Translation: Those who rehearse the Book of Allah, establish
regular Prayer, and spend (in Charity) 3914 out of
what We have provided for them, secretly and openly,
hope for a commerce 3915 that will never fail:
Commentary:
3914 The man of God takes Allah's Revelation ("the Book") to heart, ever seeks to
get closer and closer to Allah ("regular Prayer"), and in doing so, is moved more
and more to practical Charity for his fellow-creatures. He is not ashamed of his
Charity ("openly"), but he does not do it to be seen of men ("secretly"): he just does
what is necessary for his fellow-creatures, whether people talk about it or not.
3915 Here is a metaphor from commerce. The good man's Charity comes not
merely out of superfluities, but out of "what Allah has provided" for him. He
therefore recognises two things: (1) that his wealth (literal and metaphorical) is not
his absolutely, but that it is given to him by Allah: and (2) that he must deny
himself the use of some of it, as a merchant puts by some of his wealth to invest as
capital. Only, the godly man's Commerce will never fail or fluctuate; because Allah
guarantees him the return, and even adds something to the return out of His own
Bounty. That is, Allah gives more than ever our merits deserve.
3914 The man of God takes Allah's Revelation ("the Book") to heart, ever seeks to get closer and closer to Allah ("regular Prayer"), and in doing so, is moved more and more to practical Charity for his fellow-creatures. He is not ashamed of his Charity ("openly"), but he does not do it to be seen of men ("secretly"): he just does what is necessary for his fellow-creatures, whether people talk about it or not.
3915 Here is a metaphor from commerce. The good man's Charity comes not merely out of superfluities, but out of "what Allah has provided" for him. He therefore recognises two things: (1) that his wealth (literal and metaphorical) is not his absolutely, but that it is given to him by Allah: and (2) that he must deny himself the use of some of it, as a merchant puts by some of his wealth to invest as capital. Only, the godly man's Commerce will never fail or fluctuate; because Allah guarantees him the return, and even adds something to the return out of His own Bounty. That is, Allah gives more than ever our merits deserve.