🤲 Charity and the Poor in the Quran
In the Quran, giving stands side by side with faith. The righteous person is described as one who believes in God and the Last Day and who, despite loving wealth, gives it to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveller and those who ask, while keeping up prayer and paying the alms. Wealth is something God has made people trustees of, and the wealth of the devout is said to have held a rightful share for the beggar and the deprived.
The Quran pays close attention to the spirit in which one gives. Charity followed by reminders of one's generosity or by hurtful words is cancelled out; a kind word and forgiveness are better. People are told to give from the good things they have earned rather than from what they themselves would not accept, and giving quietly to the poor is called better than giving openly. The righteous feed the poor, the orphan and the captive, wanting neither reward nor thanks, seeking only God.
Wealth spent in God's way is compared to a single grain that sprouts seven ears, each with a hundred grains. By contrast, driving away the orphan and not urging others to feed the poor are portrayed as the marks of one who denies the Judgement.
Who should receive
- 2:177
True righteousness joins faith with giving cherished wealth to relatives, orphans, the needy and travellers.
لَيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَالسَّائِلِينَ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا ۖ وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ
라이살 비르r라 안 투왈루 우주하쿰 끼발랄 마시r리끼 왈마그r리비 왈라킨날 비르r라 만 아마나 빌라히 왈야우밀 아키r리 왈말라이카티 왈키타비 완나비이나 와아탈 말라 알라 훕비히 ð다윌 꾸r르바 왈야타마 왈마사키나 와브낫 사빌리 왓사일리나 와f피 르r리까비 와아까맛 살라타 와아탓 자카타 왈무f푸나 비아흐디힘 이ð다 아하두 왓사비r리나 f필 바으사이 왓다르r라이 와히날 바으시 울라이칼 라ð디나 사다꾸 와울라이카 후물 뭇타꾼
Righteousness is not that you turn your faces towards the east or the west. Rather, the righteous is one who believes in God, the Last Day, the angels, the Book and the prophets; who gives wealth, despite loving it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveller, those who ask, and for freeing slaves; who keeps up the prayer and gives the alms; and [the righteous are] those who fulfil their promises when they make them, and are patient in hardship and adversity and in times of battle. It is they who are true, and it is they who are the God-fearing.
- 2:215
Spending should go to parents, relatives, orphans, the needy and the traveller.
يَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنْفِقُونَ ۖ قُلْ مَا أَنْفَقْتُمْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِلْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ
야스알루나카 마ð다 윤f피꾸나 꿀 마 안f팍툼 민 카이r린 f팔릴왈리다이니 왈아끄r라비나 왈야타마 왈마사키니 와브닛 사빌리 와마 타f프알루 민 카이r린 f파인날 라하 비히 알림
They ask you what they should spend. Say, “Whatever good you spend should be for parents, close relatives, orphans, the needy and the traveller. And whatever good you do, God knows it well.”
- 9:60
Lists eight groups entitled to charity, including the poor, the needy, debtors and travellers.
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ ۖ فَرِيضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
인나맛 사다까투 릴f푸까r라이 왈마사키니 왈아밀리나 알라이하 왈무알라f파티 꿀루부훔 와f피 르r리까비 왈가r리미나 와f피 사빌릴 라히 와브닛 사빌리 f파r리다탐 미날 라히 왈라후 알리문 하킴
Charities are only for the poor and the needy, for those who administer them, for those whose hearts are to be reconciled, for [freeing] slaves, for debtors, for the path of God, and for the traveler—an obligation from God. God is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
- 51:19
The wealth of the devout held a share for those who ask and the deprived.
وَفِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ لِلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ
와f피 암왈리힘 학꿀 릿사일리 왈마흐r룸
and in their wealth there was a right for the one who asks and the one deprived.
The spirit of giving
- 2:262-264
Reminders and hurtful words void charity; a kind word and forgiveness are better.
الَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ لَا يُتْبِعُونَ مَا أَنْفَقُوا مَنًّا وَلَا أَذًى ۙ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
알라ð디나 윤f피꾸나 암왈라훔 f피 사빌릴 라히 θ숨마 라 유트비우나 마 안f파꾸 만난 왈라 아ð달 라훔 아즈r루훔 인다 r랍비힘 왈라 카우f푼 알라이힘 왈라 훔 야흐자눈
Those who spend their wealth in the way of God and then do not follow up what they have spent with reminders [of their generosity] or hurtful words will have their reward with their Lord. No fear will be upon them, nor will they grieve.
قَوْلٌ مَعْرُوفٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَا أَذًى ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ حَلِيمٌ
까울룸 마으r루f푼 와마그f피r라툰 카이r룸 민 사다까틴 야트바우하 아ð단 왈라후 가니윤 할림
A kind word and forgiveness are better than charity followed by hurt. And God is Self-Sufficient, Forbearing.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُبْطِلُوا صَدَقَاتِكُمْ بِالْمَنِّ وَالْأَذَىٰ كَالَّذِي يُنْفِقُ مَالَهُ رِئَاءَ النَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۖ فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ عَلَيْهِ تُرَابٌ فَأَصَابَهُ وَابِلٌ فَتَرَكَهُ صَلْدًا ۖ لَا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ مِمَّا كَسَبُوا ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ
야 아이유할 라ð디나 아마누 라 툽띨루 사다까티쿰 빌만니 왈아ð다 칼라ð디 윤f피꾸 말라후 r리아안 나시 왈라 유으미누 빌라히 왈야우밀 아키r리 f파마θ살루후 카마θ살리 사f프와닌 알라이히 투r라분 f파아사바후 와빌룬 f파타r라카후 살달 라 약디r루나 알라 샤이임 밈마 카사부 왈라후 라 야흐딜 까우말 카f피r린
O you who believe, do not cancel out your charity with reminders and hurt, like one who spends his wealth to be seen by people and does not believe in God and the Last Day. His likeness is that of a smooth rock covered with soil; a heavy rain falls on it and leaves it bare. They have no power over anything of what they have earned. And God does not guide the disbelieving people.
- 2:267
Give from the good things you earn, not from what you yourselves would refuse.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْفِقُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ وَمِمَّا أَخْرَجْنَا لَكُمْ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ ۖ وَلَا تَيَمَّمُوا الْخَبِيثَ مِنْهُ تُنْفِقُونَ وَلَسْتُمْ بِآخِذِيهِ إِلَّا أَنْ تُغْمِضُوا فِيهِ ۚ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ
야 아이유할 라ð디나 아마누 안f피꾸 민 따이바티 마 카삽툼 와밈마 아흐r라즈나 라쿰 미날 아r르디 왈라 타얌마물 카비θ사 민후 툰f피꾸나 왈라스툼 비아키ð디히 일라 안 투그미두 f피히 와을라무 안날 라하 가니윤 하미드
O you who believe, spend of the good things you have earned and of what We have brought forth for you from the earth. Do not set out to give the worthless part of it, which you yourselves would not take except with your eyes closed. And know that God is Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.
- 2:271
Open charity is good, but giving secretly to the poor is better.
إِنْ تُبْدُوا الصَّدَقَاتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِيَ ۖ وَإِنْ تُخْفُوهَا وَتُؤْتُوهَا الْفُقَرَاءَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ ۚ وَيُكَفِّرُ عَنْكُمْ مِنْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
인 툽둣 사다까티 f파니임마 히야 와인 투흐f푸하 와투으투할 f푸까r라아 f파후와 카이r룰 라쿰 와유캅f피r루 안쿰 민 사이아티쿰 왈라후 비마 타으말루나 카비r르
If you give charity openly, it is good; but if you conceal it and give it to the poor, that is better for you, and He will remove from you some of your misdeeds. And God is All-Aware of what you do.
- 76:8-9
The righteous feed the poor, orphan and captive, seeking neither reward nor thanks.
وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا
와유뜨이무낫 따아마 알라 훕비히 미스키난 와야티만 와아시r라
and they give food, despite their love for it, to the poor, the orphan and the captive,
إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنْكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلَا شُكُورًا
인나마 누뜨이무쿰 리와즈힐 라히 라 누r리두 민쿰 자자안 왈라 슈쿠r라
[saying], "We feed you only for the sake of God. We want from you neither reward nor thanks.
The reward God multiplies
- 2:261
Spending in God's way is like a grain sprouting seven ears of a hundred grains.
مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنْبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنْبُلَةٍ مِائَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
마θ살룰 라ð디나 윤f피꾸나 암왈라훔 f피 사빌릴 라히 카마θ살리 합바틴 암바타트 사브아 사나빌라 f피 쿨리 숨불라팀 미아투 합바틴 왈라후 유다이f푸 리만 야샤우 왈라후 와시운 알림
The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the way of God is that of a grain that sprouts seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains. God multiplies [it] for whomever He wills. And God is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.
- 30:39
Usury does not grow with God, but zakat given seeking His Face is multiplied.
وَمَا آتَيْتُمْ مِنْ رِبًا لِيَرْبُوَ فِي أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ فَلَا يَرْبُو عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ۖ وَمَا آتَيْتُمْ مِنْ زَكَاةٍ تُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُضْعِفُونَ
와마 아타이툼 민 r리발 리야r르부와 f피 암왈린 나시 f팔라 야r르부 인달 라히 와마 아타이툼 민 자카틴 투r리두나 와즈할 라히 f파울라이카 후물 무드이f푼
Whatever you give out in usury so that it may grow through other people’s wealth does not grow with God. But whatever you give as alms (zakat), seeking the Face of God — it is they who will receive manifold.
- 3:92
True righteousness is reached only by spending from what you love.
لَنْ تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنْفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ ۚ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوا مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ
란 타날룰 비르r라 핫타 툰f피꾸 밈마 투힙부나 와마 툰f피꾸 민 샤이인 f파인날 라하 비히 알림
You will never attain true righteousness until you spend [in God's way] from what you love. Whatever you spend, God is fully aware of it.
Do not turn away the poor
- 90:13-16
The steep path is freeing a slave and feeding the orphan and the destitute in famine.
فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ
f팍쿠 r라까바흐
It is the freeing of a slave,
أَوْ إِطْعَامٌ فِي يَوْمٍ ذِي مَسْغَبَةٍ
아우 이뜨아문 f피 야우민 ð디 마스가바흐
or feeding on a day of severe hunger
يَتِيمًا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ
야티만 ð다 마끄r라바흐
an orphan of near relationship,
أَوْ مِسْكِينًا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍ
아우 미스키난 ð다 마트r라바흐
or a needy person in misery.
- 107:1-3
Denying the Judgement shows in driving away the orphan and not urging feeding the poor.
أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ بِالدِّينِ
아r라아이탈 라ð디 유캇ð디부 빗딘
Have you seen the one who denies the Judgement?
فَذَٰلِكَ الَّذِي يَدُعُّ الْيَتِيمَ
f파ð달리칼 라ð디 야두울 야팀
That is the one who drives away the orphan,
وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِينِ
왈라 야훗두 알라 따아밀 미스킨
and does not encourage the feeding of the poor.
- 93:9-10
Do not oppress the orphan, and do not repel the one who asks.
فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ
f파암말 야티마 f팔라 타끄하r르
So as for the orphan, do not oppress [him].
وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلَا تَنْهَرْ
와암맛 사일라 f팔라 탄하r르
And as for the one who asks, do not repel [him].
- 17:26
Give relatives, the needy and the traveller their due, without wasteful squandering.
وَآتِ ذَا الْقُرْبَىٰ حَقَّهُ وَالْمِسْكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَلَا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيرًا
와아티 ð달 꾸r르바 학까후 왈미스키나 와브낫 사빌리 왈라 투밧ð디r르 탑ð디r라
Give the relative his due, and the needy and the traveller, and do not squander wastefully.