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qul li-ʿibādiya lladhīna ʾāmanū yuqīmū ṣ-ṣalāta wa-yunfiqū mimmā razaqnāhum sirran wa-ʿalāniyatan min qabli ʾan yaʾtiya yawmun lā bayʿun fīhi wa-lā khilālun-i
Tell My servants who have faith to maintain the prayer and to spend out of what We have provided them with, secretly and openly, before there comes a day on which there will be neither any bargaining nor friendship.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah ‘Ibrahim – Verse 31
31. “O’ Prophet! Say to My servants who have believed, to perform the prayers and to spend (in charity) out of what We have provided them, secretly and openly, before the coming of a Day in which there shall be neither bartering nor befriending.”
Openly spending out of the wealth may encourage the present generation, and cause the encouragement of others, and self-acquittal from all accusations, while secretly spending out of the wealth is the cause of development and sincerity. Some commentators, of course, have claimed that overt spend relates to the obligatory giving away of the wealth, like Khoms (one fifth) and alms, while secretly giving away of it relates to the recommended cases, such as: charity.
Although each of the open and in secret giving away of the wealth exerts some impacts on others, nonetheless, one can perhaps say that to give away part of the wealth in secret is better, for the Qur’anic term /sirran/ (secretly) precedes the word /‘al anyatan/ (openly) in this verse.
Explanations
1- In order to command others, respect their personalities first. Serving as subservient to Allah provides the believers with a medal of honour. The verse says:
“O’ Prophet! Say to My servants…”
2- Having mere faith in the bottom of one’s heart is not sufficient. Prayers, giving away of one’s wealth, and good deeds are also necessary. The verse says:
“…who have believed, to perform the prayers and to spend (in charity) out of what We have provided them…”
3- Islam is a comprehensive religion. One’s relationship with Allah (s.w.t.), along with one’s assistance to the deprived, are coupled with each other and are required for the acceptance of both.
“…to perform the prayers and to spend (in charity) out of what We have provided them…”
4- Spending out is not only confined to wealth alone. One must often share whatever he has with others, whether they are knowledge and wealth, or prestige and power. 5- Giving away of the wealth must be out of one’s allowed earnings and wealth, and not out of whatever wealth we have. Allah said:
and He did not say: “with you” 6- The act of spending out of the wealth must sometimes be done in secret and sometimes openly. It says:
“…secretly and openly…”
7- One must take the opportunity. The Qur’an remarks:
“…before the coming of a Day…”
8- If you wish to have good trade, try to barter and have transactions with Allah, for there will be no transactions carried out in the Day of Resurrection. It continues saying:
“…in which there shall be neither bartering…”
9- One cannot get away from the punishment with bribing and his special relationships on in the Day of Resurrection. The verse remarks:
“…there shall be neither bartering nor befriending.”