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laysa ʿalayka hudāhum wa-lākinna llāha yahdī man yashāʾu wa-mā tunfiqū min khayrin fa-li-ʾanfusikum wa-mā tunfiqūna ʾillā btighāʾa wajhi llāhi wa-mā tunfiqū min khayrin yuwaffa ʾilaykum wa-ʾantum lā tuẓlamūna
It is not up to you to guide them; rather, it is Allah who guides whomever He wishes. Whatever wealth you spend, it is for your own benefit, as you do not spend but to seek Allah’s pleasure, and whatever wealth you spend will be repaid to you in full and you will not be wronged.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 272
272. "It is not upon you to guide them (O' Muhammad), but Allah guides aright whomsoever He' wills. And whatever of good you spend in charity shall be for your own selves; and you do not spend except seeking the pleasure of Allah; and whatever of good you spend shall be repaid to you in full and you shall not be dealt with unjustly."
In Majma'-ul-Bayan and Tafsir-ul-Kabir by Fakhr-Razi, there are cited some occasions of revelation for the above mentioned verse which, on the whole, indicate that Muslims were in doubt to give charity to the indigents of pagans and non-Muslims. When they inquired about it from the Messenger of Allah; (S), this verse was revealed. 6
Explanations
1. Do not employ the abundance of giving charity and the economical pressure for bringing infidels towards the Faith
2. Serving the deprived is a human sympathy, as well as a duty, and generosity is a value. Hence, do give charity to non-Muslims, too.
3. Islam is a school of humanitarianism. It does not approve poverty and deprivation, even for non-Muslims.
4. The faith which be pretended under the pressure of economics is not worthy.
5. Guidance is a divine success which encompasses only the receptive hearts
6. The consequence of charity returns to you. It survives the spirit of generosity in you. It is through charity that the appearance of levels among groups of people and social bursts can be prevented and, instead, love and kindness may grow therein. However, in charity there can be found not deprivation while there is immunity in it.
"... And whatever of good you spend in charity, shall be for your own selves..."
7. Do not spend out but for Allah, because, soon or late, all the worldly benefits and merits will be vanished, but if giving charity be done for the sake of Allah, it will remain forever and you will enjoy of its incomes.
8. Be bountiful in spending out, since whatever you give in charity will come back to you with no decrease.
9. If you accomplish something for Allah, you will obtain your reward whether a Muslim or a pagan enjoys of it.
Footnotes