Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 263

Mufti Taqi Usmani

A graceful word and forgiving is better than charity followed by causing hurt. Allah is All-Independent, Forbearing.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Kind words and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Self-Sufficient, Most Forbearing.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Kind words and forgiveness are better than charity followed by hurt. And Allah is Self-Sufficient, Most Forbearing.

A. J. Arberry

Honourable words, and forgiveness, are better than a freewill offering followed by injury; and God is All-sufficient, All-clement.

Abdul Haleem

A kind word and forgiveness is better than a charitable deed followed by hurtful [words]: God is self-sufficient, forbearing.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

A reputable word and forgiveness are better than an alms which hurt followeth; and Allah is Self-Sufficient, Forbearing.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Kind words and the covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is free of all wants, and He is Most-Forbearing.

Abul Ala Maududi

A kind word and forbearance is better than that charity which is followed up by insult or injury. Allah is Self-Sufficient and Forbearing.

Ahmed Ali

Saying a word that is kind, and forgiving is better than charity that hurts. (Do not forget that) God is affluent and kind.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Speaking kind words and pardoning are better than charity followed by injury; and Allah is the Independent, Most Forbearing.

Ali Quli Qarai

An honourable reply [in response to the needy] and forgiving [their annoyance] is better than a charity followed by affront. Allah is all-sufficient, most forbearing.

Ali Ünal

A kind word and forgiving (people’s faults) are better than almsgiving followed by taunting. God is All-Wealthy and Self-Sufficient, (absolutely independent of the charity of people), All-Clement (Who shows no haste in punishing.)

Amatul Rahman Omar

A fair word and forbearance are better than charity followed by injury. Indeed, Allâh is Self-Sufficient (having no want), Ever Forbearing.

English Literal

(A) saying/word (of) kindness and forgiveness (is) better from (than) (a) charity following it mild harm, and God (is) rich, clement .

Faridul Haque

Speaking kind words and pardoning are better than charity followed by injury; and Allah is the Independent, Most Forbearing.

Hamid S. Aziz

Kind speech and pardon are better than almsgiving followed by injury. Allah is Absolute and Clement.

Hilali & Khan

Kind words and forgiving of faults are better than Sadaqah (charity) followed by injury. And Allah is Rich (Free of all wants) and He is Most-Forbearing.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

A kind word with forgiveness is better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Self-sufficient, Forbearing.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Kind speech and forgiveness is better than charity followed by injury; and Allah is Self-sufficient, Forbearing.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

A kind word with forgiveness is better than almsgiving followed by injury. Allah is Absolute, Clement.

Muhammad Sarwar

Instructive words and forgiveness are better than charity that may cause an insult to the recipient. God is Rich and Forbearing.

Qaribullah & Darwish

A kind word and forgiveness is better than charity followed by injury. Allah is the Clement.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Kind words and forgiving of faults are better than Sadaqah (charity) followed by injury. And Allah is Rich (free of all needs) and He is Most Forbearing.

Wahiduddin Khan

A kind word and forgiveness is better than a charitable deed followed by hurtful words: God is self-sufficient and forbearing.

Talal Itani

Kind words and forgiveness are better than charity followed by insults. God is Rich and Clement.

Tafsir jalalayn

Honourable words, kind talk and a generous reply to the beggar, and forgiveness, towards him for his persistence, are better than a voluntary almsgiving followed by injury, through reproach and deriding him for his begging; and God is Independent, of the voluntary almsgiving of His servants, Forbearing, in His delaying the punishment of the reproachful and injurious one.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ

Kind words,

meaning, compassionate words and a supplication for Muslims.

وَمَغْفِرَةٌ

and forgiving,

meaning, forgiving an injustice that took the form of actions or words.

خَيْرٌ مِّن صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَأ أَذًى

are better than Sadaqah (charity) followed by injury.

وَاللّهُ غَنِيٌّ

And Allah is Rich,

not needing His creation.

حَلِيمٌ



Most Forbearing.

forgives, releases and pardons them.

There are several Hadiths that prohibit reminding people of acts of charity. For instance, Muslim recorded that Abu Dharr said that the Messenger of Allah said,

ثَلَثَةٌ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِم وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

الْمَنَّانُ بِمَا أَعْطَى

وَالْمُسْبِلُ إِزَارَهُ

وَالْمُنَفِّقُ سِلْعَتَهُ بِالْحَلِفِ الْكَاذِب

Three persons whom Allah shall neither speak to on the Day of Resurrection nor look at nor purify, and they shall receive a painful torment;

he who reminds (the people) of what he gives away,

he who lengthens his clothes below the ankles and

he who swears an oath while lying, to sell his merchandise.

This is why Allah said