THE DAILY ISLAMIC REMINDERS. Yawm al-ithnayn. 21st day of Shaw'waal, 1445AH (Tuesday 30th April 2024). THE DANGEROUS NATURE  OF OUR SADAQAH/ CHARITY/ SUPPORT FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS IF NOT FOR ALLAH SAKE. BismilLah. 

ALLAH says in the holy QUR'AN 2:264.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تُبۡطِلُواْ صَدَقَٰتِكُم بِٱلۡمَنِّ وَٱلۡأَذَىٰ 

O you who believe! Do not render in vain your Sadaqah (charity) by reminders of your generosity or by injury, 

ALLAH then says,

كَالَّذِي يُنفِقُ مَالَهُ رِيَاء النَّاسِ

like him who spends his wealth to be seen of men,

meaning, "Do not nullify your acts of charity by following them with reminders and harm, just like the charity of those who give it to show off to people."

The boasting person pretends to give away charity for ALLAH'S sake, but in reality seeks to gain people's praise and the reputation of being kind or generous, or other material gains of this life. All the while, he does not think about ALLAH or gaining HIS pleasure and generous rewards, and this is why ALLAH says,

وَلَا يُوْمِنُ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاخِرِ

and he does not believe in ALLAH, nor in the Last Day.

ALLAH next set the example of whoever gives charity to show off.

ALLAH says,

فََََمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ 

His likeness is the likeness of Safwan,

where Safwan, from is Safwanah, meaning `the smooth rocks,'

عَلَيْهِ تُرَابٌ فَأَصَابَهُ وَابِلٌ

on which is little dust; on it falls a Wabil,

meaning, heavy rain.

فَتَرَكَهُ صَلْدًا

which leaves it bare.

This Ayah means that heavy rain left the Safwan completely barren of dust. Such is the case with ALLAH'S action regarding the work of those who show off, as their deeds are bound to vanish and disappear, even though people think that these deeds are as plentiful as specks of dust.

So ALLAH says,

لااَّ يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى شَيْءٍ مِّمَّا كَسَبُواْ وَاللّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ

They are not able to do anything with what they have earned. And ALLAH does not guide the disbelieving people. ASTAGHFIRULLAH, WA ATUUBU ILAIK. 

May ALLAH keeps guiding us all and protect us from any satanic influences that will render our good deeds in vain. Aameen.