سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 271
إِن تُبْدُوا۟ ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِىَ ۖ وَإِن تُخْفُوهَا وَتُؤْتُوهَا ٱلْفُقَرَآءَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۚ وَيُكَفِّرُ عَنكُم مِّن سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ﴿271﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
If you disclose your Sadaqât (alms-giving), it is well; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, that is better for you. (Allâh) will expiate you some of your sins. And Allâh is Well-Acquainted with what you do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِن
in
If
تُبْدُوا۟
tub'dū
you disclose
ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ
l-ṣadaqāti
the charities
فَنِعِمَّا
faniʿimmā
then good
هِىَ ۖ
hiya
it (is)
وَإِن
wa-in
But if
تُخْفُوهَا
tukh'fūhā
you keep it secret
وَتُؤْتُوهَا
watu'tūhā
and give it
ٱلْفُقَرَآءَ
l-fuqarāa
(to) the poor
فَهُوَ
fahuwa
then it
خَيْرٌۭ
khayrun
(is) better
لَّكُمْ ۚ
lakum
for you
وَيُكَفِّرُ
wayukaffiru
And He will remove
عَنكُم
ʿankum
from you
مِّن
min
[of]
سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ ۗ
sayyiātikum
your evil deeds
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
بِمَا
bimā
with what
تَعْمَلُونَ
taʿmalūna
you do
خَبِيرٌۭ
khabīrun
(is) All-Aware
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 271) ➊ The word { "صَدَقَةٌ" } is derived from { "صِدْقٌ" }, meaning the wealth that a person spends with sincerity of heart. Generally, this word is used for voluntary charity, but sometimes it is also used for obligatory charity, as it is said: «اِنَّمَا الصَّدَقٰتُ لِلْفُقَرَآءِ …» [التوبۃ : ۶۰ ] "Charities are only for the poor and the needy, and those employed to collect them, and those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and for freeing slaves, and for those in debt, and in the way of Allah, and for the traveler (in need)."
➋ { فَنِعِمَّا هِيَ : } is originally { ”نِعْمَ مَا“ }, in which { ”مَا“ } means { ”شَيْءٌ“ }, therefore it is translated as "then it is a good thing." In this, open charity is praised, provided it is done with pure intention and free from showing off, because this saves a person from the accusation of miserliness and not fulfilling rights, and it encourages other righteous people to give charity, as happened at the time of the Battle of Tabuk when Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) brought half of his wealth and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) brought all of his wealth, and similarly, other companions gave charity generously.
➌ { وَ اِنْ تُخْفُوْهَا:} That is, giving charity openly is good, but giving it secretly is more virtuous, because it is farther from showing off. According to the majority of commentators, this refers to voluntary charities. (Shawkani) On the contrary, it is permissible to give obligatory zakat secretly, but it is better to give it in front of people, otherwise, one may be accused of not giving zakat, while prayer and zakat are fundamental pillars of faith. Also, Tabari has reported consensus of the Ummah on this. (Fath al-Bari: 6/22)
In numerous hadiths, the virtue of giving voluntary charity secretly has been mentioned. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) counted among the seven people who will be granted Allah’s shade, the one who gives charity with his right hand and conceals it so much that his left hand does not know what his right hand has spent. [بخاری، الزکاۃ، باب الصدقۃ بالیمین : ۱۴۲۳، عن أبی ہریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ] The incident of the person who gave secret charity one night to a thief, another night to an adulteress, and another night to a rich person also shows the virtue and blessing of secret charity. [بخاری، الزکوٰۃ، باب إذا تصدق علی … : ۱۴۲۱، عن أبی ہریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ]
➍ { وَ تُؤْتُوْهَا الْفُقَرَآءَ :} Giving secretly to the poor conceals their need and does not hurt their self-respect.
➎ { مِنْ سَيِّاٰتِكُمْ : ”مِنْ“} is partitive, so it is translated as "some sins," meaning that as much wealth as is spent, sins will be forgiven accordingly, whether more or less. Besides, there are some sins that are not forgiven by spending wealth, but for which repentance is necessary.
➋ { فَنِعِمَّا هِيَ : } is originally { ”نِعْمَ مَا“ }, in which { ”مَا“ } means { ”شَيْءٌ“ }, therefore it is translated as "then it is a good thing." In this, open charity is praised, provided it is done with pure intention and free from showing off, because this saves a person from the accusation of miserliness and not fulfilling rights, and it encourages other righteous people to give charity, as happened at the time of the Battle of Tabuk when Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) brought half of his wealth and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) brought all of his wealth, and similarly, other companions gave charity generously.
➌ { وَ اِنْ تُخْفُوْهَا:} That is, giving charity openly is good, but giving it secretly is more virtuous, because it is farther from showing off. According to the majority of commentators, this refers to voluntary charities. (Shawkani) On the contrary, it is permissible to give obligatory zakat secretly, but it is better to give it in front of people, otherwise, one may be accused of not giving zakat, while prayer and zakat are fundamental pillars of faith. Also, Tabari has reported consensus of the Ummah on this. (Fath al-Bari: 6/22)
In numerous hadiths, the virtue of giving voluntary charity secretly has been mentioned. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) counted among the seven people who will be granted Allah’s shade, the one who gives charity with his right hand and conceals it so much that his left hand does not know what his right hand has spent. [بخاری، الزکاۃ، باب الصدقۃ بالیمین : ۱۴۲۳، عن أبی ہریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ] The incident of the person who gave secret charity one night to a thief, another night to an adulteress, and another night to a rich person also shows the virtue and blessing of secret charity. [بخاری، الزکوٰۃ، باب إذا تصدق علی … : ۱۴۲۱، عن أبی ہریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ]
➍ { وَ تُؤْتُوْهَا الْفُقَرَآءَ :} Giving secretly to the poor conceals their need and does not hurt their self-respect.
➎ { مِنْ سَيِّاٰتِكُمْ : ”مِنْ“} is partitive, so it is translated as "some sins," meaning that as much wealth as is spent, sins will be forgiven accordingly, whether more or less. Besides, there are some sins that are not forgiven by spending wealth, but for which repentance is necessary.
