The Holy Quran 2:264 — Surah Al-Baqarah

Arabic text

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُبْطِلُوا۟ صَدَقَـٰتِكُم بِٱلْمَنِّ وَٱلْأَذَىٰ كَٱلَّذِى يُنفِقُ مَالَهُۥ رِئَآءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۖ فَمَثَلُهُۥ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ عَلَيْهِ تُرَابٌ فَأَصَابَهُۥ وَابِلٌ فَتَرَكَهُۥ صَلْدًا ۖ لَّا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ

Translation

O you who have Imaan! Do not make your charity worthless (do not destroy the reward) by reminders of your generosity or by (causing) hurt (to the recipient), like him who spends his wealth to show people and does not believe in Allaah and the Last Day. His likeness is like that of a smooth rock on which there is some sand. Struck by a rainstorm, it is left bare (without any sand left on it). They (those who spend for show) have no control of anything they earn (they will see no reward for their charity in the Aakhirah just as the rock is left without sand). Allaah does not guide a nation of Kaafiroon (because they do not want to be guided).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

Showing off nullifies charity: that is, by hurting the needy person after giving charity and reminding him of the favour, the reward of the charity is lost; or if a person gives charity showing it to others so that people may consider him generous, there is no reward at all for such charity either.

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