Among the traits of the hypocrites is that they will not leave anyone without
defaming and ridiculing him in all circumstances even those who give away
charity. If, for instance, someone gives away a large amount, the hypocrites say
that he is showing off. If someone gives away a small amount they say that Allah
stands not in need of this man's charity. Al-Bukhari recorded that `Ubaydullah
bin Sa`id said that Abu An-Nu`man Al-Basri said that Shu`bah narrated that
Sulayman said that Abu Wa'il said that Abu Mas`ud said, "When the verses of
charity were revealed, we used to work as porters. A man came and distributed
objects of charity in abundance and they (hypocrites) said, `He is showing off.'
Another man came and gave a Sa` (a small measure of food grains); they said,
`Allah is not in need of this small amount of charity.' Then the Ayah was
revealed;
[الَّذِينَ
يَلْمِزُونَ الْمُطَّوِّعِينَ]
(Those who defame the volunteers...)'' Muslim collected this Hadith in the
Sahih. Al-`Awfi narrated that Ibn `Abbas said, "One day, the Messenger of Allah
went out to the people and called them to bring forth their charity, and they
started bringing their charity. Among the last to come forth was a man who
brought a Sa` of dates, saying, `O Allah's Messenger! This is a Sa` of dates. I
spent the night bringing water and earned two Sa` of dates for my work. I kept
one Sa` and brought you the other Sa`. ' The Messenger of Allah ordered him to
add it to the charity. Some men mocked that man, saying, `Allah and His
Messenger are not in need of this charity. What benefit would this Sa` of yours
bring' `Abdur-Rahman bin `Awf asked Allah's Messenger , `Are there any more
people who give charity' The Messenger of Allah said,
«لَمْ يَبْقَ أَحَدٌ
غَيْرُك»
(None besides you!) `Abdur-Rahman bin `Awf said, `I will give a hundred
Uqiyah of gold as a charity.' `Umar bin Al-Khattab said to him, `Are you crazy'
`Abdur-Rahman said, `I am not crazy.' `Umar said, `Have you given what you said
would give' `Abdur-Rahman said, `Yes. I have eight thousand (Dirhams), four
thousand I give as a loan to my Lord and four thousand I keep for myself.' The
Messenger of Allah said,
«بَارَكَ اللهُ لَكَ
فِيمَا أَمْسَكْتَ وَفِيمَا أَعْطَيْت»
(May Allah bless you for what you kept and what you gave away). However, the
hypocrites defamed him, `By Allah! `Abdur-Rahman gave what he gave just to show
off.' They lied, for `Abdur-Rahman willingly gave that money, and Allah revealed
about his innocence and the innocence of the fellow who was poor and brought
only a Sa` of dates. Allah said in His Book,
[الَّذِينَ
يَلْمِزُونَ الْمُطَّوِّعِينَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي الصَّدَقَـتِ]
(Those who defame such of the believers who give charity voluntarily)
[9:79].''' A similar story was narrated from Mujahid and several others. Ibn
Ishaq said, "Among the believers who gave away charity were `Abdur-Rahman bin
`Awf who gave four thousand Dirhams and `Asim bin `Adi from Bani `Ajlan. This
occurred after the Messenger of Allah encouraged and called for paying charity.
`Abdur-Rahman bin `Awf stood and gave away four thousand Dirhams. `Asim bin `Adi
also stood and gave a hundred Wasaq of dates, but some people defamed them,
saying, `They are showing off.' As for the person who gave the little that he
could afford, he was Abu `Aqil, from Bani Anif Al-Arashi, who was an ally of
Bani `Amr bin `Awf. He brought a Sa` of dates and added it to the charity. They
laughed at him, saying, `Allah does not need the Sa` of Abu `Aqil.''' Allah
said,
[فَيَسْخَرُونَ
مِنْهُمْ سَخِرَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُمْ]
(so they mock at them (believers); Allah will throw back their mockery on
them) rebuking them for their evil actions and defaming the believers. Truly,
the reward, or punishment, is equitable to the action. Allah treated them the
way mocked people are treated, to aid the believers in this life. Allah has
prepared a painful torment in the Hereafter for the hypocrites, for the
recompense is similar to the deed.
[اسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ
أَوْ لاَ تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ إِن تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً فَلَن
يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُواْ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ
وَاللَّهُ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَـسِقِينَ ]
(80. Whether you (O Muhammad ) ask forgiveness for them (hypocrites) or ask
not forgiveness for them -- (and even) if you ask seventy times for their
forgiveness -- Allah will not forgive them because they have disbelieved in
Allah and His Messenger. And Allah guides not those people who are
rebellious.)