is superior to charity given openly, according to the words of Allah the Almighty: {If you disclose your charitable expenditures, they are good; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, it is better for you, and He will remove from you some of your misdeeds} [Quran 2:271]. Abu Hurayrah reported from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) that he said: "There are seven whom Allah will shade in the shade of His Throne on the day when there is no shade but His," and he mentioned among them "a man who gives charity and conceals it, so that his left hand does not know what his right hand spends." Muttafaq 'alayh (agreed upon). It is also reported from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): "Charity given in secret extinguishes the anger of the Lord." It is recommended to increase it during times of need, according to the words of Allah the Almighty: {Or feeding on a day of severe hunger} [Quran 90:14], and during the month of Ramadan, because good deeds are multiplied therein, and because it contains assistance in performing the obligatory fast. Whoever provides food for a fasting person receives a reward similar to his. Charity is recommended for relatives, according to the words of Allah the Almighty: {An orphan of near relationship} [Quran 90:15]. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "Charity given to the poor person is charity, and that given to a relative is two things: charity and maintaining ties of kinship." This is a hasan (good) hadith. Zaynab, the wife of 'Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud, asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) whether it would be sufficient for her to place her charity in the hands of...