[The third interpretation]

2845 - 'Ali b. al-Husayn narrated to us, Ahmad b. 'Abd al-Rahman al-Dashtaki reported to us, my father narrated to us, from Ibn al-Mubarak, he said: I heard Sufyan saying regarding His saying: "If you disclose your charitable expenditures, they are good. But if you conceal them..." He said: They say it is other than Zakat.

2846 - It was mentioned from Muhammad b. Shu'ayb b. Shabur, 'Uthman b. Abi al-'Atikah reported to us, from 'Ali b. Yazid, from al-Qasim, from Abu Umamah, from Abu Dharr, he said: I entered one day, and there was the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sitting. I said: "What is the charity?" He said: "Multiples upon multiples, and with Allah is increase." I said: "Which charity is best?" He said: "A secret [given as] charity, or an effort from one who has little." Then he cited this verse: "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."

[His saying: "But if you conceal them and give them to the poor, it is better for you"]

[The first interpretation]

2847 - My father narrated to us, Abu Salih reported to us, Mu'awiyah b. Salih narrated to us, from 'Ali b. Abi Talhah, from Ibn 'Abbas, regarding His saying: "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." He made the obligatory [charity]—its disclosure—better than its secrecy. It is said: Twenty-five times [the reward], and likewise all obligations and supererogatory deeds in all things.

[The second interpretation]

2848 - My father narrated to us, al-Hasan b. Ziyad al-Muharibi, the Mu'adhin of Muharib, reported to us, Musa b. 'Umayr reported to us, from 'Amir al-Sha'bi, regarding His saying: "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." He said: It was revealed regarding Abu Bakr and 'Umar. As for 'Umar, he came with half of his wealth until he handed it to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to him: "What have you left behind for your family, O 'Umar?" He said: "I have left them half of my wealth." And as for Abu Bakr, he came with all of his wealth, almost concealing it even from himself, until he handed it to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to him: "What have you left behind for your family, O Abu Bakr?" He said: "The promise of Allah and the promise of His Messenger." 'Umar wept and said: "May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, O Abu Bakr! We have never competed in a doorway of good, but that you were the one who preceded us to it."