seeks help from Him alone. He therefore seeks neither recompense nor thanks from those to whom he has done good, for whatever he has done for them was done only for Allah, as the righteous say:

“We feed you only for the sake of Allah’s Face. We desire neither recompense nor thanks from you.”

Nor does he remind the recipient of his favour or cause him hurt. He knows that Allah has favoured him by enabling him to do good, and that both he and the recipient owe their blessings to Allah. He must therefore thank Allah for easing his way to goodness, while the recipient must thank Allah for providing him with someone who offers him something beneficial, whether provision, knowledge, support, or anything else.

Some people, however, do good to others so that they can remind them of their favours, or so that the recipients will repay their kindness with obedience, reverence, or some other benefit. Such a person may remind the recipient of his favour, saying, “I did such-and-such for you.” This person has neither worshipped Allah nor sought His help; he has neither acted for Allah nor acted through Allah’s help. He is showing off. Allah has rendered void both the charity of those who remind others of their favours and the charity of those who give to be seen. The Most High says:

“O you who believe, do not invalidate your charity with reminders of your generosity or by causing hurt, like one 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, with firm conviction in their hearts, is that of a garden on high ground: a downpour strikes it, and it yields twice its produce. Even if no downpour strikes it, a light rain suffices. And Allah sees all that you do.”