, a man who remembered Allah while alone and his eyes filled up, a man who was called by a woman of status, wealth and beauty (to commit adultery) and he said: ‘I fear Allah the Lord of all the world’, and a man who gives charity and hides it so that his left hand what his right hand spent”.  (B: Zakah; 16 & M: Zakah; 91 & T: Zohd; 53 & A: 2; 439)

At times, it can be better to show one’s charity, particularly if this is going to encourage others to give or make an example for them.  As happened when he prayer and peace upon him had a group people from a tribe called “Madr” coming to Medina.  They were very poor with old worn out cloths.  When Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him saw them his face changed with sorrow.  He commanded Belal to give Azan and Eqamah, prayed and then he encouraged the Muslims to give for charity.  A man from the Ansar came with a sac he could not carry from it’s weight, then people followed on doing the same,  until there were two big heaps of food and cloths and they saw Allah’s messenger face lightened up and shinned like gold (with pleasure).  And then Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Whoever makes a good example in Islam, he will have its reward and the reward of all who do the same, without diminishing any of their rewards, and he who makes a bad example in Islam, he will carry it’s sin and the sin of those who do the same, without diminishing any of their sins” (M: Zakah; 69 & N: Zakah; 64 & Ma: Moqademah; 14)

The main thing about charity is that it depends on the intention behind it.  This intention is in our hearts, and Allah the Highest only knows it, whether a person give charity in secret or public.

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

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