Page 198 - Living in Accordance with the Qur'an

LIVING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE QUR'AN

And (We have prepared a humiliating punishment) also for those
who spend their wealth to show off to people, not believing in God
and the Last Day. Anyone who has made Satan his comrade, what
an evil comrade he is! (Surat an-Nisa’, 38)

They give food, despite their love for it, to the poor and orphans
and captives. (Believers say,) ‘We feed you only out of desire for the
Face of God. We do not want any repayment from you or any
thanks.’ (Surat al-Insan, 8-10)
The metaphor of those who spend their wealth, desiring the pleas-
ure of God and firmness for themselves, is that of a garden on a

hillside. When heavy rain falls on it, it doubles its produce; and if
heavy rain does not fall, there is dew. God sees what you do. (Surat
al-Baqarah, 265)
Among the desert arabs there are some who regard what they give
as an imposition and are waiting for your fortunes to change. The
evil turn of fortune will be theirs! God is All-Hearing, All-Know-
ing. And among the desert arabs there are some who believe in
God and the Last Day and regard what they give as something

which will bring them nearer to God and to the prayers of the
Messenger. It does indeed bring them near. God will admit them
into His mercy. God is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surat at-
Tawba, 98-99)
Say: ‘Whether you give readily or reluctantly, it will not be accept-
ed from you. You are people who are deviators. Nothing prevents
what they give from being accepted from them but the fact that

they have rejected God and His Messenger, and that they only come
to prayer lethargically, and that they only give reluctantly. (Surat
at-Tawba, 53-54)

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