Which reminders of one's generosity or hurtful words invalidate charity?
ما هو المن والأذى الذي يبطل الصدقة؟
Allah says: (O believers! Do not waste your charity with reminders of your generosity or hurtful words). Understanding these two destructive behaviors is crucial for every donor.
قال الله تعالى: (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لا تُبْطِلُوا صَدَقَاتِكُمْ بِالْمَنِّ وَالأَذَى). إن فهم هذين السلوكين المدمرين أمر بالغ الأهمية لكل متصدق.
The Meaning of Reminders and Harm | معنى المن والأذى
1. Reminders of Generosity (Al-Mann)
Reminders of one’s generosity to the one who received the charity is used as a way to look down on him. It is as if to tell someone: on such a day I gave you so and so, and of course, it becomes graver if this happens in front of people.
1. المن (تعداد النعم)
المن هو: ذكر الصدقة وتعدادها على من تصدق بها عليه، على الوجه التفضل عليه، كأن يقول له أعطيتك في يوم كذا وكذا، وفي يوم كذا وكذا. ويزيد الأمر إن كان يحدث هذا أمام الناس.
2. Hurtful Words (Al-Atha)
Harm: Humiliating the recipient of charity and saying hurtful words to him that demean his honour and dignity. An example of that is if one says: "You bother me too much by asking," or "Don't you feel ashamed every time you ask me?"
2. الأذى (الإهانة اللفظية)
الأذى: التطاول على المتصدق عليه وإذلاله بكلمة نابية تحط من شرفه وكرامته، كأن يقول له مثلاً: آذيتني بكثرة سؤالك، أو أنت لا تستحي في كل مرة تسألني أو نحو ذلك.
3. The Prophetic Etiquette
And the behavior of the prophets taught us that the donor must behave kindly with those he gives charity to so that people would not be embarrassed by it. Allah Almighty says about His Prophet Moses: (So he watered their herd for them, then withdrew to the shade.)
3. أدب الأنبياء
وقد علمنا سلوك الأنبياء أن على المحسن أن يتأدب مع من أحسن إليهم، حتى لا يتحرج الناس منه، فقد قال الله تعالى عن نبيه موسى: "فَسَقَى لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّى إِلَى الظِّلِّ".
4. The Invalidation of the Reward
If a human being reminds someone of the charity he has given him, then the reward for his charity vanishes, because the reminder hurts the feelings of the receiver of charity, and hurts their dignity. (Those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah and do not follow their charity with reminders of their generosity or hurtful words). (A kind word with forgiveness is better than almsgiving followed by injury. Allah is Absolute, Clement.) Al-Baqara 2: 263.
4. بطلان ثواب الصدقة
إذا منن الإنسان شخص أعطاه صدقة, تذهب ثواب صدقته. لأن المن يجرح شعور من أعطي الصدقة ويجرح كرامته. (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُبْطِلُوا صَدَقَاتِكُم بِالْمَنِّ وَالْأَذَىٰ) البقرة 2: 262. (قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَا أَذًى ۗ وَاللَّـهُ غَنِيٌّ حَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٦٣﴾) البقرة 2: 263.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What does 'Al-Mann' (reminders of generosity) mean?
Al-Mann is the act of reminding the person who received your charity about the favors you did for them. It is often done to make the recipient feel indebted or inferior, especially if done in front of others.
Can a kind word really be better than giving money?
Yes. The Quran explicitly states that offering a kind, respectful word and forgiving a beggar's persistence is much better in the sight of Allah than giving them money followed by insults or humiliation.
What happens to the reward of a charity if it is followed by hurtful words?
The reward is completely invalidated and vanished. Hurting the dignity and feelings of the recipient cancels out the good deed of the financial contribution.