before Allah and His Messenger.”

Thus tabattal (“devote yourself wholly”) and tathabbat (“stand firm”) are intransitive, the latter meaning thabata (“be firm”). Firmness means strength and ability; its opposite is being shaken and trembling. Giving charity is akin to fighting: the coward trembles, while the brave person stands firm. Hence the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“As for the proud bearing that Allah loves, it is a man’s proud bearing in battle and his proud bearing when giving charity.”

This is because such a situation calls for firmness and strength, so a proud bearing is fitting. What Allah does not love is the arrogant boaster who is miserly and urges others to be miserly. But He loves the person who bears himself proudly when giving or fighting.

His words, “from within themselves,” mean that the source of a person’s strength is not external—as with someone who stands firm in battle because his companions hold him in place. This is like His saying:

“And when they are angry, they forgive.”

Rather, his firmness and forgiveness come from within himself.

Allah—glory be to Him—has mentioned in Surahs al-Baqarah and al-Nisā’ the four categories of people with respect to giving. A person either does not give, in which case he is the miser condemned in al-Nisā’; or gives reluctantly, with reminders of his generosity and hurtful conduct, so that his giving is not grounded in firmness—this is the person condemned in al-Baqarah; or gives to show off, in which case he is condemned in both surahs. This leaves the fourth category: seeking Allah’s pleasure and out of firmness within themselves.