2. Surah Al Baqarah
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا
أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ ...
2: 267. O ye who believe!
... أَنفِقُواْ مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ وَمِمَّا أَخْرَجْنَا لَكُم مِّنَ الأَرْضِ...
give of the good things which ye have (honorably) earned, and of the fruits of the earth which We have produced for you,
C314. According to the English proverb "Charity covers a multitude of sins". Such a sentiment is strongly disapproved in Islam.
Charity has value only if;
- something good and valuable is given,
- which has been honorably earned or acquired by the giver, or
- which is produced in nature and can be referred to as a bounty of Allah.
1. may include such things as are of use and value to others though they may be of less use to us or superfluous to us on account of our having acquired something more suitable for our station in life; for example, discarded clothes, or an old horse or a used motor car;
but if the horse is vicious, or the car engine so far gone that it is dangerous to use, then the gift is worse than useless; it is positively harmful and the giver is a wrong-doer.
2. applies to fraudulent company-promoters, who earn great credit by giving away charity in some of their ill-gotten gains, or to robbers (even if they call themselves by high-sounding names) who "rob peter to pay Pauo".
Islam will have nothing to do with tainted property. Its economic code requires that every gain should be honest and honorable. Even "charity" would not cover or destroy the taint.
3. lays down a test in cases of a doubtful gain.
Can we refer to it as a gift of God?
Obviously the produce of honest labour or agriculture can be so referred to.
In modern commerce and speculation there is much of quite the contrary character, and charity will not cover the taint. Some kind of art, skill, or talent are God-given: it is the highest kind of charity to teach them or share their product.
Others are the contrary: they are bad or tainted. In the same way some professions or services may be tainted, if these tend to do moral harm.
وَلاَ تَيَمَّمُواْ الْخَبِيثَ مِنْهُ تُنفِقُونَ ...
and do not even aim at getting anything which is bad, in order that out of it ye may give away something,
C315. The preceding note tries to indicate some of the things which are bad or tainted. We should not even think of acquiring them for ourselves, soothing our conscience by the salve that we shall practice charity out of them.
... وَلَسْتُم بِآخِذِيهِ إِلاَّ أَن تُغْمِضُواْ فِيهِ ...
when ye yourselves would not receive it except with closed eyes.
C316. Closed eyes imply disgust or connivance because of some feature which we would not openly acknowledge.
... وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ ﴿٢٦٧﴾
And know that Allah is free of all wants, and worthy of all praise.
C317. To dedicate tainted things to Allah is a dishonor to Allah, Who is independent of all wants, and Who is worthy of all honor and praise.
2: 267
Asad O you who have attained to faith! Spend on others out of the good things which you may acquired, and out of which We bring forth for you from the earth, and choose for your spending the bad things which you yourselves would not accept without averting your eyes in disdain. And know that God is self sufficient, ever to be praised.
Pickthall O ye who believe! Spend of the good things which ye have earned, and of that which we bring forth from the earth for you, and seek not the bad (with intent) to spend thereof (in charity) when ye would not take it for yourselves save with disdain; and know that Allah is Absolute, Owner of Praise.
Transliteration a_ ayyuhal lazina a_manu_ anfiqu_ min tayyiba_ti ma_ kasabtum wa mimma_ akhrajna_ lakum minal ard(i), wa la_ tayammamul khabisa minhu tunfiqu_na wa lastum bi a_khizihi illa_ an tugmidu_ fih(i), wa'lamu_ annalla_ha ganiyyun hamid(un).
[ Ali’s notes -
314 According to the English proverb "Charity covers a multitude of sins". Such a sentiment is strongly disapproved in Islam. Charity has value only if (1) something good and valuable is given, (2) which has been honorably earned or acquired by the giver, or (3) which is produced in nature and can be referred to as a bounty of God. (1) May include such things as are of use and value to others though they may be of less use to us or superfluous to us on account of our having acquired something more suitable for our station in life; for example, discarded clothes, or an old horse or a used motor car; but if the horse is vicious, or the car engine so far gone that it is dangerous to use, then the gift is worse than useless; it is positively harmful and the giver is a wrong-doer. (2) Applies to fraudulent company-promoters, who earn great credit by giving away charity in some of their ill-gotten gains, or to robbers (even if they call themselves by high-sounding names) who "rob peter to pay Paul". Islam will have nothing to do with tainted property. Its economic code requires that every gain should be honest and honorable. Even "charity" would not cover or destroy the taint. (3) Lays down a test in cases of a doubtful gain. Can we refer to it as a gift of God? Obviously the produce of honest labour or agriculture can be so referred to. In modern commerce and speculation there is much of quite the contrary character, and charity will not cover the taint. Some kind of art, skill, or talent are God-given: it is the highest kind of charity to teach them or share their product. Others are the contrary: they are bad or tainted. In the same way some professions or services may be tainted, if these tend to do moral harm. (2.267)
315 The preceding note tries to indicate some of the things which are bad or tainted. We should not even think of acquiring them for ourselves, soothing our conscience by the salve that we shall practice charity out of them. (2.267)
316 Closed eyes imply disgust or connivance because of some feature which we would not openly acknowledge. (2.267)
317 To dedicate tainted things to God is a dishonor to God, Who is independent of all wants, and Who is worthy of all honor and praise. (2.267) ]