26 Preface وَآتِ ذَا القُربىٰ حَقَّهُ وَالمِسكينَ وَابنَ السَّبيلِ وَلا تُبَذِّر تَبذيرًاYusuf AliAnd render to the kindred their due rights, as (also) to those in want, and to the wayfarer:1 But squander not (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift.2In the Jewish Decalogue, which was given to a primitive and hard-hearted people, this refinement of kindness-to those in want and to wayfarers (i.e., total strangers whom you come across) finds no place. Nor was there much danger of their wasting their substance out of exuberance. Even the command “to honour thy father and mother” comes after the ceremonial observance of the Sabbath. With us, the worship of God is linked up with kindness-to parents, kindred, those in want, those who are far from their homes though they may be total strangers to us. It is not mere verbal kindness. They have certain rights which must be fulfilled.All charity, kindness, and help are conditioned by our own resources. There is no merit if we merely spend out of bravado or for idle show. How many families are ruined by extravagant expenses at wedding, funerals, etc., or (as they may call it) to “oblige friends or relatives”, or to give to able-bodied beggars? To no one was this command more necessary than it is to Muslims of the present day.