The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 425
PT. 3 R. 38. AL-BAQARAH CH. 2 الَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ بِالَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ Those who spend their. 275 wealth by night and day, سِرًّا وَ عَلَانِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ secretly and openly, have their رَبِّهِمْ ۚ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ reward with their Lord; on them يَحْزَنُونَ shall come no fear, nor shall they grieve. 281 281. Important Words: "13:23; 14:32; 16:76; 35:30. (with) signifies, with, besides, at, near, by, or in the presence of, etc. It also implies possession, as one says i. e. he possesses goodness عنده خير وفضل ملوك الارض عند الله تراب and excellence عند means, the kings of the earth are like dust compared with God. also signifies, in one's mind, or in one's opinion or estimation (Aqrab & Lane). Commentary: Islamic commandments have been so made as to meet the exigencies of all times and all seasons. For instance, lunar months which rotate all through the year, have been appointed for the observance of fasts and the performance of Pilgrimage, so that Muslims may keep fasts and perform Pilgrimage both in summer and winter, spring and autumn. Similarly, the five daily Prayers and the two supererogatory Prayers (tahajjud) and (duḥā), which are said respectively in the latter part of the night and in the forenoon, are so timed that a Muslim practically performs Prayers at all hours of the day and night. Similarly, charity is to be performed during both day and night, so that this righteous act of 425 man may cover every hour of his life. Observe also the beautiful order of the words. The word "secretly" corresponds to night, and the word "openly" to day. Thus a Muslim has to expend his wealth in the cause of Allah not only in such a way and at such a time that others may be induced to follow his good example by noticing his charity, but also at such time and in such a way that even the recipient of his charity may not know the donor. It may be noted here that alms are of two kinds: (1) obligatory 85; (Zakāh), and (2) supererogatory (Sadaqah). Zakāh is collected by the state from every man of a prescribed measure of wealth and is then spent by the state on helping the poor and needy, orphans, widows and wayfarers, etc. In this case, the recipients do not know any particular donor and thus preserve their sense of self-respect. But as Zakāh is collected by the state, people are apt to look upon it as a tax and not as charity. So Islam has instituted Ṣadaqah also which is voluntary and is given to individuals out of a desire to help the poor and needy. Thus Sadaqah engenders feelings of sympathy