(79–80) “Those who criticize the believers who willingly contribute charity, as well as those who can find nothing to give except their own effort, and then ridicule them—Allah will ridicule them, and theirs will be a painful punishment. * Ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them. Even if you ask forgiveness for them seventy times, Allah will never forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger. Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.”

This, too, is one of the disgraces of the hypocrites. May Allah disgrace them! Whenever they thought they had something to say about any matter involving Islam or the Muslims, they would never let it pass without speaking and maligning them, out of insolence and hostility. When Allah and His Messenger urged people to give charity, the Muslims hastened to do so and gave of their wealth, each according to his circumstances: some gave much and others little. The hypocrites criticized those who gave much, claiming that their intention in spending was to show off and gain a reputation. They said ⦗346⦘ of the poor person who gave little, “Allah has no need of this man’s charity.” Allah Most High therefore revealed:

“Those who criticize”—that is, disparage and malign—“the believers who willingly contribute charity.” They say, “They are showing off; their purpose is boasting and ostentation.”

They likewise criticize “those who can find nothing to give except their own effort.” Such believers give whatever they are able, while the hypocrites say, “Allah has no need of their charity,” and thus “ridicule them.”

Allah repaid them for their conduct: “Allah will ridicule them, and theirs will be a painful punishment.” For their words combined several serious offenses.

One is that they scrutinized the circumstances of the believers, eager to find something to say against them. Allah says:

“Indeed, those who love to see immorality spread among the believers will have a painful punishment.”

Another is that maligning the believers because of their faith constitutes disbelief in Allah Most High and hatred of the religion.

Another is that disparagement is forbidden—indeed, it is a major sin—even when it concerns worldly matters. When it concerns an act of obedience, it is uglier still.

Another is that when someone obeys Allah and voluntarily undertakes any form of goodness, what should [be done] is to support him and encourage him in his deed. These people, however, sought to discourage the believers by what they said about them and by faulting them for it.

Another is that their judgment that someone who gave a large amount of wealth was showing off was an egregious error, a judgment concerning what was hidden, and an accusation based on conjecture. What evil could be greater than this?!!

Another is their statement regarding the person who gave only a little charity: “Allah has no need of this man’s charity.” The implication they intended by these words is false. Allah has no need of the charity of one who gives either little or much; indeed, He has no need of all the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth. Yet He Most High has commanded His servants to do what they themselves need. Although Allah has no need of them, they stand in need of Him:

“So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it.”

The way their statement discourages goodness is plain to see. Their recompense was therefore that Allah ridiculed them, and theirs will be a painful punishment.