The Etiquette of Spending in the Way of Allah Almighty

The Etiquette of Spending in the Way of Allah Almighty

A portion of the Quranic teachings concerning Infāq fī Sabīlillāh (spending in Allah’s Way) was published in the past two editions of this magazine; this is the concluding article in this series.

Teaching the etiquette of Infāq fī Sabīlillāh

Prohibition of recounting favours:

For those who spend purely seeking the pleasure of Allah Almighty, without recounting favours, there is the good news of great reward and freedom from fear and grief.

اَلَّذِیْنَ یُنْفِقُوْنَ اَمْوَالَهُمْ فِیْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰهِ ثُمَّ لَا یُتْبِعُوْنَ مَاۤ اَنْفَقُوْا مَنًّا وَّ لَاۤ اَذًىۙ-لَّهُمْ اَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْۚ-وَ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَیْهِمْ وَ لَا هُمْ یَحْزَنُوْنَ(۲۶۲)

Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah, then after their spending neither speak of the favour done nor cause offence, for them, their reward is with their Lord; and they shall neither have fear nor will they grieve.[1]

قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوْفٌ وَّ مَغْفِرَةٌ خَیْرٌ مِّنْ صَدَقَةٍ یَّتْبَعُهَاۤ اَذًىؕ-وَ اللّٰهُ غَنِیٌّ حَلِیْمٌ(۲۶۳)

A kind word and forgiveness is better than charity followed by offence. And Allah is Self-Sufficient, Most-Forbearing.[2]

Prohibition of giving inferior things:

One should not give inferior or defective things in the way of Allah Almighty that one would not like for oneself.

وَ لَا تَیَمَّمُوا الْخَبِیْثَ مِنْهُ تُنْفِقُوْنَ وَ لَسْتُمْ بِاٰخِذِیْهِ اِلَّاۤ اَنْ تُغْمِضُوْا فِیْهِؕ-وَ اعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ غَنِیٌّ حَمِیْدٌ(۲۶۷)

and do not intend the inferior ˹wealth˺ of it as you spend while (if you were given such) you would never accept it without overlooking it. And know that Allah is Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.[3]

Encouragement to spend secretly:

Spending openly in the way of Allah Almighty with a sincere intention is very good, but secretly fulfilling the needs of the poor is best.

اِنْ تُبْدُوا الصَّدَقٰتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِیَۚ-وَ اِنْ تُخْفُوْهَا وَ تُؤْتُوْهَا الْفُقَرَآءَ فَهُوَ خَیْرٌ لَّكُمْؕ-وَ یُكَفِّرُ عَنْكُمْ مِّنْ سَیِّاٰتِكُمْؕ-وَ اللّٰهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ خَبِیْرٌ(۲۷۱)

If you donate openly, then what an excellent deed that is, and if you conceal it and ˹then˺ give it to the poor, it is better for you; He (Allah) will erase some of your sins—and Allah is aware of your deeds.[4]

Condemnation of ostentation:

Infāq fī Sabīlillāh must be free from ostentation and adorned with sincerity and devotion to Allah Almighty; otherwise, it is like rain falling on a mountain that yields no benefit.

یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تُبْطِلُوْا صَدَقٰتِكُمْ بِالْمَنِّ وَ الْاَذٰىۙ-كَالَّذِیْ یُنْفِقُ مَالَهٗ رِئَآءَ النَّاسِ وَ لَا یُؤْمِنُ بِاللّٰهِ وَ الْیَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِؕ-فَمَثَلُهٗ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ عَلَیْهِ تُرَابٌ فَاَصَابَهٗ وَابِلٌ فَتَرَكَهٗ صَلْدًاؕ-لَا یَقْدِرُوْنَ عَلٰى شَیْءٍ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوْاؕ-وَ اللّٰهُ لَا یَهْدِی الْقَوْمَ الْكٰفِرِیْنَ(۲۶۴)

O you who believe! Do not nullify your charities through speaking of favours done and causing offence, like the one who spends his wealth to show people and does not embrace faith in Allah and the Last Day; his example is like a smooth rock upon which there is soil so it was showered with heavy rain which left the rock clean; such people will not have power over anything they earned from their deeds—and Allah does not guide the disbelievers.[5]

Appreciation and reward for a sincere intention:

The example of those who spend for the sake of Allah Almighty is like a garden that receives abundant rain and yields double its previous produce.

وَ مَثَلُ الَّذِیْنَ یُنْفِقُوْنَ اَمْوَالَهُمُ ابْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللّٰهِ وَ تَثْبِیْتًا مِّنْ اَنْفُسِهِمْ كَمَثَلِ جَنَّةٍۭ بِرَبْوَةٍ اَصَابَهَا وَابِلٌ فَاٰتَتْ اُكُلَهَا ضِعْفَیْنِۚ-فَاِنْ لَّمْ یُصِبْهَا وَابِلٌ فَطَلٌّؕ-وَ اللّٰهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ بَصِیْرٌ(۲۶۵)

The example of those who spend, seeking the pleasure of Allah and to keep their hearts firm, is like the example of a garden which is located on high ground; it was showered with heavy rain so it produced a doubled quantity of fruit. If there is no heavy rainfall, then a light shower will suffice—and Allah sees all that you do.[6]

Spending in the way of Allah Almighty with any intention other than seeking Allah's pleasure is not appropriate.

وَ مَا تُنْفِقُوْنَ اِلَّا ابْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ اللّٰهِؕ-

And only spend to seek the pleasure of Allah.[7]

Be Sincere! Allah knows all:

Whatever is spent in the way of Allah Almighty, He knows it all and will grant a better recompense for it.

وَ مَاۤ اَنْفَقْتُمْ مِّنْ نَّفَقَةٍ اَوْ نَذَرْتُمْ مِّنْ نَّذْرٍ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ یَعْلَمُهٗؕ-وَ مَا لِلظّٰلِمِیْنَ مِنْ اَنْصَارٍ(۲۷۰)

And that which you spend or any vow you take, Allah knows it. And oppressors have no helper.[8]

Statement of conditions for valid spending

Being free from ostentation is a condition:

Spending done in a state of ostentation, disbelief, and lack of faith is utterly useless and without benefit.

مَثَلُ  مَا  یُنْفِقُوْنَ  فِیْ  هٰذِهِ  الْحَیٰوةِ  الدُّنْیَا  كَمَثَلِ  رِیْحٍ  فِیْهَا  صِرٌّ  اَصَابَتْ  حَرْثَ  قَوْمٍ  ظَلَمُوْۤا  اَنْفُسَهُمْ  فَاَهْلَكَتْهُؕ-وَ  مَا  ظَلَمَهُمُ  اللّٰهُ  وَ  لٰكِنْ  اَنْفُسَهُمْ  یَظْلِمُوْنَ(۱۱۷)

What they spend in this worldly life is like the wind which contains severe frost; it reaches crops, belonging to people who have wronged themselves, so it destroys it (the harvest).  And Allah did not oppress them, and yet they oppress themselves.[9]

Those who spend their wealth ostentatiously are companions of Satan.

وَ الَّذِیْنَ یُنْفِقُوْنَ اَمْوَالَهُمْ رِئَآءَ النَّاسِ وَ لَا یُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِاللّٰهِ وَ لَا بِالْیَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِؕ-وَ مَنْ یَّكُنِ الشَّیْطٰنُ لَهٗ قَرِیْنًا فَسَآءَ قَرِیْنًا(۳۸)

And those who spend their wealth ostentatiously and neither believe in Allah nor the Last Day ˹there is a grave warning for them˺. And the one for whom Satan becomes a companion, so what an evil companion is he! [10]

Condemnation of avoiding spending

There is a warning of a painful punishment for those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah Almighty.

وَ الَّذِیْنَ یَكْنِزُوْنَ الذَّهَبَ وَ الْفِضَّةَ وَ لَا یُنْفِقُوْنَهَا فِیْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰهِۙ-فَبَشِّرْهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ اَلِیْمٍۙ(۳۴)

And those who accumulate gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah, give them glad tidings of painful punishment.[11]

Allah Almighty is the Owner of all treasures of the heavens and the earth, so not spending from the wealth He has bestowed is a cause for divine displeasure.

وَ مَا لَكُمْ اَلَّا تُنْفِقُوْا فِیْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰهِ وَ لِلّٰهِ مِیْرَاثُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِؕ-لَا یَسْتَوِیْ مِنْكُمْ مَّنْ اَنْفَقَ مِنْ قَبْلِ الْفَتْحِ وَ قٰتَلَؕ-اُولٰٓىٕكَ اَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً مِّنَ الَّذِیْنَ اَنْفَقُوْا مِنْۢ بَعْدُ وَ قٰتَلُوْاؕ-وَ كُلًّا وَّعَدَ اللّٰهُ الْحُسْنٰىؕ-وَ اللّٰهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ خَبِیْرٌ۠(۱۰)

What is the matter with you that you do not spend in the way of Allah even though the inheritance of the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah? Those, among you, who spent before the victory and fought are not equal; they are greater in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards. Allah has promised them all the most beautiful reward (Paradise), and Allah is aware of all that you do.[12]

What if there is no capacity for spending?

Those who remain devoted to Allah Almighty and His Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in the face of poverty and hardship will not be harmed, even if they are unable to spend in the way of Allah Almighty.

لَیْسَ عَلَى الضُّعَفَآءِ وَ لَا عَلَى الْمَرْضٰى وَ لَا عَلَى الَّذِیْنَ لَا یَجِدُوْنَ مَا یُنْفِقُوْنَ حَرَجٌ اِذَا نَصَحُوْا لِلّٰهِ وَ رَسُوْلِهٖؕ-مَا عَلَى الْمُحْسِنِیْنَ مِنْ سَبِیْلٍؕ-وَ اللّٰهُ غَفُوْرٌ رَّحِیْمٌۙ(۹۱)

There is no blame upon the weak, and the sick, and those who do not find that which they may spend provided that they remain devoted to Allah and His Messenger. There is no way of blame against the virtuous; and Allah is Most-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.[13]

Example of spending:

Allah Almighty has granted superiority to a free person with authority who spends from what Allah Almighty has given, over a slave. Therefore, one should adorn the blessing of freedom with the attribute of Infāq fī Sabīlillāh.

ضَرَبَ اللّٰهُ مَثَلًا عَبْدًا مَّمْلُوْكًا لَّا یَقْدِرُ عَلٰى شَیْءٍ وَّ مَنْ رَّزَقْنٰهُ مِنَّا رِزْقًا حَسَنًا فَهُوَ یُنْفِقُ مِنْهُ سِرًّا وَّ جَهْرًاؕ-هَلْ یَسْتَوٗنَؕ-اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِؕ-بَلْ اَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا یَعْلَمُوْنَ(۷۵)

Allah gives a parable of an enslaved individual who has no power over anything, compared to the ˹free˺ person to whom We have granted excellent provision, of which he donates publicly and secretly. Are they equal? All praise is for Allah, but most of them do not know.[14]

Condemnation of Denying Spending

Denying Infāq fī Sabīlillāh is the way of the disbelievers.

وَ اِذَا قِیْلَ لَهُمْ اَنْفِقُوْا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللّٰهُۙ-قَالَ الَّذِیْنَ كَفَرُوْا لِلَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْۤا اَنُطْعِمُ مَنْ لَّوْ یَشَآءُ اللّٰهُ اَطْعَمَهٗۤ ﳓ اِنْ اَنْتُمْ اِلَّا فِیْ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِیْنٍ(۴۷)

And when it is said to them, “Spend ˹in charity˺ from that which Allah has provided you”, the disbelievers say to the Muslims, “Should we feed the one whom, if Allah willed, He would have fed? You are only in clear misguidance.”[15]

Preventing Infāq fī Sabīlillāh is an act of hypocrisy:

Preventing spending in the way of Allah Almighty is hypocrisy.

هُمُ الَّذِیْنَ یَقُوْلُوْنَ لَا تُنْفِقُوْا عَلٰى مَنْ عِنْدَ رَسُوْلِ اللّٰهِ حَتّٰى یَنْفَضُّوْاؕ-وَ لِلّٰهِ خَزَآىٕنُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ وَ لٰكِنَّ الْمُنٰفِقِیْنَ لَا یَفْقَهُوْنَ(۷)

It is they who say, “Do not spend on those who are with the Messenger of Allah until they disperse.” And to Allah belong the treasures of the heavens and the earth but the hypocrites do not understand.[16]