Surah Baqarah ayat 273 Tafsir Quran 2:273

﴿لِلْفُقَرَاءِ الَّذِينَ أُحْصِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ضَرْبًا فِي الْأَرْضِ يَحْسَبُهُمُ الْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَاءَ مِنَ التَّعَفُّفِ تَعْرِفُهُم بِسِيمَاهُمْ لَا يَسْأَلُونَ النَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا ۗ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ﴾
[ البقرة: 273]

2:273 [Charity is] for the poor who have been restricted for the cause of Allah, unable to move about in the land. An ignorant [person] would think them self-sufficient because of their restraint, but you will know them by their [characteristic] sign. They do not ask people persistently [or at all]. And whatever you spend of good - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.

For the poor this is the predicate of the missing subject al-sadaqāt ‘voluntary almsgiving’ who are constrained in the way of God those who have confined themselves in preparation for the struggle this was revealed concerning the people of Suffa consisting in some four hundred of the Emigrants muhājirūn set apart from the other Muslims for the study of the Qur’ān and to take part in raids; and they are unable to journey darban means safaran in the land to engage in commerce and earn their living since they are fully engaged in the struggle; the ignorant man supposes them on account of the way they behave rich because of their abstinence that is their refraining from asking for things; but you the one being addressed shall know them by their mark by the signs of their humility and exertion; they do not beg of men and make urgent demands importunately that is to say they do not beg in the first place so there is no question of persistence. And whatever good you expend surely God has knowledge of it and will requite it accordingly.

Among you are those who truly deserve benefaction; they have been restrained from earning their livelihood because they participated in the war of belief against unbelief. They keep up appearances exhibiting to those unacquainted with them a happy expression and satisfaction because their modesty obstructs their tongues. You know them by their appearance speaking a different language; they do not solicit peoples’ ears for charity. And whatever you spend in divine service comes to Allah’s Knowledge

Giving Charity to Polytheists Abu `Abdur-Rahman An-Nasa'i recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that they, "Disliked giving charity to their polytheist relatives, but were later on allowed to give it to them when they inquired about this matter, and this Ayah was revealed, لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدَاهُمْ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلاًّنفُسِكُمْ وَمَا تُنفِقُونَ إِلاَّ ابْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ اللَّهِ وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تُظْلَمُونَ ( Not upon you (Muhammad ) is their guidance, but Allah guides whom He wills.
And whatever you spend in good, it is for yourselves, when you spend not except seeking Allah's Face.
And whatever you spend in good, it will be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged.) Allah's statement, وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلاًّنفُسِكُمْ ( And whatever you spend in good, it is for yourselves ) is similar to His other statement, مَّنْ عَمِلَ صَـلِحاً فَلِنَفْسِهِ ( Whosoever does righteous good deed, it is for (the benefit of ) his ownself.) There are many other similar Ayat in the Qur'an. Allah said next, وَمَا تُنفِقُونَ إِلاَّ ابْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ اللَّهِ ( When you spend not except seeking Allah's Face.
) Al-Hasan Al-Basri commented, "Whenever the believer spends, including what he spends on himself, he seeks Allah's Face with it." `Ata' Al-Khurasani said that the Ayah means, "You give away charity for the sake of Allah.
Therefore, you will not be asked about the deeds or wickedness of those who receive it." This is a sound meaning indicating that when one spends in charity for Allah's sake, then his reward will be with Allah.
He will not be asked if the charity unintentionally reached righteous, evil, deserving or undeserving persons, for he will be rewarded for his good intention.
The proof to this statement is the Ayah, وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تُظْلَمُونَ ( And whatever you spend in good, it will be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged. ) The Two Sahihs recorded a Hadith by Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«قَالَ رَجُلٌ: لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ بِصَدَقَةٍ، فَخَرجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ زَانِيَةٍ، فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ: تُصُدِّقَ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ، فَقَالَ: اللَّهُمَ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ، لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ بِصَدَقَةٍ، فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ غَنِيَ، فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ: تُصُدِّقَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى غَنِيَ، قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى غَنِيَ، لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ بِصَدَقَةٍ، فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ سَارِقٍ، فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ: تُصُدِّقَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى سَارِقٍ، فَقَالَ:اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ، وَعَلَى غَنِيَ، وَعَلَى سَارِقٍ.
فَأُتِيَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ: أَمَّا صَدَقَتُكَ فَقَدْ قُبِلَتْ، وَأَمَّا الزَّانِيَةُ فَلَعَلَّهَا أَنْ تَسْتَعِفَّ بِهَا عَنْ زِنَاهَا، وَلَعَلَّ الْغَنِيَّ يَعْتَبِرُ فَيُنْفِقُ مِمَّا أَعْطَاهُ اللهُ، وَلَعَلَّ السَّارِقَ أَنْ يَسْتَعِفَّ بِهَا عَنْ سَرِقَتِه»
( A man said, "Tonight, I shall give charity." He went out with his charity and (unknowingly ) gave it to an adulteress.
The next morning the people said that alms were given to an adulteress.
The man said, "O Allah! All the praises are for You.
( I gave my alms ) to an adulteress.
Tonight, I shall give alms again." He went out with his charity and ( unknowingly ) gave it to a rich person.
The next morning ( the people ) said, "Last night, a wealthy person was given alms." He said, "O Allah! All the praises are for You.
( I gave alms ) to a wealthy man.
Tonight, I shall again give charity." So he went out with his charity and ( unknowingly ) gave it to a thief.
The next morning ( the people ) said, "Last night, a thief was given alms." He said, "O Allah! All the praises are for You.
( I have given alms ) to an adulteress, a wealthy man and a thief." Then, someone came to him and said, "The alms that you gave away were accepted.
As for the adulteress, the alms might make her abstain from adultery.
As for the wealthy man, it might make him take a lesson and spend his wealth that Allah has given him.
As for the thief, it might make him abstain from stealing.") Who Deserves Charity Allah said, لِلْفُقَرَآءِ الَّذِينَ أُحصِرُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ( (Charity is ) for the poor, who in Allah's cause are restricted ( from travel )) meaning, the migrants who migrated to Allah and His Messenger, resided in Al-Madinah and did not have resources that sufficiently provided them with their needs, لاَ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ضَرْبًا فِى الاٌّرْضِ ( And cannot Darban (move about ) in the land) meaning, "They cannot travel in the land to seek means of livelihood." Allah said in other instances using a variation of the word Darban وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَقْصُرُواْ مِنَ الصَّلوةِ ( And when you (Muslims ) travel in the land, there is no sin on you if you shorten the Salah ( the prayer )) 4:101, and, أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُمْ مَّرْضَى وَءَاخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَءَاخَرُونَ يُقَـتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَاقْرَءُواْ ( He knows that there will be some among you sick, others traveling through the land, seeking of Allah's bounty, yet others fighting in Allah's cause ) 73:20. Allah then said, يَحْسَبُهُمُ الْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَآءَ مِنَ التَّعَفُّفِ ( The one who knows them not, thinks that they are rich because of their modesty ) meaning, those who do not know their situation think that they are well-off, because they are modest in their clothes and speech.
There is a Hadith with this meaning that the Two Sahihs recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«لَيْسَ الْمِسْكِينُ بِهذَا الطَّوَّافِ الَّذِي تَرُدُّهُ التَّمْرَةُ وَالتَّمْرَتَانِ، وَاللُّقْمَةُ وَاللُّقْمَتَانِ، وَالْأُكْلَةُ وَالْأُكْلَتَانِ، وَلكِنِ الْمِسْكِينُ الَّذِي لَا يَجِدُ غِنىً يُغْنِيهِ، وَلَا يُفْطَنُ لَهُ فَيُتَصَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِ، وَلَا يَسْأَلُ النَّاسَ شَيْئًا»
( The Miskin (needy ) is not he who wanders about and whose need is sufficed by a date or two, a bite or two or a meal or two.
Rather, the Miskin is he who neither has enough resources to sustain him, all the while people are unaware of his need so they do not give to him, nor does he ask people for anything.) Imam Ahmad also recorded this Hadith from Ibn Mas`ud. Allah's statement, تَعْرِفُهُم بِسِيمَـهُمْ ( You may know them by their mark ) means, "Those who have good minds discover their situation," just as Allah said in other instances, سِيمَـهُمْ فِى وُجُوهِهِمْ ( The mark of them (i.e.
of their faith ) is on their faces) 48:29, and, وَلَتَعْرِفَنَّهُمْ فِى لَحْنِ الْقَوْلِ ( But surely, you will know them by the tone of their speech! ) 47:30.
Allah's statement, لاَ يَسْـَلُونَ النَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا ( they do not beg of people at all ) means, they do not beg and, thus, do not require people to provide them with more than what they actually need.
Indeed, those who ask people for help, while having what suffices for their needs, have begged. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Sa`id said, "My mother sent me to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to ask him for help, but when I came by him I sat down.
The Prophet faced me and said to me,
«مَنِ اسْتَغْنَى أَغْنَاهُ اللهُ، وَمَنِ اسْتَعَفَّ أَعَفَّهُ اللهُ، وَمَنِ اسْتَكَفَّ كَفَاهُ اللهُ، وَمَنْ سَأَلَ وَلَهُ قِيمَةُ أُوقِيَّةٍ فَقَدْ أَلْحَف»
( Whoever felt satisfied, then Allah will enrich him.
Whoever is modest, Allah will make him decent.
Whoever is content, then Allah will suffice for him.
Whoever asks people, while having a small amout, he will have begged the people. ) Abu Sa`id said, "I said to myself, `I have a camel, Al-Yaqutah, and indeed, it is worth more than a small amount.' And I went back without asking the Prophet for anything." This is the same wording for this Hadith collected by Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i. Allah's statement, وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ ( And whatever you spend in good, surely Allah knows it well ) indicates that no charity escapes Him, and He will reward it fully and perfectly on the Day of Resurrection, when it is most desperately needed. Praise for those who Spend in Charity Allah said, الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَلَهُمْ بِالَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلاَنِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُم عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ( Those who spend their wealth (in Allah's cause ) by night and day, in secret and in public, they shall have their reward with their Lord.
On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.) This Ayah praises those who spend in charity for Allah's sake, seeking His pleasure, day and night, publicly and in secret, including what one spends on his family.
The Two Sahihs recorded that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas:
«وَإِنَّكَ لَنْ تُنْفِقَ نَفَقَةً تَبْتَغِي بِهَا وَجْهَ اللهِ إِلَّا ازْدَدْتَ بِهَا دَرَجَةً وَرِفْعَةً، حَتَّى مَا تَجْعَلُ فِي فِي امْرَأَتِك»
( You will not spend charity with which you seek Allah's Face, but you will ascend a higher degree and status because of it, including what you put in your wife's mouth. ) Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Mas`ud said that the Prophet said,
«إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمَ إِذَا أَنْفَقَ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ نَفَقَةً يَحْتَسِبُهَا، كَانَتْ لَهُ صَدَقَة»
( When the Muslim spends on his family while awaiting the reward for it from Allah, it will be written as charity for him. ) Al-Bukhari and Muslim also recorded this Hadith. Allah said, فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ( shall have their reward with their Lord ), on the Day of Resurrection, as reward for what they spent in acts of obedience.
We previously explained the Ayah, فَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ( there shall be no fear on them nor shall they grieve. )

(2:273) Those who are engaged so much in the cause of Allah that they cannot move about in the land to earn their livelihood and are, therefore, in straitened circumstances, specially deserve help. An ignorant person would suppose them to be well off because of their self-respect; you can know their real condition from their faces, for they are not the ones who would beg of people with importunity. And Allah will surely know whatever you will spend on them. *314

[Charity is] for the poor who have meaning

*314).
The people referred to here are those who, because they had dedicated themselves wholly to serving the religion of God, were unable to earn their livelihood.
In the time of the Prophet there was a group of such volunteer workers, known as Ashab al-Suffah, consisting of about three or four hundred people who had forsaken their homes and gone to Madina.
They remained at all times in the company, of the Prophet, always at his beck and call to perform whatever service he required of them.
They were dispatched by the Prophet on whatever expeditions he wished.
Whenever there was nothing to do elsewhere, they stayed in Madina and devoted themseleves to acquiring religious knowledge and imparting it to others.
Since they were full-time workers and had no private resources to meet their needs, God pointed out to the Muslims that helping such people was the best way of 'spending in the way of Allah'.

 

Giving Charity to Polytheists Abu `Abdur-Rahman An-Nasa'i recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that they, "Disliked giving charity to their polytheist relatives, but were later on allowed to give it to them when they inquired about this matter, and this Ayah was revealed, لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدَاهُمْ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلاًّنفُسِكُمْ وَمَا تُنفِقُونَ إِلاَّ ابْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ اللَّهِ وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تُظْلَمُونَ ( Not upon you (Muhammad ) is their guidance, but Allah guides whom He wills.
And whatever you spend in good, it is for yourselves, when you spend not except seeking Allah's Face.
And whatever you spend in good, it will be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged.) Allah's statement, وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلاًّنفُسِكُمْ ( And whatever you spend in good, it is for yourselves ) is similar to His other statement, مَّنْ عَمِلَ صَـلِحاً فَلِنَفْسِهِ ( Whosoever does righteous good deed, it is for (the benefit of ) his ownself.) There are many other similar Ayat in the Qur'an. Allah said next, وَمَا تُنفِقُونَ إِلاَّ ابْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ اللَّهِ ( When you spend not except seeking Allah's Face.
) Al-Hasan Al-Basri commented, "Whenever the believer spends, including what he spends on himself, he seeks Allah's Face with it." `Ata' Al-Khurasani said that the Ayah means, "You give away charity for the sake of Allah.
Therefore, you will not be asked about the deeds or wickedness of those who receive it." This is a sound meaning indicating that when one spends in charity for Allah's sake, then his reward will be with Allah.
He will not be asked if the charity unintentionally reached righteous, evil, deserving or undeserving persons, for he will be rewarded for his good intention.
The proof to this statement is the Ayah, وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تُظْلَمُونَ ( And whatever you spend in good, it will be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged. ) The Two Sahihs recorded a Hadith by Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «قَالَ رَجُلٌ: لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ بِصَدَقَةٍ، فَخَرجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ زَانِيَةٍ، فَأَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ: تُصُدِّقَ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ، فَقَالَ: اللَّهُمَ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ، لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ بِصَدَقَةٍ، فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ غَنِيَ، فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ: تُصُدِّقَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى غَنِيَ، قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى غَنِيَ، لَأَتَصَدَّقَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ بِصَدَقَةٍ، فَخَرَجَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي يَدِ سَارِقٍ، فَأَصْبَحُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ: تُصُدِّقَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى سَارِقٍ، فَقَالَ:اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى زَانِيَةٍ، وَعَلَى غَنِيَ، وَعَلَى سَارِقٍ.
فَأُتِيَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ: أَمَّا صَدَقَتُكَ فَقَدْ قُبِلَتْ، وَأَمَّا الزَّانِيَةُ فَلَعَلَّهَا أَنْ تَسْتَعِفَّ بِهَا عَنْ زِنَاهَا، وَلَعَلَّ الْغَنِيَّ يَعْتَبِرُ فَيُنْفِقُ مِمَّا أَعْطَاهُ اللهُ، وَلَعَلَّ السَّارِقَ أَنْ يَسْتَعِفَّ بِهَا عَنْ سَرِقَتِه» ( A man said, "Tonight, I shall give charity." He went out with his charity and (unknowingly ) gave it to an adulteress.
The next morning the people said that alms were given to an adulteress.
The man said, "O Allah! All the praises are for You.
( I gave my alms ) to an adulteress.
Tonight, I shall give alms again." He went out with his charity and ( unknowingly ) gave it to a rich person.
The next morning ( the people ) said, "Last night, a wealthy person was given alms." He said, "O Allah! All the praises are for You.
( I gave alms ) to a wealthy man.
Tonight, I shall again give charity." So he went out with his charity and ( unknowingly ) gave it to a thief.
The next morning ( the people ) said, "Last night, a thief was given alms." He said, "O Allah! All the praises are for You.
( I have given alms ) to an adulteress, a wealthy man and a thief." Then, someone came to him and said, "The alms that you gave away were accepted.
As for the adulteress, the alms might make her abstain from adultery.
As for the wealthy man, it might make him take a lesson and spend his wealth that Allah has given him.
As for the thief, it might make him abstain from stealing.") Who Deserves Charity Allah said, لِلْفُقَرَآءِ الَّذِينَ أُحصِرُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ( (Charity is ) for the poor, who in Allah's cause are restricted ( from travel )) meaning, the migrants who migrated to Allah and His Messenger, resided in Al-Madinah and did not have resources that sufficiently provided them with their needs, لاَ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ضَرْبًا فِى الاٌّرْضِ ( And cannot Darban (move about ) in the land) meaning, "They cannot travel in the land to seek means of livelihood." Allah said in other instances using a variation of the word Darban وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَقْصُرُواْ مِنَ الصَّلوةِ ( And when you (Muslims ) travel in the land, there is no sin on you if you shorten the Salah ( the prayer )) 4:101, and, أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُمْ مَّرْضَى وَءَاخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَءَاخَرُونَ يُقَـتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَاقْرَءُواْ ( He knows that there will be some among you sick, others traveling through the land, seeking of Allah's bounty, yet others fighting in Allah's cause ) 73:20. Allah then said, يَحْسَبُهُمُ الْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَآءَ مِنَ التَّعَفُّفِ ( The one who knows them not, thinks that they are rich because of their modesty ) meaning, those who do not know their situation think that they are well-off, because they are modest in their clothes and speech.
There is a Hadith with this meaning that the Two Sahihs recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «لَيْسَ الْمِسْكِينُ بِهذَا الطَّوَّافِ الَّذِي تَرُدُّهُ التَّمْرَةُ وَالتَّمْرَتَانِ، وَاللُّقْمَةُ وَاللُّقْمَتَانِ، وَالْأُكْلَةُ وَالْأُكْلَتَانِ، وَلكِنِ الْمِسْكِينُ الَّذِي لَا يَجِدُ غِنىً يُغْنِيهِ، وَلَا يُفْطَنُ لَهُ فَيُتَصَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِ، وَلَا يَسْأَلُ النَّاسَ شَيْئًا» ( The Miskin (needy ) is not he who wanders about and whose need is sufficed by a date or two, a bite or two or a meal or two.
Rather, the Miskin is he who neither has enough resources to sustain him, all the while people are unaware of his need so they do not give to him, nor does he ask people for anything.) Imam Ahmad also recorded this Hadith from Ibn Mas`ud. Allah's statement, تَعْرِفُهُم بِسِيمَـهُمْ ( You may know them by their mark ) means, "Those who have good minds discover their situation," just as Allah said in other instances, سِيمَـهُمْ فِى وُجُوهِهِمْ ( The mark of them (i.e.
of their faith ) is on their faces) 48:29, and, وَلَتَعْرِفَنَّهُمْ فِى لَحْنِ الْقَوْلِ ( But surely, you will know them by the tone of their speech! ) 47:30.
Allah's statement, لاَ يَسْـَلُونَ النَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا ( they do not beg of people at all ) means, they do not beg and, thus, do not require people to provide them with more than what they actually need.
Indeed, those who ask people for help, while having what suffices for their needs, have begged. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Sa`id said, "My mother sent me to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to ask him for help, but when I came by him I sat down.
The Prophet faced me and said to me, «مَنِ اسْتَغْنَى أَغْنَاهُ اللهُ، وَمَنِ اسْتَعَفَّ أَعَفَّهُ اللهُ، وَمَنِ اسْتَكَفَّ كَفَاهُ اللهُ، وَمَنْ سَأَلَ وَلَهُ قِيمَةُ أُوقِيَّةٍ فَقَدْ أَلْحَف» ( Whoever felt satisfied, then Allah will enrich him.
Whoever is modest, Allah will make him decent.
Whoever is content, then Allah will suffice for him.
Whoever asks people, while having a small amout, he will have begged the people. ) Abu Sa`id said, "I said to myself, `I have a camel, Al-Yaqutah, and indeed, it is worth more than a small amount.' And I went back without asking the Prophet for anything." This is the same wording for this Hadith collected by Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i. Allah's statement, وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ ( And whatever you spend in good, surely Allah knows it well ) indicates that no charity escapes Him, and He will reward it fully and perfectly on the Day of Resurrection, when it is most desperately needed. Praise for those who Spend in Charity Allah said, الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَلَهُمْ بِالَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلاَنِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُم عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ( Those who spend their wealth (in Allah's cause ) by night and day, in secret and in public, they shall have their reward with their Lord.
On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.) This Ayah praises those who spend in charity for Allah's sake, seeking His pleasure, day and night, publicly and in secret, including what one spends on his family.
The Two Sahihs recorded that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas: «وَإِنَّكَ لَنْ تُنْفِقَ نَفَقَةً تَبْتَغِي بِهَا وَجْهَ اللهِ إِلَّا ازْدَدْتَ بِهَا دَرَجَةً وَرِفْعَةً، حَتَّى مَا تَجْعَلُ فِي فِي امْرَأَتِك» ( You will not spend charity with which you seek Allah's Face, but you will ascend a higher degree and status because of it, including what you put in your wife's mouth. ) Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Mas`ud said that the Prophet said, «إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمَ إِذَا أَنْفَقَ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ نَفَقَةً يَحْتَسِبُهَا، كَانَتْ لَهُ صَدَقَة» ( When the Muslim spends on his family while awaiting the reward for it from Allah, it will be written as charity for him. ) Al-Bukhari and Muslim also recorded this Hadith. Allah said, فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ( shall have their reward with their Lord ), on the Day of Resurrection, as reward for what they spent in acts of obedience.
We previously explained the Ayah, فَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ( there shall be no fear on them nor shall they grieve. )

( (Alms are ) for the poor who are straitened) He says: alms are for those who confine themselves ( for the cause of Allah ) for the obedience of Allah in the Prophet’s Mosque, i.e. the people of the Ledge, ( who cannot travel in the land ) for trade. ( The unthinking man ) the person who does not know them ( accounteth them wealthy due to their restraint ) because of their attire. ( Thou shalt know them ) O Muhammad! ( by their mark ) by their clothing: ( They do not beg of men with importunity ) He says: they neither beg with importunity nor without it. ( And whatsoever good thing ) wealth ( ye spend ) on the poor among the people of the Ledge, ( lo! Allah knoweth it ) Allah knows your wealth as well as your intentions.

(Charity is) for Fuqara (the poor), who in Allah's Cause are restricted (from travel), and cannot move about in the land (for trade or work). The one who knows them not, thinks that they are rich because of their modesty. You may know them by their mark, they do not beg of people at all. And whatever you spend in good, surely Allah knows it well.

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