The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 420
PT. 3 CH. 2 271. And "whatsoever AL-BAQARAH spend or whatsoever vow you وَمَا أَنْفَقْتُم مِّنْ نَّفَقَةٍ أَوْ نَذَرْتُهُ مِنْ you نَّذْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللهَ يَعْلَمُهُ وَمَا لِلظَّلِمِيْنَ vow, Allah surely knows its and مِنْ أَنْصَارِ for the wrongdoers there shall be no helpers. 277 272. If you give "alms openly, it is well and good; but if you تُخْفُوهَا وَتُؤْتُوهَا الْفُقَرَاءَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ conceal them and give them to the poor, it is better for you; and "He will remove from you many of your sins. And Allah is aware of what you do. 278 b لَكُمْ وَيُكَفِّرُ عَنْكُم مِّنْ سَيَّاتِكُم وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ "22:30; 76:8. 9:60, 103, 104. 4:32; 8:30; 29:8; 64:10; 66:9. wisdom. The word a (wisdom) also alludes to the fulfilment of the prayer which Abraham had offered to God for the raising of a Prophet among the Meccans, who should teach them the Book and Wisdom (2:130). The people who receive wisdom receive "an abundant good" and are thus sure to thrive and prosper if they act on it. 277. Important Words: (you vow) is derived from i. e. he made a vow, thereby binding himself to do an act the doing of which is not obligatory on him; he made a vow dedicating his child for the service of religion. is a vow by which a man binds himself to do an act not obligatory on him, sometimes conditional on the acquisition of an object or the fulfilment of a desire, in which case it amounts to a conditional promise. The word also signifies a votive offering (Lane & Aqrab). 420 Commentary: There is a tradition to the effect that the Holy Prophet did not approve of making conditional vows for the performance of non-obligatory acts of goodness; but if a man does so, fulfilment of the VOW becomes obligatory. The words Allah surely knows it mean that if a man spends in the cause of God, He will appreciate it and follow it with good results. But as for those who do not spend or who break their vows, the punishment of God will visit such and no friend or wrongdoers sympathizer will be of any help to them. Similarly, in the life to come, neither will God help such men nor will the angels or the Prophets or other holy men help them with their intercession. 278. Important Words: (will remove) is derived from (kaffara) which again is derived