so if someone else enjoins the same, he loves and supports him and is pleased with him. If he does good to people, he does so only to seek the Face of his Lord Most High. He knows that Allah has favored him by making him a doer of good, and thus recognizes that his deeds are for Allah and accomplished with Allah’s help. This is mentioned in al-Fātihah:

“You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.”

He therefore seeks neither recompense nor thanks from those to whom he has done good, nor does he remind them of his favors. He knows that it is Allah who has favored him by employing him in doing good. He must therefore thank Allah for easing his way to goodness, while the recipient must thank Allah for making available to him what benefits him.

Some people, however, do good to others so that they can hold their favors over them, or so that the recipients will repay them with obedience, reverence, or some other benefit. Such a person may remind someone of his favors, saying, “I did such-and-such for so-and-so, but he did not thank me,” or something similar. Such a person has neither worshipped Allah nor sought His help: he has neither acted for Allah nor acted with His help. He is therefore like someone who acts to be seen by others. Allah has nullified the charity of both those who hold their favors over others and those who give to be seen. He Most High says:

“O you who believe, do not nullify your charity with reminders of your generosity and hurtful conduct, like someone who spends his wealth to be seen by people and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. His likeness is that of a smooth rock covered with dust: a downpour strikes it and leaves it bare. They can gain nothing from what they have earned. And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.”

“And the likeness of those who spend their wealth seeking Allah’s pleasure and out of firm conviction within themselves is that of a garden on high ground: a downpour strikes it, and it produces twice its yield. If no downpour strikes it, then a light rain suffices. And Allah sees all that you do.”

Qatādah said: “‘Out of firm conviction within themselves’ means seeking reward of their own accord.”

Al-Shaʿbī said: “With certainty and belief within themselves.”

It has also been explained as meaning that they give willingly, certain of the reward and believing Allah’s promise, knowing that what they have given away is better for them than what they have kept.

I say: If the giver seeks reward from Allah, not from the recipient, he does not hold his favor over the recipient.