Answered by: Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question

My grandmother & I had a conversation and she made a comment about the fact that I don’t give any money to my mother but I then asked my mother, who was present at the time, that do I not give you any money she replied in the affirmative. I was wondering, does that nullify the sadaqah that I gave to her? It is something mentioned in Surah Baqarah: 264. O you who believe! Do not render in vain your Sadaqah (charity) by reminders of your generosity or by injury, like him who spends his wealth to be seen of men, and he does not believe in Allah, nor in the Last Day… 

My intention was not to remind my mother it was to prove my grandmother wrong.

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

Answer

Allah (SWA) in the Holy Qur’an says:

“O those who believe, do not nullify your charities by boasting about favour and teasing, like the one who spends his wealth to show off before people and does not believe in Allah and in the Last Day…” (Surah Baqarah v.264)

The summary of this verse is that sincerity is one big condition required for the acceptance of sadaqah and charity by Allah (SWA). We should not taint this by reminding the favour after we have done it. (Maariful Qur’an p.655 v.1)

With regards to your question, your charity will not be considered to be in vain as your intention was not to remind your mother of favour but to prove your grandmother wrong that you in fact have been supporting your mother financially. 

The Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam has said, “Actions are only according to intentions, and to each only what he intended. Whoever emigrates towards God and His Messenger, his emigration is towards God and His Messenger; whoever emigrates for the attainment of a worldly goal or in order to marry a woman, then his emigration is only towards what he emigrated to.” (Sahih Bukhari p.2 v.1)

Only Allah Knows Best

Written by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham