A Treasury of The Qur’an
ALMS-GIVING
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covered with a little earth; a shower falls upon it
and leaves it hard and bare. They shall gain
nothing from their works. God does not guide the
unbelievers. But those who give away their wealth
from a desire to please God and strengthen their
souls are like a garden on a hillside; if a rainstorm
falls upon it, it yields up twice its normal crop;
and if no rain falls upon it, it is watered by the
dew. God sees what you do. Would any of you,
being a man well-advanced in age with helpless
children to support, wish to have his garden—a
garden planted with palm-trees, vines and all
manner of fruits, and watered by running
streams—blasted and consumed by a fiery
whirlwind? Thus God makes plain to you His
revelation, so that you may give thought.
Believers, give in alms of the wealth you have
lawfully earned and of that which We Have
brought out of the earth for you; not of worthless
things which you yourselves would only
reluctantly accept. Know that God is self-sufficient
and glorious. Satan threatens you with poverty
and bids you unto indecency. But God promises
you His forgiveness and bounty. God is
munificent and all-knowing. He gives wisdom to
