Surah Al-Baqarah 2:264
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ · Medinan · Verse 264 of 286
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُبْطِلُوا۟ صَدَقَٰتِكُم بِٱلْمَنِّ وَٱلْأَذَىٰ كَٱلَّذِى يُنفِقُ مَالَهُۥ رِئَآءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۖ فَمَثَلُهُۥ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ عَلَيْهِ تُرَابٌۭ فَأَصَابَهُۥ وَابِلٌۭ فَتَرَكَهُۥ صَلْدًۭا ۖ لَّا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍۢ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ
Translation
You who believe, do not cancel out your charitable deeds with reminders and hurtful words, like someone who spends his wealth only to be seen by people, not believing in God and the Last Day. Such a person is like a rock with earth on it: heavy rain falls and leaves it completely bare. Such people get no rewards for their works: God does not guide the disbelievers.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This powerful verse opens with a direct call to the believers, "يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟" (O you who have believed), urging them to protect their good deeds. Allah warns them, "لَا تُبْطِلُوا۟ صَدَقَٰتِكُم بِٱلْمَنِّ وَٱلْأَذَىٰ" (do not invalidate your charities by reminders of your generosity or by injury). This isn't just about giving charity, but about preserving its spiritual reward. To "invalidate" here, as Ibn Ashur explains, means to lose the divine reward for the charity.
The Hidden Poisons of Charity
The specific words used, `al-mann` (المن) and `al-adha` (الأذى), highlight the insidious ways charity can be corrupted. `Al-mann` refers to reminding the recipient of your kindness, making them feel indebted or ashamed. Ibn Ashur beautifully illustrates this, noting how the sweetness of a favor can turn bitter when accompanied by such reminders. `Al-adha` means causing any form of harm or unpleasantness, like boasting about your generosity, acting arrogantly towards the recipient, or shaming them for their poverty. These actions, even subtle ones, strip the charity of its spiritual value.
A Stark Comparison
To underline the seriousness, Allah draws a comparison: acting this way is "كَٱلَّذِى يُنفِقُ مَالَهُۥ رِئَآءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ" (like the one who spends his wealth to be seen by people and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day). This person's charity is done for `riya' al-nas` (رئاء الناس), meaning solely to show off to others, not for God's pleasure. Scholars like al-Zamakhshari explain that a believer who gives with `al-mann` or `al-adha` ends up with the same devastating outcome as this disbelieving show-off: their reward is nullified.
The Parable of the Barren Rock
The verse then paints a vivid and unforgettable parable: "فَمَثَلُهُۥ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ عَلَيْهِ تُرَابٌۭ فَأَصَابَهُۥ وَابِلٌۭ فَتَرَكَهُۥ صَلْدًۭا" (So his example is like that of a smooth rock on which is dust; then a downpour strikes it, leaving it bare). Imagine a `safwaan` (صفوان), a hard, smooth rock, barely covered by a thin layer of `turab` (تراب), dust or soil. From a distance, it might appear to be fertile ground, holding the promise of growth. But then, a `wabil` (وابل), a heavy downpour, strikes it. The rain washes away the meager dust, leaving the rock `salda` (صلدا), completely bare, hard, and utterly barren. Ibn Ashur highlights the crushing disappointment of a farmer who might have hoped to plant there, only to have their hopes literally washed away.
The Emptiness of Lost Reward
This imagery powerfully conveys the ultimate outcome: "لَّا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍۢ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا۟" (They are unable to keep anything of what they earned). The shift to the plural "they" (لا يقدرون), as scholars like al-Jalalayn and Ibn Ashur note, refers to the generic type of person whose actions fit this description, encompassing both the insincere disbeliever and the believer who ruins their charity. Just as nothing can grow or be reaped from the bare rock, nothing of lasting spiritual reward remains from such tainted charity. It underscores the complete loss of benefit in the Hereafter. The verse concludes with a stark warning, "وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ" (And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people), reminding believers to guard against actions that would align them with those whose deeds are ultimately fruitless.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn, Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Worldly Mirror
The Call to Sincerity
This profound verse, addressing "O you who have believed" (يا أيها الذين آمنوا), serves as a crucial reminder for every believer. Allah is speaking directly to us, warning against actions that can utterly nullify our charitable deeds, even after they have been given. The core message is clear: "Do not invalidate your charities by reminders of your generosity and harm." (لا تبطلوا صدقاتكم بالمن والأذى).
The Inner Stain of Deeds
The verse highlights two destructive forces that can corrupt our giving: *al-mann* (المن), which means reminding someone of your generosity, making them feel indebted or embarrassed, and *al-adhā* (الأذى), which means causing harm, whether through hurtful words, insults, or publicizing their need. Such behavior reveals a deep-seated issue in the heart. As Dr. Israr Ahmad explains, *riya'* (الرياء), or showing off to people, and *iman* (faith) are antithetical. When we give for human praise, recognition, or even to evade taxes, as Israr Ahmad points out, our intentions are directed away from Allah. This mirrors the behavior of one "who spends his wealth to be seen by people and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day." Sayyid Qutb describes such a heart as "harder than stone," veiled by this pretense.
The Barren Outcome
The Quran then paints a powerful picture to illustrate the futility of such deeds. Imagine "a smooth rock upon which is dust; then a heavy rain falls upon it and leaves it barren." (كمثل صفوان عليه تراب فأصابه وابل فتركه صلدا). Ibn al-Jawzi defines *ṣafwān* as a smooth stone and *ṣaldan* as barren, meaning nothing remains. The charity given with *mann* or *adhā*, or out of *riya'*, is like the thin layer of dust on that rock. It might appear to be something, but when faced with the "heavy rain" of divine scrutiny on the Day of Judgment, it's all washed away, leaving nothing but barrenness. There is no reward for what was "earned" (مما كسبوا). Tazkirul Quran beautifully frames this: if your deed is for people, you sow it in the soil of this world; if for Allah, you sow it in the soil of the Hereafter. Al-Munir emphasizes that *riya'* and *mann* are characteristics of disbelievers, not believers, and they contradict *ikhlas* (sincerity).
A Call for Sincerity and Empathy
This verse is a profound call to cultivate sincerity in our hearts. True giving, as al-Munir highlights, is meant to foster love, empathy, and cooperation within the community, alleviating suffering. But when tainted by pride or harm, it fails in its noble purpose, making the giver despised. Allah is "Rich (Ghani) and Most Forbearing (Haleem)," not in need of our charity, yet He provides us with opportunities to purify our hearts and earn immense reward through selfless giving. The lesson is clear: authentic faith transforms giving into a beautiful act, whereas impurity of intention renders it ultimately meaningless.
Sources: Israr Ahmad (Bayan ul Quran), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), Tazkirul Quran, al-Munir (Wahba al-Zuhayli), Ibn al-Jawzi (Zad al-Masir)
Wisdom
When Allah addresses "O you who have believed" (يا أيها الذين آمنوا), He calls upon those who have committed to faith, speaking directly to their hearts and minds. In this powerful verse, Allah prohibits believers from nullifying the reward of their charitable acts (صدقاتكم) by boasting about their giving (المن) or causing harm and pain to the recipients (الأذى). This prohibition comes as a stern warning, drawing a vivid comparison between such tainted charity and the futile spending of someone who gives for mere show (رئاء الناس), with no genuine belief in Allah or the Last Day. Their deeds are likened to dust on a smooth, barren rock that, when hit by heavy rain (وابل), is completely washed away, leaving the rock bare and hard (صلداً), unable to yield anything. Similarly, those who spoil their charity will find no reward for what they thought they earned. Allah concludes by stating that He does not guide those who disbelieve.
The Warning Against Tainted Giving
This verse teaches us a profound general principle: the essence of charity, and indeed any good deed, lies in its purity of intention and the kindness of its execution. As Mufti Shafi explains, spending for public exposure, name, and fame nullifies the reward, even for a Muslim who believes in the Hereafter. It's not just about giving; it's about *how* we give and *why*. Al-Munir highlights that "المن" (boasting) refers to reminding someone of a favor or recounting it in a way that causes discomfort, while "الأذى" (harm) is broader, encompassing any form of verbal abuse or complaint. These actions betray the very purpose of charity, which is to alleviate suffering and foster connection, not to assert superiority or seek praise.
The Deeper Message of Intention
The powerful imagery of the smooth rock and the washing rain reveals that actions lacking sincere intention are like dust with no root. Al-Saadi explains that just as bad deeds can nullify good ones, the sin of boasting or causing harm can erase the reward of charity. The core lesson here extends beyond charity itself to all our good actions. If our prayers are for people to see us, our good advice is to make us feel superior, or our acts of service are to gain recognition, then the foundation of these deeds is flawed. Ibn al-Jawzi illustrates this by recounting how some pious individuals would give charity so discreetly that the recipients never knew who their benefactor was, embodying true sincerity.
A Mirror for All Good Deeds
This verse serves as a universal maxim: sincerity (إخلاص) and humility are paramount for divine acceptance. The comparison to one who gives for show and lacks true belief suggests that hypocrisy in good deeds hints at a deficiency in faith itself, as noted by Mufti Shafi. The message is to scrutinize our hearts: do we act to please Allah alone, seeking His reward in the Hereafter, or are we swayed by worldly recognition? The "change point" this ayah encourages is a deep self-reflection on our motives and a commitment to guarding our good deeds from pride, self-admiration, and any behavior that would diminish or destroy their spiritual value. It is a call to ensure our good intentions bear fruit, not just for the recipient, but ultimately for our own standing with Allah.
Sources: Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), al-Saadi (Taysir al-Karim), al-Qurtubi (al-Jami li-Ahkam), al-Munir (Wahba al-Zuhayli), Ibn al-Jawzi (Zad al-Masir)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:264 is discussed in 15 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Baqarah 2:264 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.