-
AlGhazalisIhya-Book_of_Zakat_and_Charity, page : 12
what his right hand had given.” In another Tradition: “Secret charity extinguishes
the Anger of the Lord.” Allah, the Almighty tells us in the Koran:
“…but to give charity to the poor in private is better and will acquit you from some
of your evil deeds…” (Koran Ch. 2 verse 271)
The advantage of secrecy is that it confers deliverance from the perils of
hypocritical ostentation and reputation seeking. As the Prophet, praise and peace
be upon him, said: “Allah does not accept from a braggart, a hypocrite or one
who is always looking for gratitude.” He who talks about charity is seeking
prestige, while he who gives for all the world to see is after public recognition;
these pitfalls are avoided by secrecy and silence. Some have taken such an
extreme view of the merit of secrecy as to maintain that the recipient should not
know the identity of the giver. Some used to slip their charity into the hand of a
blind man, while others would drop them in a poor man‟s path or in the place
where he sat, so that he could see the gift without seeing the giver. Some would
tuck their charity in the poor man‟s clothes while he was sleeping; still others
the Anger of the Lord.” Allah, the Almighty tells us in the Koran:
“…but to give charity to the poor in private is better and will acquit you from some
of your evil deeds…” (Koran Ch. 2 verse 271)
The advantage of secrecy is that it confers deliverance from the perils of
hypocritical ostentation and reputation seeking. As the Prophet, praise and peace
be upon him, said: “Allah does not accept from a braggart, a hypocrite or one
who is always looking for gratitude.” He who talks about charity is seeking
prestige, while he who gives for all the world to see is after public recognition;
these pitfalls are avoided by secrecy and silence. Some have taken such an
extreme view of the merit of secrecy as to maintain that the recipient should not
know the identity of the giver. Some used to slip their charity into the hand of a
blind man, while others would drop them in a poor man‟s path or in the place
where he sat, so that he could see the gift without seeing the giver. Some would
tuck their charity in the poor man‟s clothes while he was sleeping; still others