Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 272

(Ayah 272) ➊ { لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدٰىهُمْ …:} Before and after this verse, the rulings and virtues of charity are being discussed. In between, the statement “Their guidance is not your responsibility” — what is its relevance? Most commentators have taken {”هُدٰىهُمْ“} to mean the guidance of disbelievers, and have explained it as: If a relative or someone in need is a disbeliever, then give charity to him as well; do not withhold charity just because he is a disbeliever, because their (the disbelievers’) guidance is not your responsibility. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that the Companions disliked giving even a small thing to their polytheist relatives, then they asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he permitted it, and this verse was revealed: « لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدٰىهُمْ وَ لٰكِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَهْدِيْ مَنْ يَّشَآءُ » [السنن الکبرٰی للنسائی، التفسیر، باب قولہ : « لیس علیک ھداھم » : 37/10، ح : ۱۰۹۸۶ ]
During the period of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, Asma bint Abi Bakr’s (may Allah be pleased with them both) mother, who was a polytheist, came to her, so she asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): “My mother has come to me; should I maintain ties of kinship with her?” He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Yes, maintain ties of kinship with your mother.” [بخاری، الأدب، باب صلۃ المرأۃ أمھا… : ۵۹۷۹ ]
See the general mercy of Islam, that spending on a polytheist is also a cause of reward, provided he is not in a state of war, and even spending on an animal is a cause of reward, as the person who gave water to a thirsty dog was forgiven because of that act. The Companions asked: “Is there a reward for us in (doing good to) animals as well?” He said: “In every living being with a moist liver (i.e., every living creature) there is reward.” [بخاری، الأدب، باب رحمۃ الناس و البہائم : ۶۰۰۹] But remember, only voluntary charity is permissible for disbelievers, not obligatory zakah; there is consensus of the Ummah on this, because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “It is taken from the rich among the Muslims and returned to their poor.” [بخاری، الزکوٰۃ، باب وجوب الزکٰوۃ : ۱۳۹۵ ] Since Sadaqat al-Fitr is obligatory, the same ruling applies to it. Some commentators have taken {’’ هُدٰىهُمْ ‘‘} to mean those Muslims whose guidance is deficient and who were mentioned in the previous verses, i.e., those who give charity for show, or cause harm after giving charity, or remind others of their generosity, or spend inferior things. In this verse, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is being consoled that you should not be distressed by the behavior of these people; giving them guidance is not your responsibility.
➋ {وَ مَا تُنْفِقُوْا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِاَنْفُسِكُمْ:} That is, whether you spend on Muslims or disbelievers, whatever wealth, time, influence, or knowledge you use to benefit someone, its benefit is for you alone, i.e., happiness and blessings in this world, and reward and entry into Paradise in the Hereafter.
➌ { وَ مَا تُنْفِقُوْنَ اِلَّا ابْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ اللّٰهِ:} Generally, this is translated as “the pleasure of Allah,” but the delight in “seeking the Face of Allah” cannot be found in any other phrase. Because the original meaning of { ’’ وَجْهِ ‘‘} is “face,” and there is no harm in taking the literal meaning, because the greatest desire and longing of a believer is to see the Face of Allah. May Allah grant us this blessing as well. (Ameen) Here, although the words are in the negative, the intent is prohibition, i.e., do not spend except in seeking the Face of Allah.