God blesses charity

[saidmirza]

God eliminates usury, and increases charity; and God loves not every ingrate and sinner.
(2:276)

It might seem counterintutive since we are subjected day and night to the idea that we need to hoard wealth and not spend it. But, God says in the Qur'an that He blesses (increases) charity and eliminates usury. Therefore, if you wish abundance then you must give in charity.

If you reveal charity, excellent is it; but if you hide it, and give it to the poor, it is better for you, and He will remove from you some of your evil deeds; and God is aware of what you do.
(2:271)

Giving in charity, especially in secret, has the added benefit of removing from you your sins.

Charity is but for the poor and the needy, and the workers with it, and those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and for slaves and debtors, and in the cause of God, and the wayfarer — an obligation from God; and God is knowing and wise.
(9:60)

They ask thee what they should spend. Say thou: “Whatever you spend of good for parents and relatives, and the fatherless, and the needy, and the wayfarer,[...]. And whatever you do of good, God knows it.”
(2:215)

God, Himself, is teaching us how we can increase in wealth and abundance. And of course, the following verses bears constant remembering:

The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the cause of God is as the likeness of a grain which grows seven ears, in each ear a hundred grains. And God increases manifold to whom He wills; and God is encompassing and knowing.

Those who spend their wealth in the cause of God, then follow not what they have spent with condescension or hindrance, they have their reward with their Lord; and no fear will be upon them, nor will they grieve.

Fitting speech and blindness to deficiency are better than charity followed by hindrance; and God is free from need and clement.

O you who heed warning: make not your charity vain through condescension and hindrance, like one who spends his wealth to be seen of men and believes not in God and the Last Day. And his likeness is as the likeness of a rock whereon is dust: a downpour fell upon it leaving it bare; they possess nothing from what they have earned; and God guides not the people of the false claimers of guidance.

And the likeness of those who spend their wealth seeking the pleasure of God and as a confirmation of their souls, is as the likeness of a garden on high ground: a downpour fell upon it, and it yielded double fruit; and if a downpour falls not upon it, then fine rain; and God sees what you do.

Would one of you wish to have a garden of date-palms and grapevines, beneath which rivers flow, he having every fruit therein?[...]. And old age befell him, and he had weak progeny, and a cyclone wherein was fire befell it, and it was burned up. Thus does God make plain to you the proofs, that you might give thought.

O you who heed warning: spend of the good things you have earned, and of what We have brought forth for you from the earth. And resort not to the bad thereof, to spend thereof, when you would not take it save you closed an eye to it; and know that God is free from need and praiseworthy.

The satan promises you poverty, and enjoins upon you sexual immorality, but God promises you forgiveness and bounty from Him; and God is encompassing and knowing.

He gives wisdom to whom He wills; and to whom wisdom is given, he has been given much good; but only those of insight take heed.

And what you spend of an expenditure or make of a pledge, God knows it. And there are for the wrongdoers no helpers.
(2:261-270)

 

[TheQuranGuides]

The term for charity in my native language (Bengali) is Dana. It refers to the practice of generosity or giving. Note I have kept generosity (free and open support to others) also as a way of giving ( for people who may not be materially able to help others). Dana has many forms and are as follows :

• Material Giving: Providing physical necessities such as food, clothing, or shelter to those in need.
• Non-Material Giving: Sharing time, attention, and kindness, and offering support or emotional comfort to those who need it.
• Spiritual Giving: Offering teachings, wisdom, and guidance to help others on their spiritual path.

The practice of Dana emphasizes the importance of selfless giving as a means to cultivate inner virtue, foster positive relationships, and progress on the straight path towards God.

Chapter 2, Verse 280 :
And if he be one in hardship, then deferment until ease; but that you forgive by way of charity is better for you, if you would know.

 

[saidmirza]

Peace,
Just came across this in my reading of the Qur'an yesterday:

And covet not that wherein God has favoured some of you over others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask God of His bounty; God is knower of all things.
(4:32)

 

[TheQuranGuides]

Verses such as this shows that the Qur'an is flexible enough to resonate with each individual’s perspective. A psychologist may analyze it as a psychological text, a physicist might regard it as a stylized elucidation of cause and effect, a poet could derive inspiration for their creative endeavors, and a political theorist might discover support for contemporary perspectives.

 

[GodGuides4:175]

It might seem counterintutive since we are subjected day and night to the idea that we need to hoard wealth and not spend it. But, God says in the Qur'an that He blesses (increases) charity and eliminates usury. Therefore, if you wish abundance then you must give in charity.



Giving in charity, especially in secret, has the added benefit of removing from you your sins.




God, Himself, is teaching us how we can increase in wealth and abundance. And of course, the following verses bears constant remembering:

Beuatiful exhorting and reminder against hoarding wealth. That is something God is bringing me to think about how much of my views are simply culture and actually in opposition to God. Im new to reading the Quran but the views on charity and the worldliness are beautiful and resonating in my heart.

I did have a question....
In 2:271 do you understand this to be supporting the idea of private charity being a sort of atoning indulgence/penitential system for getting forgiveness for unrelated sins? Is there indulgence/penitential systems/meritorious deeds giving atonement for sins something you find the Quran teaches?

When I read chapter two I understood this to be more narrow being a comparison about giving privately absolves us of our sins of ego and pride that readily accompany public charity and that as it says in next verse our motives in charity can be more pure "seeking the pleasure/face of God" in private charity. Which flows nicely with the previous verse "whatever charities you give or vows you make are surely known to God" so we can be assured and encouraged God knows charity done in private.

I guess I naturally read this verse thinking of how this would be a proof text for Traditionalists to twist for their prevalent doctrines in Hadiths of turning deeds/zikr into outrageous forms indulgence/penitential systems for getting forgiveness for sins and ridiculous inflated accumulation of good deeds and how this verse would be more likely to be mistranslated into more broad unrelated sins instead of it narrowly speaking about private charity spares us from the particular sins (ego and pride) that accompany public charity? I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this.