Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the writer alone and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of SNMC.
By Dr. Emdad Khan
Allah swt says in Surah AlBaqarah Ay 264
2:264
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُبْطِلُوا۟ صَدَقَـٰتِكُم بِٱلْمَنِّ وَٱلْأَذَىٰ
كَٱلَّذِى يُنفِقُ مَالَهُۥ رِئَآءَ ٱلنَّاسِ
وَلَا يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۖ
فَمَثَلُهُۥ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ عَلَيْهِ تُرَابٌۭ فَأَصَابَهُۥ وَابِلٌۭ فَتَرَكَهُۥ صَلْدًۭا
ۖ لَّا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍۢ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ ۗ
وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ٢٦٤
O believers! Do not waste your charity with reminders ˹of your generosity˺ or hurtful words,
like those who donate their wealth just to show off and do not believe in Allah or the Last Day.
Their example is that of a hard barren rock covered with a thin layer of soil hit by a heavy rain—leaving it just a bare stone.
Such people are unable to preserve the reward of their charity.
Allah does not guide ˹such˺ disbelieving people.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
We donate to help orphans and needy people or build a masjid. We need to protect our charity to get rewards from Allah swt.
Here Allah swt says not to remind people or use harsh words or to show off. Also, He swt compares the actions like dust on a rock and rainfall wash away. They are unable to preserve. And Allah swt does not guide disbelieving people.
If we like, it is better to donate quietly, but if our intentions are to motivate others to donate then it is ok. It is our intentions.
May Allah give us Taufiq to donate and inside our hearts always look for sincerity,
Ameen.
