32ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إنَّ أفضَلَ ما تَوَسَّلَ بهِ المُتَوَسِّلُونَ إلى اللّهِ سبحانَهُ وتعالى، الإيمانُ بهِ وبرسولِهِ ... وصَدَقةُ السِّرِّ فإنّها تُكَفِّرُ الخَطيئةَ، وصَدَقةُ العَلانيَةِ فإنّها تَدفَعُ مِيتةَ السَّوءِ.
32– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Among the best means by which those who seek nearness to Allah may have recourse to His nearness, Blessed and most High, are: faith in Him and in His messenger …, giving charity secretly for verily it atones for one’s misdeeds, and giving charity openly for verily it protects against an undignified death.’[Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 110]
33ـ الإمامُ الباقرُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ) ـ في الإمامِ زينِ العابِدِينَ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ) ـ: إنّهُ كانَ يَخرُجُ في اللَّيلةِ الظَّلماءِ، فَيَحمِلُ الجِرابَ على ظَهرِهِ حتّى يَأتِيَ باباً باباً، فَيَقرَعَهُ ثمّ يُناوِلَ مَن كانَ يَخرُجُ إلَيهِ، وكانَ يُغَطِّي وَجهَهُ إذا ناوَلَ فَقيراً لِئلاّ يَعرِفَهُ.
33– Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, describing his father Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS), ‘He used to go out in the dark night carrying a sack on his back and going from door to door, knocking on each and giving to whoever came out to answer it. He used to cover his face when giving to the poor in order that they may not recognise him.’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 46, p. 89, no. 77]
34ـ الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): لا تَتَصَدَّقْ على أعيُنِ الناسِ لِيُزَكُّوكَ؛ فإنّكَ إن فَعَلتَ ذلكَ فَقَدِ استَوفَيتَ أجرَكَ، ولكنْ إذا أعطَيتَ بِيَمِينِكَ فلا تُطلِعْ علَيها شِمالَكَ؛ فإنَّ الذي تَتَصَدَّقُ لَهُ سِرّاً يَجزِيكَ عَلانِيَةً.
34– Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘Do not give charity openly for people to see and commend you for it, for verily when you do that, you have already received your reward for it [in their commendation]. However, if you give with your right hand such that your left hand does not come to know it, then the One for whose sake you have secretly given charity will surely reward you for it openly.’[Ibid. v. 78, p. 284, no. 1]
35ـ الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): الصَّدَقةُ واللّهِ في السِّرِّ أفضَلُ مِنَ الصَّدَقةِ في العَلانِيَةِ، وكذلكَ واللّهِ العِبادَةُ في السِّرِّ أفضَلُ مِنها في العَلانِيَةِ.
35– Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘By Allah, charity given secretly is better than charity given openly, just as, by Allah, worship performed secretly is better than worship performed openly.’[al-Kafi, v. 4, p. 8, no. 2]
36ـ الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إنّ صَدَقَةَ الليلِ تُطفِئُ غَضَبَ الرَّبِّ، وتَمحُو الذَّنبَ العَظيمَ، وتُهَوِّنُ الحِسابَ، وصَدَقةَ النَّهارِ تُثمِرُ المالَ، وتَزِيدُ في العُمرِ .
36– Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘Verily charity given at night [i.e. secretly in the dark of the night] extinguishes the wrath of the Lord, wipes away grave sins and facilitates one’s account [on the Day of Resurrection]. Charity given during the day [in broad daylight] makes one’s wealth thrive and increases one’s lifespan.’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 96, p. 125, no. 39]
