Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 267

(Ayah 267) ➊ {اَنْفِقُوْا مِنْ طَيِّبٰتِ … :} In the previous verses, it has been explained that for the acceptance of charity, donations, and spending in the way of Allah, the condition is sincerity and faith, and it has also been explained that charity is wasted by showing off, reminding of favors, and causing hurt, and then this has been clarified with examples. Now in this verse, another condition for the acceptance of charity is mentioned: the thing given in charity must be good and pure; if someone gives something inferior, it will not be accepted by Allah. Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that this verse was revealed about us, the Ansar. We were people of date palms, so each person would bring according to his trees, more or less, and hang a bunch or two in the mosque. The people of Suffah had nothing to eat, so when one of them felt hungry, he would come to the bunch, strike it with his staff, and half-ripe and ripe dates would fall, which he would eat. Some people, who were not inclined towards good deeds, would bring inferior and bad bunches, even broken ones, and hang them. So Allah Almighty revealed this verse: «يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْۤا اَنْفِقُوْا مِنْ طَيِّبٰتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ » The meaning is that if any of you were given a gift like what he has given, he would never accept it, except out of tolerance and shyness. Bara’ (may Allah be pleased with him) says, after this, each of us would bring only his best. [ترمذی، التفسیر، باب ومن سورۃ البقرۃ : ۲۹۸۷ و صححہ الألبانی ]

Although in the reason for revelation, voluntary charity is mentioned, this ruling includes both obligatory zakat and voluntary charity. Sahl (may Allah be pleased with him) says: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade accepting { ”جُعُرُور“ } and { ”لَون الحُبَيْق“ } (two inferior types of dates) in charity.” [أبوداوٗد،الزکوٰۃ، باب ما لا یجوز من الثمرۃ … : ۱۶۰۷، و صححہ الألبانی ]

➋ In { ”لَسْتُمْ بِاٰخِذِيْهِ“ }, the emphasis on negation in { ”لَسْتُمْ“ } is due to the use of the letter باء in {”بِاٰخِذِيْهِ“}, so the translation is: “You would never accept it.”

➌ The word { اَنْفِقُوْا مِنْ طَيِّبٰتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ … :} (Tayyib) is used for good wealth, and it also includes wealth earned through lawful means. Thus, the meaning is: spend pure and lawfully earned wealth in the way of Allah; charity from impure, i.e., unlawful wealth, is not accepted. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Indeed, Allah is pure and accepts only that which is pure.” [مسلم، الزکٰوۃ، باب قبول الصدقۃ … : ۱۰۱۵، عن أبی ہریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ]

➍ { مَا كَسَبْتُمْ وَ مِمَّاۤ اَخْرَجْنَا لَكُمْ مِّنَ الْاَرْضِ :} The main sources of human earnings are four: agriculture, industry, trade, and employment. Whatever the means of earning, if it reaches the nisab and a year passes over it, then one-fortieth, i.e., two and a half percent zakat, must be given. Some people say there is no zakat on trade goods; Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) refuted them by reasoning from this verse. [بخاری، الزکوٰۃ، باب صدقۃ الکسب والتجارۃ، قبل ح : ۱۴۴۵] However, the tithe (ushr) on crops obtained from the land must be paid as soon as the crop is harvested, if it reaches the nisab, which is 600 kilograms. In this verse, « وَ مِمَّاۤ اَخْرَجْنَا لَكُمْ مِّنَ الْاَرْضِ » refers to the tithe or half-tithe on crops. If the land is irrigated by drawing water, then 5 percent; if by rain or canal, then 10 percent. For details, see my booklet “Ahkam Zakat wa Ushr.”

➎ { غَنِيٌّ حَمِيْدٌ : } That is, Allah has no need of your wealth; He is the most self-sufficient and worthy of all praise. This command is for your own benefit.