263 Preface ۞ قَولٌ مَعروفٌ وَمَغفِرَةٌ خَيرٌ مِن صَدَقَةٍ يَتبَعُها أَذًى ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ حَليمٌYusuf AliKind words1 and the covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. God is free of all wants, and He is Most-Forbearing.A very high standard is set for chanty. (1) It must be in the way of God. (2) It must expect no reward in this world. (3) It must not be followed by references or reminders to the act of charity. (4) Still less should any annoyance or injury be caused to the recipient, e.g., by boasting that the giver relieved the person in the hour of need. Indeed, the kindness and the spirit which turns a blind eye to other people’s faults or shortcomings is the essence of charity: these things are better than charity if charity is spoilt by tricks that do harm. At the same time, while no reward is to be expected, there is abundant reward from God ? material, moral, and spiritual ? according to His own good pleasure and plan. If we spend in the way of God, it is not as if God was in need of our charity. On the contrary our shortcomings are so great that we require His utmost forbearance before any good that we can do can merit His praise or reward. Our motives are so mixed that our best may really be very poor if judged by a very strict standard. (Cf. 2:215 and 2:273-276).