(262) “Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and then do not follow what they have spent with reminders of their generosity or hurt shall have their reward with their Lord. No fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve. * A kind word and forgiveness are better than charity followed by hurt. And Allah is Self-Sufficient, Forbearing.”
That is, those who spend their wealth in obedience to Allah and in His way, without following their spending with anything that diminishes or invalidates it—such as holding it over the recipient, inwardly or verbally, by recounting their kindness to him and demanding something in return, or causing him harm in word or deed—shall have the reward befitting them. No fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve. Thus, they attain all good and are protected from evil because they performed a deed sincerely for Allah, free of anything that would invalidate it.
“A kind word” means one that hearts recognize as good and do not reject. This includes every gracious word that brings joy to a Muslim’s heart, as well as responding courteously to a petitioner and praying for him. “And forgiveness” means refraining from taking someone to task for wronging you and pardoning him. It also includes overlooking any improper conduct on the petitioner’s part. A kind word and forgiveness are therefore better than charity followed by hurt, because a kind word is an act of verbal kindness, while forgiveness is likewise an act of kindness through refraining from taking someone to task. Both are acts of kindness untainted by anything that would invalidate them, so they are better than charitable giving followed by hurt, whether through reminders of generosity or otherwise.
The verse also implies that charity not followed by hurt is better than a kind word and forgiveness. Reminding others of one’s charity invalidates it and is forbidden because all favor belongs to Allah alone, and every act of kindness is from Allah. A servant must not claim credit for Allah’s blessing, kindness, and grace when it did not originate from him. Moreover, one who holds his generosity over another seeks to reduce the recipient to servitude, whereas abasement and servitude are due to Allah alone.
Allah is inherently independent of all His creatures, while all of them are inherently in need of Him at every time and in every circumstance. The benefit of your charity, spending, and acts of obedience therefore returns to you, and “Allah is Self-Sufficient” and has no need of them. Yet He is also “Forbearing” toward those who disobey Him: although fully able to punish them, He does not hasten to do so. Rather, His mercy, kindness, and forbearance keep Him from swiftly punishing the disobedient. He grants them respite and presents His signs to them in varied ways so that they may return and repent to Him. But when the Exalted knows that there is no good in them, that the signs will not avail them, and that exemplary punishments will not benefit them, He sends down His punishment upon them and deprives them of His abundant reward.