إِنْ تُبْدُوا الصَّدَقَاتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِيَ وَإِنْ تُخْفُوهَا وَتُؤْتُوهَا الْفُقَرَاءَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ وَيُكَفِّرُ عَنْكُمْ مِنْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ﴿۲۷۱﴾ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدَاهُمْ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِأَنْفُسِكُمْ وَمَا تُنْفِقُونَ إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ اللَّهِ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ ﴿۲۷۲﴾ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ الَّذِينَ أُحْصِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ضَرْبًا فِي الْأَرْضِ يَحْسَبُهُمُ الْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَاءَ مِنَ التَّعَفُّفِ تَعْرِفُهُمْ بِسِيمَاهُمْ لَا يَسْأَلُونَ النَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا وَمَا تُنْفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ ﴿۲۷۳﴾
﴾271﴿ In tubdus sadaqaati fani'immaa hiya wa in tukhfoohaa wa tu'toohal fuqaraaa'a fahuwa khayrul lakum; wa yukaffiru 'ankum min saiyi aatikum; wallaahu bimaa ta'maloona Khabeer
﴾272﴿ Laisa 'alaika hudaahum wa laakinnal laaha yahdee mai yashaaa'; wa maa tunfiqoo min khairin fali anfusikum; wa maa tunfiqoona illab tighaaa'a wajhil laah; wa maa tunfiqoo min khairiny yuwaffa ilaikum wa antum laa tuzlamoon
﴾273﴿ Lilfuqaraaa'il lazeena uhsiroo fee sabeelil laahi laa yastatee'oona darban fil ardi yah sabuhumul jaahilu aghniyaaa'a minat ta'affufi ta'rifuhum biseemaahum laa yas'aloonan naasa ilhaafaa; wa maa tunfiqoo min khairin fa innal laaha bihee 'Aleem
﴾271﴿ If you give charity openly, then it is good; but if you give it secretly and give it to the poor, then it is better for you, and it will remove some of your sins (sins and hardships). And Allah is All-Aware of your deeds.
﴾272﴿ You are not responsible for guiding them, but Allah guides whomever He wills. And whatever you spend of wealth is for your own benefit, and you do not spend except seeking the pleasure of Allah. And whatever you spend of wealth, it will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.
﴾273﴿ (Charity) is for the poor who have been confined in the path of Allah and are unable to travel through the land (to earn livelihood). An unknowing person may think them to be self-sufficient because they refrain (from begging); you will recognize them by their signs — they do not ask people persistently except when necessary. And whatever you spend of wealth, indeed Allah is fully aware of it.
[271] In this verse is the fourth point: the method of giving charity—either openly or secretly. Two benefits of proper spending are mentioned. There are appropriate times and places for giving charity publicly or privately. (وَتُؤْتُوهَا الْفُقَرَاءَ) — Obligatory charity is specifically for the poor, and non-obligatory charity is better when given to the poor, though it is also permissible to give it to others.
[272] In this is the fifth point: sometimes a person gives to someone hoping they will enter the religion, but if that person does not accept, the giver may feel disheartened and think the effort was wasted. Allah provides reassurance in this verse—convey the truth and give, and do not grieve, for guidance is in Allah’s control. You will surely be rewarded. (وَمَا تُنْفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِأَنْفُسِكُمْ) — this means charity benefits only the giver, and its reward will not reach another unless it is given to them in a lawful, intentional manner. In the second phrase, the condition for accepted charity is mentioned: seeking the pleasure of Allah. In the third phrase, the promise of full reward is given.
[273] This is the sixth point: recognizing the proper recipients of charity. This spending is for those in the path of Allah—such as those striving in jihad or seeking knowledge—and six of their characteristics are mentioned. (ضَرْبًا فِي الْأَرْضِ) refers to traveling for trade or labor. (الْجَاهِلُ) means someone unaware of the true condition of the poor. (التَّعَفُّفِ) means restraining oneself from unlawful means, and unnecessary begging is also included in this. (إِلْحَافًا), as explained in hadith, refers to asking persistently despite having forty dirhams—so it means begging without genuine need.