—a third of it. Give away one-third in charity. Indeed, the jurists have said that if someone vows to donate all of his wealth, discharging the vow is fulfilled by giving one-third, because that is the amount explicitly mentioned. On this reading, the preposition min (“out of”) in the verse is partitive: they spend a portion of what We have provided them.

Others, however, regard min as explanatory, indicating the category of the wealth rather than its fraction. In that case, they give according to circumstance—sometimes little, sometimes much: a third, a half, or even everything they own. This last was the choice of Abū Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) urged the Companions to give in charity. Abū Bakr donated all his wealth, whereas ʿUmar brought half of his and said, “Today I shall surpass Abū Bakr,” for the Companions would compete with one another—not out of jealousy, but in the pursuit of good works. When ʿUmar arrived with half his wealth, he learned that Abū Bakr had already given everything he possessed. The Prophet asked Abū Bakr, “What have you left for your family?” He replied, “I have left them Allah and His Messenger.” Then he asked ʿUmar, “And you—what did you leave?” He answered, “I left half of it for them.” After that ʿUmar declared, “By Allah, I shall never compete with him in anything again.”

For Abū Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, possessed earlier merits and virtues unmatched—neither ʿUmar, nor ʿUthmān, nor ʿAlī, nor anyone below them could reach his level.

The essential point is that they spend out of what Allah has provided for them.

And what reward, what fruit awaits them? “No soul knows what delights of the eye have been hidden for them as a recompense for what they used to do” (Q 32:17). O Allah, count us among them, Lord of all worlds.