,

وَمَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّن نَّفَقَةٍ أَوْ نَذَرْتُم مِّن نَّذْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ يَعْلَمُهُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ {270}

إِن تُبْدُواْ الصَّدَقَاتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِيَ وَإِن تُخْفُوهَا وَتُؤْتُوهَا الْفُقَرَاء فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لُّكُمْ وَيُكَفِّرُ عَنكُم مِّن سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَاللّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ {271}

270. "And whatever you spend in charity, or (whatever) vow you vow, surely Allah knows it. While, there will be no helpers for the unjust."

271. "If you give alms openly, it is well; but if you hide it and give it to the poor, it is better for you, and it will remove from you some of your sins; and Allah is aware of what you do."

Commentary:

"And whatever you spend in charity..."

Spending in charity, here, means whatever you spend in the way of Allah or in the way of Satan.

"... or (whatever) vow you vow..."

Or, whatsoever you have made obligatory to yourself by the way of vow, whether it be alongside the path of obedience of Allah or for committing sins, He knows it.

"... surely Allah knows it..."

Verily, your deed is not concealed to Allah, and He will reward you according to it.

"... While, there will be no helpers for the unjust."

The objective meaning of 'unjust' here, is those who spend their wealth in the way of disobedience of Allah and committing sins. They do not give the alms of their property; or do not fulfil what they have vowed; or they vow to do that which is sin. For such people, there will be no friend who can save them from the Divine Judgment or prevent His punishment.

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"If you give alms openly, it iv well; but if you hide it and give it to the poor, it is better for you, and it will remove from you some of your sins; and Allah is aware of what you do."

That is, if you give your alms hiddenly to the indigents 'it is better for you', viz., giving alms hiddenly is better for you: and its due reward is better and more. The purpose of alms that the concealment of which is better is the recommended alms, because making the obligatory alms manifest is more reasonable.

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لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدَاهُمْ وَلَـكِنَّ اللّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاء وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلأنفُسِكُمْ وَمَا تُنفِقُونَ إِلاَّ ابْتِغَاء وَجْهِ اللّهِ وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تُظْلَمُونَ {272}

272. "It is not upon you to guide them (O' Muhammad), but Allah guides aright whomsoever He' wills. And whatever of good you spend in charity shall be for your own selves; and you do not spend except seeking the pleasure of Allah; and whatever of good you spend shall be repaid to you in full and you shall not be dealt with unjustly."

Commentary:

In Majma'-ul-Bayan and Tafsir-ul-Kabir by Fakhr-Razi, there are cited some occasions of revelation for the above mentioned verse which, on the whole, indicate that Muslims were in doubt to give charity to the indigents of pagans and non-Muslims. When they inquired about it from the Messenger of Allah; (s), this verse was revealed. [13]

Explanations:

1. Do not employ the abundance of giving charity and the economical pressure for bringing infidels towards the Faith

"It is not upon you to guide them (O' Muhammad)..."

2. Serving the deprived is a human sympathy, as well as a duty, and generosity is a value. Hence, do give charity to non-Muslims, too.

3. Islam is a school of humanitarianism. It does not approve poverty and deprivation, even for non-Muslims.

4. The faith which be pretended under the pressure of economics is not worthy.

5. Guidance is a divine success which encompasses only the receptive hearts

"... but Allah guides aright whomsoever He wills."

6. The consequence of charity returns to you. It survives the spirit of generosity in you. It is through charity that the appearance of levels among groups of people and social bursts can be prevented and, instead, love and kindness may grow therein. However, in charity there can be found not deprivation while there is immunity in it.

"... And whatever of good you spend in charity, shall be for your own selves..."

7. Do not spend out but for Allah, because, soon or late, all the worldly benefits and merits will be vanished, but if giving charity be done for the sake of Allah, it will remain forever and you will enjoy of its incomes.

"... and you do not spend except seeking the pleasure of Allah..."

8. Be bountiful in spending out, since whatever you give in charity will come back to you with no decrease.

"... and whatever of good you spend shall be repaid to you in full..."

9. If you accomplish something for Allah, you will obtain your reward whether a Muslim or a pagan enjoys of it.

"... and you shall not be dealt with unjustly."

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[13] Majma'-ul-Bayan, Vol. 1, p. 385