Surah Baqarah ayat 264 Tafsir Quran 2:264

﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُبْطِلُوا صَدَقَاتِكُم بِالْمَنِّ وَالْأَذَىٰ كَالَّذِي يُنفِقُ مَالَهُ رِئَاءَ النَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۖ فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ عَلَيْهِ تُرَابٌ فَأَصَابَهُ وَابِلٌ فَتَرَكَهُ صَلْدًا ۖ لَّا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ﴾
[ البقرة: 264]

2:264 O you who have believed, do not invalidate your charities with reminders or injury as does one who spends his wealth [only] to be seen by the people and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. His example is like that of a [large] smooth stone upon which is dust and is hit by a downpour that leaves it bare. They are unable [to keep] anything of what they have earned. And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.

O you who believe annul not the rewards of your voluntary almsgivings with reproach and injury as in the manner of the annulment of the expenditure of one who expends of his substance to show off to men and believes not in God and the Last Day this is the hypocrite. The likeness of him is as the likeness of a smooth rock on which is soil and a torrent of intense rain smites it and leaves it barren and smooth with nothing on it. They have no power lā yaqdirūna is a resumption of the statement about the likeness of the one that expends for show; the person becomes plural on account of the potential plural implication of alladhī ‘the one who’ over anything that they have earned that they did in other words they find no reward for it in the Hereafter just as one finds nothing of the dust that was on the surface of the smooth rock after the rain has washed it away. God guides not the disbelieving folk.

O you whose hearts truly believe: Do not cancel the divine reward you merit for your benevolence by the reminders of your generosity or inducing mental anguish. You are then like he who spends his wealth ostentatiously under the guise of benevolence only to attract attention and win people’s admiration while truthfully, he believes neither in Allah nor in the Last Day. His similitude is that of a rock covered with dust and fertile soil which has been exposed to torrential rain stripping it of its soil leaving it completely bare. Such persons have lost; unable to reclaim anything they had falsely earned. And Allah does not guide those who deny Him to His path of righteousness

To Remind About Charity Given is Forbidden Allah praises those who spend from their money in His cause, and then refrain from reminding those who received the charity of that fact, whether these hints take the form of words or actions. Allah's statement, وَلاَ أَذًى ( or with injury ), indicates that they do not cause harm to those whom they gave the charity to, for this harm will only annul the charity.
Allah next promised them the best rewards for this good deed, لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ( their reward is with their Lord ), indicating that Allah Himself will reward them for these righteous actions.
Further, وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ( On them shall be no fear ) regarding the horrors of the Day of Resurrection, وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ( nor shall they grieve ) regarding the offspring that they leave behind and the adornment and delights of this world.
They will not feel sorry for this, because they will acquire what is far better for them. Allah then said, قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ ( Kind words ) meaning, compassionate words and a supplication for Muslims, وَمَغْفِرَةٌ ( and forgiving ) meaning, forgiving an injustice that took the form of actions or words, خَيْرٌ مِّن صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَآ أَذًى ( are better than Sadaqah (charity ) followed by injury.) وَاللَّهُ غَنِىٌّ ( And Allah is Rich ) not needing His creation, حَلِيمٌ ( Most Forbearing ) forgives, releases and pardons them. There are several Hadiths that prohibit reminding people of acts of charity.
For instance, Muslim recorded that Abu Dharr said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَلَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِم، وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ، وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ: الْمَنَّانُ بِمَا أَعْطَى، وَالْمُسْبِلُ إِزَارَهُ، وَالْمُنَفِّقُ سِلْعَتَهُ بِالْحَلِفِ الْكَاذِب»
( Three persons whom Allah shall neither speak to on the Day of Resurrection nor look at nor purify, and they shall receive a painful torment: he who reminds (the people ) of what he gives away, he who lengthens his clothes below the ankles and he who swears an oath while lying, to sell his merchandise.) This is why Allah said, يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لاَ تُبْطِلُواْ صَدَقَـتِكُم بِالْمَنِّ وَالاٌّذَى ( O you who believe! Do not render in vain your Sadaqah (charity ) by reminders of your generosity or by injury) stating that the charity will be rendered in vain if it is followed by harm or reminders.
In this case, the reward of giving away charity is not sufficient enough to nullify the harm and reminders.
Allah then said, كَالَّذِى يُنفِقُ مَالَهُ رِئَآءَ النَّاسِ ( like him who spends his wealth to be seen of men ) meaning, "Do not nullify your acts of charity by following them with reminders and harm, just like the charity of those who give it to show off to people." The boasting person pretends to give away charity for Allah's sake, but in reality seeks to gain people's praise and the reputation of being kind or generous, or other material gains of this life.
All the while, he does not think about Allah or gaining His pleasure and generous rewards, and this is why Allah said, وَلاَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ ( and he does not believe in Allah, nor in the Last Day. ) Allah next set the example of whoever gives charity to show off.
Ad-Dahhak commented that the example fits one who follows his acts of charity with reminders or harm.
Allah said, فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ ( His likeness is the likeness of Safwan ) where Safwan, from is Safwanah, meaning `the smooth rocks,' عَلَيْهِ تُرَابٌ فَأَصَابَهُ وَابِلٌ ( on which is little dust; on it falls a Wabil ) meaning, heavy rain, فَتَرَكَهُ صَلْدًا ( which leaves it bare. ) This Ayah means that heavy rain left the Safwan completely barren of dust.
Such is the case with Allah's action regarding the work of those who show off, as their deeds are bound to vanish and disappear, even though people think that these deeds are as plentiful as specks of dust.
So Allah said, لاَّ يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى شَىْءٍ مِّمَّا كَسَبُواْ وَاللَّهُ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَـفِرِينَ ( They are not able to do anything with what they have earned.
And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people. )

(2:264) O Believers, do not spoil your charity by taunts and injury to the recipients like the one who practises charity to be seen by men, while he neither believes in Allah nor in the Last Day. *303 His charity may be likened to the rainfall on a rock which had only a thin layer of soil upon it. When heavy rain fell on it, the whole of the soil washed away and the rock was left bare *304 Such people do not gain the reward they imagine they have earned by their seeming charity; Allah does not show the Right Way to the ungrateful . *305

O you who have believed, do not meaning

*303).
The desire to display one's good deeds itself proves that the person concerned does not truly believe in God and the Hereafter.
One who does good merely in order to impress people with his righteousness clearly regards those persons as his god.
Such a person neither expects reward from God nor is he concerned that his good deeds will some day be reckoned to his credit.

*304).
In this parable, 'heavy rain' signifies charity, and 'rock' the wicked intent and motive which lie behind external acts of charity.
The expression, 'with a thin coating of earth upon it' signifies the external aspect of charity which conceals the wicked intent and motive of a man.
These explanations make the significance and purport of the parable clear.
The natural effect of rainfall should be the growth of plants and harvest.
But if the earth, which is the repository of fertility, is insignificant in quantity, for example only a coating of it on some rock, the result will be that instead of yielding any beneficial result the rainfall may even prove harmful.
Similarly, charity has the capacity to generate goodness and benevolence in human beings.
Man's potential for goodness, however, is conditional on sincerity.
Devoid of that charity leads to sheer loss and waste.

*305).
Here the term kafir is used in the sense of the ungrateful person who refuses to acknowledge benevolence.
People who either make use of the bounties of God in order to seek the gratitude of God's creatures rather than God's good pleasure, or who spend on others and then hurt them by stressing their acts of benevolence and kindness, are ungrateful to God for His bounties and favours.
Since such people do not seek to please God, God does not care to direct them to the way that leads to His good pleasure.

 

To Remind About Charity Given is Forbidden Allah praises those who spend from their money in His cause, and then refrain from reminding those who received the charity of that fact, whether these hints take the form of words or actions. Allah's statement, وَلاَ أَذًى ( or with injury ), indicates that they do not cause harm to those whom they gave the charity to, for this harm will only annul the charity.
Allah next promised them the best rewards for this good deed, لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ( their reward is with their Lord ), indicating that Allah Himself will reward them for these righteous actions.
Further, وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ( On them shall be no fear ) regarding the horrors of the Day of Resurrection, وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ( nor shall they grieve ) regarding the offspring that they leave behind and the adornment and delights of this world.
They will not feel sorry for this, because they will acquire what is far better for them. Allah then said, قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ ( Kind words ) meaning, compassionate words and a supplication for Muslims, وَمَغْفِرَةٌ ( and forgiving ) meaning, forgiving an injustice that took the form of actions or words, خَيْرٌ مِّن صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَآ أَذًى ( are better than Sadaqah (charity ) followed by injury.) وَاللَّهُ غَنِىٌّ ( And Allah is Rich ) not needing His creation, حَلِيمٌ ( Most Forbearing ) forgives, releases and pardons them. There are several Hadiths that prohibit reminding people of acts of charity.
For instance, Muslim recorded that Abu Dharr said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَلَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِم، وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ، وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ: الْمَنَّانُ بِمَا أَعْطَى، وَالْمُسْبِلُ إِزَارَهُ، وَالْمُنَفِّقُ سِلْعَتَهُ بِالْحَلِفِ الْكَاذِب» ( Three persons whom Allah shall neither speak to on the Day of Resurrection nor look at nor purify, and they shall receive a painful torment: he who reminds (the people ) of what he gives away, he who lengthens his clothes below the ankles and he who swears an oath while lying, to sell his merchandise.) This is why Allah said, يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لاَ تُبْطِلُواْ صَدَقَـتِكُم بِالْمَنِّ وَالاٌّذَى ( O you who believe! Do not render in vain your Sadaqah (charity ) by reminders of your generosity or by injury) stating that the charity will be rendered in vain if it is followed by harm or reminders.
In this case, the reward of giving away charity is not sufficient enough to nullify the harm and reminders.
Allah then said, كَالَّذِى يُنفِقُ مَالَهُ رِئَآءَ النَّاسِ ( like him who spends his wealth to be seen of men ) meaning, "Do not nullify your acts of charity by following them with reminders and harm, just like the charity of those who give it to show off to people." The boasting person pretends to give away charity for Allah's sake, but in reality seeks to gain people's praise and the reputation of being kind or generous, or other material gains of this life.
All the while, he does not think about Allah or gaining His pleasure and generous rewards, and this is why Allah said, وَلاَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ ( and he does not believe in Allah, nor in the Last Day. ) Allah next set the example of whoever gives charity to show off.
Ad-Dahhak commented that the example fits one who follows his acts of charity with reminders or harm.
Allah said, فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ ( His likeness is the likeness of Safwan ) where Safwan, from is Safwanah, meaning `the smooth rocks,' عَلَيْهِ تُرَابٌ فَأَصَابَهُ وَابِلٌ ( on which is little dust; on it falls a Wabil ) meaning, heavy rain, فَتَرَكَهُ صَلْدًا ( which leaves it bare. ) This Ayah means that heavy rain left the Safwan completely barren of dust.
Such is the case with Allah's action regarding the work of those who show off, as their deeds are bound to vanish and disappear, even though people think that these deeds are as plentiful as specks of dust.
So Allah said, لاَّ يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى شَىْءٍ مِّمَّا كَسَبُواْ وَاللَّهُ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَـفِرِينَ ( They are not able to do anything with what they have earned.
And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people. )

( O ye who believe! Render not vain your almsgiving ) the reward of your almsgiving ( by reproach ) to Allah, i.e. by being conceited ( and injury ) to the person receiving alms, ( like him who spendeth his wealth only to be seen of men ) out of ostentation ( and believeth not in Allah and the Last Day ) does not believe in resurrection after death. ( His likeness ) the likeness of the person who reminds others about what he has given them and the alms given by one who associates partners with Allah ( is as the likeness of rock whereon is dust of earth; a rainstorm smiteth it, leaving it smooth and bare ) without any dust on it. ( They have no control of aught ) to obtain a reward for anything in the Hereafter ( of that which they have gained ) that which they have spent in the life of this world. Allah says here: the reward of the person who boasts about what he has spent on alms and of the person who hurts those he gives alms to, is like dust on a rock when rain pours down on it and no dust remains. ( Allah guideth not ) rewards not ( the disbelieving folk ) and also those who show off their spending while still associating partners with Allah, just as He does not reward the alms of those who remind others about what they have spent on them.

O you who believe! Do not render in vain your Sadaqah (charity) by reminders of your generosity or by injury, like him who spends his wealth to be seen of men, and he does not believe in Allah, nor in the Last Day. His likeness is the likeness of a smooth rock on which is a little dust; on it falls heavy rain which leaves it bare. They are not able to do anything with what they have earned. And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.

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