clusters (1) of ripe and unripe dates, which they would hang from a rope between two columns in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. The poor among the Emigrants would eat from them. One of them would deliberately insert a cluster of shriveled dates (2), thinking that, amid the large number of clusters put forth, it would be accepted from him. Thus, concerning whoever did this, the following was revealed: “Do not deliberately select the inferior part”—that is, shriveled dates and inferior produce.
Al-Ḥasan, Mujāhid, and al-Ḍaḥḥāk said: They would give in charity the worst of their fruit and the poorest quality of their possessions, setting aside the good part for themselves. So Allah Most High revealed: “Do not deliberately select the inferior part to give away, when you yourselves would not accept it unless you overlooked its deficiency.” “Overlooking” literally means closing one’s eyes, but here it means making an allowance and being lenient. Its meaning is: If one of you had a due claim against someone and he brought him this, he would not accept it unless he considered that the debtor had overlooked part of his due and waived it.
Al-Ḥasan and Qatādah said: If you found it being sold in the market, you would not purchase it for the price of good-quality produce.
It is related from al-Barāʾ that he said: If it were given to you as a gift, you would accept it only out of embarrassment before its giver and with resentment. So how can you be content with what you would not accept for yourselves? This applies when all of a person’s property is of good quality: he may not give the inferior part, because those entitled to the prescribed shares are his partners in what he possesses. But if all his property is inferior, then there is no harm in giving from the inferior part. “And know that Allah is free of need” of your charities, “and Praiseworthy,” worthy of praise in His actions.
“Satan promises you poverty and commands you to immorality, whereas Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing. (268) He grants wisdom to whom He wills; and whoever is granted wisdom has certainly been granted abundant good. Yet none take heed except people of understanding. (269)”
“Satan promises you poverty”: that is, he frightens you with poverty. In Arabic, one may say waʿadtuhu khayran (“I promised him good”) and waʿadtuhu sharran (“I promised him evil”). When neither good nor evil is specified, waʿadtuhu is used for good, and awʿadtuhu for evil. Poverty is a wretched condition and lack of means; its root is the breaking of the spinal vertebrae. The meaning of the verse is that Satan frightens you with poverty, saying to a man: Keep your wealth for yourself, for if you give it in charity, you will become poor. “And he commands you to immorality”: that is, stinginess and withholding zakat. Al-Kalbī said: Every instance of “immorality” in the Quran means illicit sexual intercourse, except this one. “Whereas Allah promises you forgiveness from Him”: that is, for your sins; “and bounty”: that is, provision in recompense (3). “And Allah is All-Encompassing”: free of all need; “All-Knowing.”
Ḥassān ibn Saʿīd al-Manīʿī informed us; Abū Ṭāhir al-Ziyādī informed us; Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn al-Qaṭṭān informed us; Aḥmad ibn Yūsuf al-Sulamī informed us; ʿAbd al-Razzāq informed us; Maʿmar informed us, from Hammām ibn Munabbih, who said: Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated to us that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Allah Most High says: ‘Son of Adam, spend, and I shall spend on you.’” He also said that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Allah’s right Hand is full; expenditure does not diminish it; ever-flowing (4), night and day. Have you seen what He has spent since He created the heavens”