Repentance
[9:79]
[It is these hypocrites] who find fault with such of the believers as give for the sake of God more than they are duty-bound to give, as well as with such as find nothing [to give] beyond [the meager fruits of] their toil, and who scoff at them [all].
God will cause their scoffing to rebound on themselves, and grievous suffering awaits them.

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* v.79 : Regarding my rendering of sadaqāt as “that which is given for the sake of God,” see note 81 above.
* There are many authentic Traditions to the effect that the hypocrites at Medina used to deride the offerings which the believers brought to the Prophet (as head of the community and the state) in response to the Qur’anic ordinance that they should “give for the sake of God.” For instance, the Companion Abū Mas‘ūd reports: “[When] a man brought an ample offering, they [i.e., the hypocrites] would say, ‘He [only] wants to be seen and praised by men’; and when a man brought an offering of a small measure [of dates or grain], they would say, ‘God does not stand in need of such an offering’” (Bukhārī and Muslim, and many similar versions in other hadīth compilations). The above verse, however, does not allude merely to these historical incidents but serves to illustrate the mentality of the hypocrite whose own insincerity colours his view of all other people. * Lit., “God will scoff at them”: a turn of phrase often occurring in the Qur’ān (e.g., in 2:15), indicating God’s requital.