so that the petitioner receives it from the hand of the All-Merciful, rather than from the hand of the giver. The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, says, “It falls into the hand of the All-Merciful before falling into the hand of the petitioner.” The favor to the petitioner thus belongs to God, not the giver. God has asked him for a loan, and the petitioner speaks on the Real’s behalf in asking for that loan. If the petitioner is a believer, he need feel no embarrassment before the giver or regard the giver as having a claim of favor over him. The giver has given to God on account of the loan He requested and so that He may make it grow for him. This is divine jealousy and divine grace. The other reason is to make him know that it is deposited where it will grow and increase for him. All this is so that he will willingly give it out and guard against his soul’s avarice.
Seeking profit in trade and the growth of wealth belongs to human nature. Hence the report that God makes charities grow. By giving wealth as almsgiving, the servant’s natural eagerness for wealth is directed toward recompense, increase, and blessing, just as his natural eagerness governs his gathering of wealth and his soul’s avarice. God has dealt gently with him by keeping him within the nature He gave him.
You see the merchant travel to distant, dangerous places where lives and wealth are lost. He spends and hands over wealth,
Notes
Translator’s note TN2308-1: The petitioner’s position as speaker for the Real removes the giver’s claim to personal favor. The argument about the growth of charity then addresses the same desire for increase that drives trade.
