سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 263
۞ قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَآ أَذًى ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَنِىٌّ حَلِيمٌ ﴿263﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Kind words and forgiving of faults are better than Sadaqah (charity) followed by injury. And Allâh is Rich (Free of all needs) and He is Most-Forbearing.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ قَوْلٌۭ
qawlun
A word
مَّعْرُوفٌۭ
maʿrūfun
kind
وَمَغْفِرَةٌ
wamaghfiratun
and (seeking) forgiveness
خَيْرٌۭ
khayrun
(are) better
مِّن
min
than
صَدَقَةٍۢ
ṣadaqatin
a charity
يَتْبَعُهَآ
yatbaʿuhā
followed [it]
أَذًۭى ۗ
adhan
(by) hurt
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
غَنِىٌّ
ghaniyyun
(is) All-Sufficient
حَلِيمٌۭ
ḥalīmun
All-Forbearing
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
263. 1. Speaking to the beggar with gentleness and compassion or responding to him with supplicatory words (اللہ تعالیٰ تجھے بھی اور ہمیں بھی اپنے فضل و کرم سے نوازے وغیرہ) is called a kind word, and maghfirah means not disclosing the beggar’s poverty and need in front of people and concealing it. And if any inappropriate word comes from the beggar’s mouth, overlooking it is also included in this, meaning that gentleness, compassion, overlooking, and concealing with the beggar is better than that charity after which he is humiliated and hurt among people. That is why it is said in the hadith: al-kalimatu al-tayyibatu sadaqah (a pure word is also charity). Also, the Prophet ﷺ said: Do not consider any act of kindness insignificant, even if it is meeting your brother with a cheerful face. la tahqiranna min al-ma‘rufi shay’an wa law an talqa akhaka bi wajhin talq (Muslim, Kitab al-Birr).
