Spend of the good things (Surah Al-Baqarah 2: 267)

The Encouragement to Spend Honest Money for Allah's Sake

Allah commands His believing servants to spend in charity, as Ibn `Abbas (Radhi Allahu Anhu)  stated, from the pure, honest money that they earned and from the fruits and vegetables that He has grown for them in the land. Ibn `Abbas (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said, "Allah commanded them to spend from the purest, finest and best types of their money and prohibited spending from evil and dishonest money, because Allah is pure and good and only accepts that which is pure and good.'' This is why Allah said,

and do not aim at that which is bad meaning, filthy (impure) money,

to spend from it, (though) you would not accept it meaning, "If you were given this type, you would not take it, except if you tolerate the deficiency in it. Verily, Allah is far Richer than you, He is in no need of this money, so do not give, for His sake, what you would dislike for yourselves.'' It was reported that,

and do not aim at that which is bad to spend from it  means, "Do not spend from the dishonest, impure money instead of the honest, pure money.''

Ibn Jarir recorded that Al-Bara' bin `Azib commented on Allah's statement,

O you who believe! Spend of the good things which you have (legally) earned, and of that which We have produced from the earth for you, and do not aim at that which is bad to spend from it,  that it was revealed about the Ansar. When the season for harvesting date-trees would start, the Ansar would collect ripe-date branches from their gardens and hang them on a rope erected between two pillars in the Masjid of the Messenger of Allah. The poor emigrant Companions would eat from these dates. However, some of them (Ansar) would also add lesser type of dates in between ripe-date branches, thinking they are allowed to do so. Allah revealed this Ayah about those who did this,

and do not aim at that which is bad to spend from it.

`Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn `Abbas (Radhi Allahu Anhu) commented on the Ayah,

you would not accept it save if you close your eyes and tolerate therein  means, "If you had a right on someone who would pay you less than what you gave them, you would not agree until you require more from them to make up the difference. This is why Allah said,

save if you close your eyes and tolerate therein meaning, `How do you agree for Me what you do not agree for yourselves, while I have a right to the best and most precious of your possessions'' Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir recorded this Hadith and Ibn Jarir added, "And this is the meaning of Allah's statement,

By no means shall you attain Al-Birr, unless you spend of that which you love'' [Surah An-Nisa' 4: 92]

Allah said next,

And know that Allah is Rich (free of all needs), and worthy of all praise  meaning, "Although Allah commanded you to give away the purest of your money in charity, He is far Richer from needing your charity, but the purpose is that the distance between the rich and the poor becomes less.'' Similarly, Allah said,

It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him [Surah Al-Hajj 22].  

Allah is Rich and free of needing anything from any of His creatures, while all of His creatures stand in need of Him. Allah's bounty encompassing, and what He has never ends. Therefore, whoever gives away good and pure things in charity, let him know that Allah is the Most Rich, His favor is enormous and He is Most Generous, Most Compassionate; and He shall reward him for his charity and multiply it many times. So who would lend to He Who is neither poor nor unjust, Who is worthy of all praise in all His actions, statements, and decisions, of Whom there is neither a deity worthy of worship except Him, nor a Lord other than Him.

Source: Tafsir ibn Kathir (Abridged)