Muhsin

بَلَىٰۚ مَنۡ أَسۡلَمَ وَجۡهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحۡسِنٞ فَلَهُۥٓ أَجۡرُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦ وَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ ١١٢

Yes, but whoever submits his face to Allah and he is a Muhsin then his reward is with his Lord (Allah); on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

Surah 2 Al-Baqarah Verse 112

• Muhsin: A good-doer who performs good deeds totally for Allah’s sake only without any show off or to gain praise or fame, and in accordance with the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger
• There are two conditions for deeds to be accepted:

1. The deed must confirm to the Shariah. When the deed is sincere, but does not confirm to the Shariah then it will not be accepted. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: ‘Whoever performs a deed that does not confirm with our matter (religion), then it will be rejected’
2. The deed must be performed for Allah alone. When the deed conforms to the Shariah outwardly, but the person did not perform it sincerely for Allah alone, the deed will also be rejected, as in the case of the hypocrites and those who do their deeds to show off.

وَأَنفِقُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تُلۡقُواْ بِأَيۡدِيكُمۡ إِلَى ٱلتَّهۡلُكَةِ وَأَحۡسِنُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ١٩٥

And spend in the cause of Allah and do not throw yourselves into destruction, and do good. Truly, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun.

Surah 2 Al-Baqarah Verse 195

• ‘spend in the cause of Allah’ signifies financial sacrifice in the way of Allah
• The root of the word Ihsan is husn, which means doing something in a goodly manner. One standard of conduct is merely to perform the task entrusted to one. The other and the higher standard is to perform that task in a wholesome manner, to devote all one’s capacities and resources to its fulfilment, to do one’s duty with all one’s heart. The first standard is that of ordinary obedience for which it is enough that a man should fear Allah. The other and higher standard is that of Ihsan (moral and spiritual excellence) for which it is necessary that one should have a strong love for Allah and a profound attachment to Him

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَشۡرِي نَفۡسَهُ ٱبۡتِغَآءَ مَرۡضَاتِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَٱللَّهُ رَءُوفُۢ بِٱلۡعِبَادِ ٢٠٧

And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the Pleasure of Allah. And Allah is full of kindness to (His) slaves.

Surah 2 Al-Baqarah Verse 207

ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي ٱلسَّرَّآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَٱلۡكَٰظِمِينَ ٱلۡغَيۡظَ وَٱلۡعَافِينَ عَنِ ٱلنَّاسِۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ١٣٤

Those who spend in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun.

Surah 3 Al-Imran Verse 134

• Narrated Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘The strong person is not he who is able to physically overcome people. The strong person is he who overcomes his rage when he is angry’
• In another Hadith the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Whoever controlled rage while able to act upon it, then Allah will call him while all creation is a witness, until He gives him the choice of any of the Huris (fair females with wide lovely eyes – as mates for the pious) he wishes’
• In another Hadith the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘There is not a dose of anything that the servant takes which is better than a dose of control of rage that he feels, when he does it seeking Allah’s Face’
• Pardoning – forgiving those who treat you with injustice; you do not hold any ill feelings about anyone in your heart, and this is the most excellent conduct in this regard
• A Hadith confirms: ‘I swear regarding three matters: No charity shall ever decrease the wealth; whenever one forgives people, then Allah will magnify his honour; and he who is humble for Allah, then Allah will raise his rank’

وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ دِينٗا مِّمَّنۡ أَسۡلَمَ وَجۡهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحۡسِنٞ وَٱتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفٗاۗ وَٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ خَلِيلٗا ١٢٥

And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face to Allah; and he is a Muhsin. And follows the religion of Ibrahim Hanif. And Allah did take Ibrahim as a khalil (an intimate friend).

Surah 4 An-Nisa Verse 125

• ‘submits his face’ means performs good deeds and actions in sincerity for his Lord with faith and awaiting the reward with Allah
• Hanif (monotheist): intentionally and with knowledge avoids shirk; he goes attentively to the truth, allowing no one to hinder him or stop him from it
• Ibrahim (pbuh) was called Allah’s khalil due to his Lord’s great love towards him, on account of the acts of obedience he performed that Allah love and prefers.
• Narrated Abdullah bin Amr & others that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Allah has chosen me as His khalil, just as He has chosen Ibrahim as His khalil’

إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُواْ وَأَصۡلَحُواْ وَٱعۡتَصَمُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَأَخۡلَصُواْ دِينَهُمۡ لِلَّهِ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَۖ وَسَوۡفَ يُؤۡتِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمٗا ١٤٦ مَّا يَفۡعَلُ ٱللَّهُ بِعَذَابِكُمۡ إِن شَكَرۡتُمۡ وَءَامَنتُمۡۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ شَاكِرًا عَلِيمٗا ١٤٧

Except those who repent (from hypocrisy), do righteous good deeds, hold fast to Allah, and purify their religion for Allah then they will be with the believers. And Allah will grant the believers a great reward. Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him) and believed in Him. And Allah is Ever All-Appreciative (of good), All-Knowing.

Surah 4 An-Nisa Verses 146-147

• ‘purify their religion’ means to make one’s faith exclusively for Allah, by worshipping none but Allah, and do good for Allah’s sake, not to show off.
• Narrated Abdullah bin Amr that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Whoever has the following four (characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of the following four characteristics, will have one characteristic of hypocrisy unless and until he gives up:

1. Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays (proves dishonest)
2. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie
3. Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous
4. Whenever he quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent evil and insulting manner’

• Thanking (Shukr) denotes an acknowledgement of benefaction and a feeling of gratitude. Shukr to Allah requires:

1. That a person should ascribe the benefaction to its real source, letting no one share in either the gratitude or the acknowledgement of benevolence.
2. That his heart should be overflowing with love for and loyalty to, the Benefactor, and that he should have no attachment to His opponents.
3. That he should obey the Benefactor and should not use His bounties contrary to His directives.

• All-Appreciative (Shakir) means Allah is appreciative of the services which His servants have rendered and will recompense them liberally

لَيۡسَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ جُنَاحٞ فِيمَا طَعِمُوٓاْ إِذَا مَا ٱتَّقَواْ وَّءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ ثُمَّ ٱتَّقَواْ وَّءَامَنُواْ ثُمَّ ٱتَّقَواْ وَّأَحۡسَنُواْۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ٩٣

Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate (in the past), if they fear Allah (by keeping away from His forbidden things), and believe and do righteous good deeds, and again fear Allah and believe, and once again fear Allah and do good deeds with Ihsan (perfection). And Allah loves the gooddoers.

Surah 5 Al-Maidah Verse 93

قُلۡ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحۡيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ١٦٢

Say (O Muhammad, pbuh) ‘Verily my salat, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the Alamin’.

Surah 6 Al-An’am Verse 162

قَالُوٓاْ أَءِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَآ أَخِيۖ قَدۡ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡنَآۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصۡبِرۡ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجۡرَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ٩٠

…Verily, he who fears Allah with obedience to Him and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the Muhsinun to be lost.

Surah 12 Yusuf Verse 90

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَواْ وَّٱلَّذِينَ هُم مُّحۡسِنُونَ ١٢٨

Truly Allah is with those who fear Him and those who are Muhsinun.

Surah 16 An-Nahl Verse 128

• Narrated Abu Hurayrah that Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said: ‘The deeds of anyone of you will not save you (from Hell)’. They said “Even you, O Allah’s Messenger?” He said ‘No. even I (will not be saved) unless and until Allah bestows His Mercy on me and protects me with His Grace. Therefore, do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and worship Allah in the forenoon and in the afternoon and during a part of the night, and always adopt a middle, moderate, regular course whereby you will reach your target (Paradise)’

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجۡرَ مَنۡ أَحۡسَنَ عَمَلًا ٣٠

Verily! As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, certainly! We shall not suffer to be lost the reward of anyone who does his (righteous) deeds in the most perfect manner.

Surah 18 Al-Kahf Verse 30

قُلۡ هَلۡ نُنَبِّئُكُم بِٱلۡأَخۡسَرِينَ أَعۡمَٰلًا ١٠٣ ٱلَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعۡيُهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَهُمۡ يَحۡسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمۡ يُحۡسِنُونَ صُنۡعًا ١٠٤ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِ‍َٔايَٰتِ رَبِّهِمۡ وَلِقَآئِهِۦ فَحَبِطَتۡ أَعۡمَٰلُهُمۡ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ وَزۡنٗا ١٠٥

Say (O Muhammad, pbuh): ‘Shall We tell you the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds? Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds. They are those who deny the Ayat of their Lord and the Meeting with Him. So, their works are in vain, and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall assign no weight for them’.

Surah 18 Al-Kahf Verses 103-105

• If someone’s objectives are confined to this worldly life and he wishes to see his efforts bear fruit in the present world alone, then it is quite obvious that all his acts will vanish with the extinction of this world. If he seeks any recompense in the Hereafter, then obviously he should seek it with regards to those acts which were performed to please Allah and to attain good results in the Hereafter, and which were in consonance with Allah’s command (deeds of Muhsin); if a person did nothing of the sort, then all his striving in this world would have gone to waste.

وَٱلَّذِينَ جَٰهَدُواْ فِينَا لَنَهۡدِيَنَّهُمۡ سُبُلَنَاۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ٦٩

As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our paths. And verily, Allah is with the Muhsinun.

Surah 29 Al-Ankabut Verse 69

• Those who act upon what they know, Allah will guide them to that path which they do not know, and thus help them to follow true path in this world and the Hereafter
• ‘Muhsinun’ – narrated Ash Shabi: “Isa bin Maryam (pbuh) said: ‘righteousness means doing good to those who ill-treat you, it does not mean doing good to those who do good to you’.”

أَوَ لَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَبۡسُطُ ٱلرِّزۡقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقۡدِرُۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّقَوۡمٖ يُؤۡمِنُونَ ٣٧

فَ‍َٔاتِ ذَا ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ حَقَّهُۥ وَٱلۡمِسۡكِينَ وَٱبۡنَ ٱلسَّبِيلِۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيۡرٞ لِّلَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ وَجۡهَ ٱللَّهِۖ وَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ ٣٨ وَمَآ ءَاتَيۡتُم مِّن رِّبٗا لِّيَرۡبُوَاْ فِيٓ أَمۡوَٰلِ ٱلنَّاسِ فَلَا يَرۡبُواْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِۖ وَمَآ ءَاتَيۡتُم مِّن زَكَوٰةٖ تُرِيدُونَ وَجۡهَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُضۡعِفُونَ ٣٩

Do they not see that Allah enlarges the provision for whom He Wills and straitens (it for whom He Wills). Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who believe. So, give to the kindred his due, and to Al-Miskin and to the way farer. That is best for those who seek Allah’s Countenance; and it is they who will be successful. And that which you give in gift (to others), in order that it may increase (your wealth by expecting to get a better one in return) from other people’s property, has no increase with Allah; but that which you give in Zakat seeking Allah’s Countenance, then those they shall have manifest increase.

Surah 30 Ar-Rum Verses 37-39

• It is significant that here man is not being asked to give charity to near of kin, the needy and the wayfarer; instead, he is being asked to give them what is their due, to render them the right that he owes them. Man should be fully cognizant of the fact that if Allah (the true Owner of wealth) has granted him a little more wealth than others then these others have a right over the additional wealth. This additional wealth has, in fact, been entrusted to him so that His Lord might test him and see whether he is conscious of the rights of others or not

تِلۡكَ ءَايَٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ ٱلۡحَكِيمِ ٢ هُدٗى وَرَحۡمَةٗ لِّلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ٣ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُم بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ هُمۡ يُوقِنُونَ ٤ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدٗى مِّن رَّبِّهِمۡۖ وَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ ٥

These are the verses of the Wise Book (the Quran). A guide and a mercy for the Muhsinun. Those who perform As-Salat and give Zakat and they have faith in the Hereafter with certainty. Such are on guidance from their Lord, and such are the successful.

Surah 31 Luqman verse 2-5

• The Quranic verse guides people to the Straight Way and represent Allah’s mercy to mankind. However, it is only those who adopt good conduct and who seek righteousness and virtue that can benefit from Allah’s guidance and mercy.
• Three chief qualities of Muhsinun (doers of good) have been identified, as all good proceeds from them:

1. They establish Prayer as a result of which they develop consciousness of Allah, and their sense of being Allah-fearing becomes second nature
2. They pay Zakah, which strengthens in them the spirit of sacrifice and selfless concern for others. It also helps them suppress excessive love of worldly objects and prompts them to earnestly seek to please Allah
3. They also have firm belief in the Hereafter which imbues them with a sense of accountability so that they do not behave like unbridled animals

Viewed in this context, these doers of good are not those who would do good works accidentally and who feel equally free to commit evil. On the contrary, the three qualities mentioned above institute in them a system of belief and morality from which good works follow as a matter of course. Whenever they lapse and commit some evil, it is by way of accident. They are not then impelled towards evil because of any driving factor inherently rooted in their belief system

۞وَمَن يُسۡلِمۡ وَجۡهَهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحۡسِنٞ فَقَدِ ٱسۡتَمۡسَكَ بِٱلۡعُرۡوَةِ ٱلۡوُثۡقَىٰۗ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡأُمُورِ ٢٢

And whosoever submits his face to Allah, while he is a Muhsin, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold. And to Allah return all matters for decision.

Surah 31 Luqman Verses 22

قُلۡ إِنِّيٓ أُمِرۡتُ أَنۡ أَعۡبُدَ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصٗا لَّهُ ٱلدِّينَ ١١

قُلِ ٱللَّهَ أَعۡبُدُ مُخۡلِصٗا لَّهُۥ دِينِي ١٤

Say (O Muhammad, pbuh): ‘Verily, I am commanded to worship Allah (alone) by obeying Him and doing religious deeds sincerely for His sake only’…Say (O Muhammad, pbuh): ‘Allah alone I worship by doing religious deeds sincerely for His sake only’.

Surah 39 Az-Zumar Verse 11/14

لَهُم مَّا يَشَآءُونَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡۚ ذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ٣٤ لِيُكَفِّرَ ٱللَّهُ عَنۡهُمۡ أَسۡوَأَ ٱلَّذِي عَمِلُواْ وَيَجۡزِيَهُمۡ أَجۡرَهُم بِأَحۡسَنِ ٱلَّذِي كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٣٥

They shall have all that they will desire with their Lord. That is the reward of the Muhsinun. So that Allah may expiate from them evil of what they did and give them the reward according to the best of what they used to do.

Surah 39 Az-Zumar Verses 34-35

• ‘all that they desire’ – it is pertinent to note that this Verse does not make any reference to Paradise. It seems, therefore, that the pious will be treated kindly from the moment of their death to their entry in to the Paradise. The pious will naturally desire to be spared:

• Torment in Barzakh
• The rigours on the Day of Judgement
• Stringent interrogation
• Humiliation in the Grand Assembly
• Punishment for their lapses

The Muhsin will desire all this and Allah will fulfil all these desires.

هُوَ ٱلۡحَيُّ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَٱدۡعُوهُ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَۗ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٦٥

He is Ever Living, La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He); so invoke Him making your worship pure for Him alone. All praise and thanks are Allah’s, the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).

Surah 40 Ghafir Verse 65

إِنَّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّٰتٖ وَعُيُونٍ ١٥ ءَاخِذِينَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمۡ رَبُّهُمۡۚ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ قَبۡلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحۡسِنِينَ ١٦ كَانُواْ قَلِيلٗا مِّنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ مَا يَهۡجَعُونَ ١٧ وَبِٱلۡأَسۡحَارِ هُمۡ يَسۡتَغۡفِرُونَ ١٨ وَفِيٓ أَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ حَقّٞ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلۡمَحۡرُومِ ١٩

Verily, the Muttaqun will be in the midst of Gardens and Springs (in the Paradise), taking joy in the things which their lord has given them. Verily, they were before this Muhsinun. They used to sleep but little by night (invoking their Lord and praying, with fear and hope). And in the hours before dawn, they were (found) asking (Allah) for forgiveness. And in their properties, there was the right of the Sa’il (the beggar who asked) and the Mahrum.

Surah 51 Al-Dhariyat Verses 15-19

• ‘they used to sleep but little at night’ – The scholars of tafseer have two opinions about this:

1. They used to spend a little part of every night awake.

• Every night, they would worship Allah even during a little part of the night (Ibn Abbas)
• Hardly a night would pass by them that they did not pray to Allah either in the beginning or the middle of it (Mutarrif bin Abdullah)
• Only a few nights, if any, would they sleep through the night until the morning without praying Tahajjud (Mujahid)
• They used to pray between Al-Maghrib and Al-Isha (Anas bin Malik and Abu Al Aliyah)

2. They used to spend a little part of the night in sleep.

• They performed voluntary night prayer and would not sleep during the night except a little. They were active and would continue until they were seeking forgiveness right before dawn (Al Hasan Al Basri)

• Narrated Abdullah bin Salam that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘O People! Feed with food, keep relations to kith and kin, spread the Salam, pray at night while people are asleep, and you will enter Paradise in peace’
• Narrated Abdullah bin Umar that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Verily, there are lofty rooms in Paradise in which their outside can be seen from the inside and their inside can be seen from the outside’ Abu Musa Al Ashari said “Who are they for, O Allah’s Messenger?” He said: ‘For those who use soft speech, feed food and spend the night in voluntary prayer while people are asleep’
• ‘and in the hours before dawn’ – they would stand in prayer during the night and delayed asking Allah for forgiveness until latter hours before dawn. The Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Allah, the Most High, descends each night to the lowest heavens when the last third of the night remains. He says “Is there anyone who is repenting so that I may accept his repentance? Is there anyone seeking forgiveness, so that I may forgive him? Is there anyone asking of Me, so that I may grant him request?” until Fajr begins’
• Mahrum refers to:

• The poor, who does not receive stipend from the Muslim treasury, nor does he have a means of income, nor a profession (Ibn Abbas and Mujahid)

• The displaced, who does not have a profession to easily earn an income (Aishah)

• The one who does not ask the people for anything (Qatadah and Az Zuhri)

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡمُدَّثِّرُ ١ قُمۡ فَأَنذِرۡ ٢ وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرۡ ٣ وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرۡ ٤ وَٱلرُّجۡزَ فَٱهۡجُرۡ ٥ وَلَا تَمۡنُن تَسۡتَكۡثِرُ ٦ وَلِرَبِّكَ فَٱصۡبِرۡ ٧

O you (Muhammad, pbuh) enveloped in garments! Arise and warn! And magnify your Lord (Allah)! And purify your garments! And keep away from Ar-Rujz! And give not a thing in order to have more. And be patient for the sake of your Lord!

Surah 74 Al-Muddaththir Verses 1-7

• ‘purify your garments’ – refers to:

• Not to let the garments you wear be from earnings that are unlawful (Ibn Abbas)
• Not to wear the clothes in disobedience
• Clean them with water (Ibn Jarir)
• Purify your hearts and your intentions (Said bin Jubayr)
• Beautify your character (Al Hasan Al Basari)

• ‘Ar-Rujz’ – are idols, so keep away from them
• ‘give not a thing’ – this means that one should not give any gift seeking to get back (in return) more than it.

يُوفُونَ بِٱلنَّذۡرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوۡمٗا كَانَ شَرُّهُۥ مُسۡتَطِيرٗا ٧ وَيُطۡعِمُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ مِسۡكِينٗا وَيَتِيمٗا وَأَسِيرًا ٨ إِنَّمَا نُطۡعِمُكُمۡ لِوَجۡهِ ٱللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمۡ جَزَآءٗ وَلَا شُكُورًا ٩ إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِن رَّبِّنَا يَوۡمًا عَبُوسٗا قَمۡطَرِيرٗا ١٠

They (Al-Abrar) (are those who) fulfil their vows, and they fear a Day whose evil will be wide-spreading. And they give food, in spite of their love for it, to the Miskin (the needy), the orphan and the captive (saying): ‘We feed you seeking Allah’s Countenance only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you. Verily, We fear from our Lord a Day, hard and distressful, that will make the faces look horrible’.

Surah 76 Al-Insan Verses 7-10

• ‘in spite of their love for it’ – It has been said that this means the love of Allah, the Most High. However, the most apparent meaning is they would give food while they themselves love it, and desire it. In Sahih, there is a Hadith which states: ‘The best charity is that which you give while you are healthy, covetous, hoping for wealth and fearing poverty’
• ‘captive’ – is made to understood:

• Captive among the people of the Qiblah (ie Muslims) (Ad- Dahhak)
• Captive idolators (Ibn Abbas)
• Captive slaves (Ikrimah)

Ayah is generally held to refer to both the Muslims and the idolators. Treating servants well held such importance with the Prophet (pbuh) that the last statement of advice that he gave (before dying) was his saying: ‘The Prayer (As-Salah) and what your right hand possesses (slaves)’

ٱلَّذِي يُؤۡتِي مَالَهُۥ يَتَزَكَّىٰ ١٨ وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِندَهُۥ مِن نِّعۡمَةٖ تُجۡزَىٰٓ ١٩ إِلَّا ٱبۡتِغَآءَ وَجۡهِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ٢٠ وَلَسَوۡفَ يَرۡضَىٰ ٢١

He who spends his wealth for increase in self-purification; And who has (in mind) no favour from anyone to be paid back, except to seek the Countenance of his Lord, the Most High; He, surely, will be pleased (when he will enter Paradise).

Surah 92 Al-Lail Verses 18-21

• This is the explanation of the sincerity of the pious man. He was not indebted in any way to the people on whom he spends his wealth so that he may be doing so in order to repay for favors received, or may be giving gifts and holding banquets to them in order to further benefit from them, but he is helping such people only in order to seek the goodwill of his Lord, the Supreme. He was neither indebted to them before, nor he expects any favors from them in the future. Its best illustration is the act of Abu Bakr Siddiq, he would purchase and set free the poor slaves and slaves-girls who accepted Islam in Makkah and were cruelly treated by their masters on that account. Ibn Jarir and Ibn Asakir have related, on the authority of Amir bin Abdullah bin Zubair, that when Abu Bakr’s father saw him spending money to purchase the freedom of the poor slaves and slave-girls, he said to him: Son, I see that you are getting the weak people free; had you spent this money on the freedom of strong, young men, they would have become your helpers and supporters. Abu Bakr replied: Dear father, I only seek the reward that is with Allah.

END OF CHAPTER