Tafsir of Fatir 35:29

Surah Fatir (35): Verse 29

Then the Almighty said:

After explaining the scholars who know Allah, fear Him, and the honor they receive due to their fear, He mentioned those who know the Book of Allah and act upon what is in it.

His saying, {recite the Book of Allah} (يتلون كتاب الله), points to the remembrance/recitation (the action of the tongue).

His saying, {and those who hold fast to it} (والذين يمسكون), points to physical action (the action of the limbs).

And His saying, {and spend from what We have provided for them} (وأنفقوا مما رزقناهم), points to financial action.

In these verses, there is profound wisdom:

1. His saying, {Indeed, Allah covers them} (إنما يغشى الله - Note: The excerpt seems to jump here, likely referring to the next part of the verse not fully quoted, which relates to covering/rewarding), points to the action of the heart.
2. His saying, {Indeed, those who recite} (إن الذين يتلون), points to the action of the tongue.
3. His saying, {and those who are patient, seeking the Face of their Lord} (والذين صبروا ابتغاء وجه ربهم), points to the action of the limbs.

Furthermore, these three matters are connected to the aspect of glorifying Allah and showing compassion towards His creation. This is because We explained that whoever glorifies a king, if he sees one of his servants in need, it is incumbent upon him to fulfill that need. If he neglects it, he falls short in glorification. This is alluded to in the Hadith Qudsi: "My servant fell ill, and you did not visit him." The servant asks, "How could You fall ill when You are the Lord of the worlds?" Allah replies, "My servant so-and-so fell ill, and you did not visit him. If you had visited him, you would have found Me with him." This means that glorification is intrinsically linked to compassion; where there is no compassion for Allah's creation, there is no glorification of Allah's status.

His saying, {secretly and openly} (سرا وعلانية), encourages spending in whatever way is possible. If it is possible secretly, that is excellent. If not, then openly. One should not be prevented by the thought that it might be showing off (Riya'). Indeed, abandoning good deeds for fear of being called a show-off is the very essence of showing off.

It is also possible that {secretly} (سرا) refers to voluntary charity (Sadaqah), and {openly} (علانية) refers to obligatory Zakat, as announcing Zakat (the obligatory duty) is recommended.

His saying, {hoping for a trade that will never perish} (يرجون تجارة لن تبور), points to sincerity (Ikhlas). That is, they spend not to be called generous, nor for anything other than the Face of Allah, because anything other than Allah is perishable, and the merchant in it has a failing trade.