←Prev   Ayah al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2:271   Next→ 

Popular and/or Featured Works
Muhammad Asad   
If you do deeds of charity openly, it is well; but if you bestow it upon the needy in secret, it will be even better for you, and it will atone for some of your bad deeds. And God is aware of all that you do
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
To give charity publicly is good, but to give to the poor privately is better for you, and will absolve you of your sins. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.
Safi Kaskas   
If you give charity visibly, it is good. But if you hide it while giving to the poor, it is better for you, and He will atone for some of your sins. God is well aware of what you do.

Listen: 
Did you notice?

 You can SEARCH IslamAwakened: 

Source Arabic and Literal tools
Arabic   
إِن تُبۡدُوا۟ ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِیَۖ وَإِن تُخۡفُوهَا وَتُؤۡتُوهَا ٱلۡفُقَرَاۤءَ فَهُوَ خَیۡرࣱ لَّكُمۡۚ وَیُكَفِّرُ عَنكُم مِّن سَیِّءَاتِكُمۡۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِیرࣱ ۝٢٧١
Transliteration (2021)   
in tub'dū l-ṣadaqāti faniʿimmā hiya wa-in tukh'fūhā watu'tūhā l-fuqarāa fahuwa khayrun lakum wayukaffiru ʿankum min sayyiātikum wal-lahu bimā taʿmalūna khabīru
Word for Word
Dr. Shehnaz Shaikh, Ms. Kauser Katri, and more
  
If you disclose the charities then good it (is). But if you keep it secret and give it (to) the poor, then it (is) better for you. And He will remove from you [of] your evil deeds. And Allah with what you do (is) All-Aware.

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asad   
If you do deeds of charity openly, it is well; but if you bestow it upon the needy in secret, it will be even better for you, and it will atone for some of your bad deeds. And God is aware of all that you do
M. M. Pickthall   
If ye publish your almsgiving, it is well, but if ye hide it and give it to the poor, it will be better for you, and will atone for some of your ill-deeds. Allah is Informed of what ye do
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)   
If ye disclose (acts of) charity, even so it is well, but if ye conceal them, and make them reach those (really) in need, that is best for you: It will remove from you some of your (stains of) evil. And Allah is well acquainted with what ye do
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab   
To give charity publicly is good, but to give to the poor privately is better for you, and will absolve you of your sins. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.
Safi Kaskas   
If you give charity visibly, it is good. But if you hide it while giving to the poor, it is better for you, and He will atone for some of your sins. God is well aware of what you do.
Wahiduddin Khan   
If you give charity openly, it is good, but if you keep it secret and give to the needy in private, that is better for you, and it will atone for some of your bad deeds. God is aware of all that you do
Shakir   
If you give alms openly, it is well, and if you hide it and give it to the poor, it is better for you; and this will do away with some of your evil deeds; and Allah is aware of what you do
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar   
If you show your charity, then, how bountiful it is while if you conceal it and give it to the poor, that would be better for you. This absolves you of some of your evil deeds. And God is Aware of what you do.
T.B.Irving   
If you publicize any acts of charity, it is quite worthwhile; while if you conceal them and give [directly] to the poor, it will be even better for you, and will cancel out some of your evil deeds for you. God is Informed about anything you do.
Abdul Hye   
If you disclose your charity, it is well, and if you conceal it and give it to the poor, that is better for you. (Allah) will remove some of your bad deeds. Allah is All-Aware of what you do.
The Study Quran   
If you disclose your acts of charity, that is well. But if you hide them and give to the poor, that is better for you, and will acquit you of some of your evil deeds. And God is Aware of whatsoever you do
Talal Itani & AI (2024)   
It is good if you disclose your charitable expenditures, but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, it’s better for you and will erase some of your misdeeds. God is fully aware of what you do.
Talal Itani (2012)   
If you give charity openly, that is good. But if you keep it secret, and give it to the needy in private, that is better for you. It will atone for some of your misdeeds. God is cognizant of what you do
Dr. Kamal Omar   
If you make your Sadaqat evident, even so it is well and if you keep it secret and give them to those who are really deserving, it is better for you. And He will write off some of your evil acts. And Allah is All-Aware of what you practice
M. Farook Malik   
To give charity in public is good, but to give to the poor in private is better and will remove from you some of your sins. Allah is aware of your actions
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali   
In case you display (your) donations, then how favored (you are) by them, and in case you conceal them and bring them to the poor, then it is more charitable for you; and He will expiate for you (some) of your odious (deeds); and Allah is Ever-Cognizant of whatever you do
Muhammad Sarwar   
It is not bad to give alms in public. However if you give them privately to the poor, it would be better for you and an expiation for some of your sins. God is Well-Aware of what you do
Muhammad Taqi Usmani   
If you make Sadaqat (alms) openly, it is good enough, and if you keep it secret and give it to the needy, it is much better for you, and this will write off part of your sins. Allah is All-Aware of what you do
Shabbir Ahmed   
If you disclose your charities, it is well, but if you give in secret to the needy, it will be better for you. This kind of giving has the power of erasing the imprints of your ill deeds on your "Self". This Law has been decreed by Allah Who knows the interrelations of all your actions within and without your personality
Dr. Munir Munshey   
It is good if you (give openly and) let your charity be known. But truly excellent it would be, if you give to the poor and let your charity remain a secret. Allah will rid you of your sins! And Allah is very well Aware of everything you do
Syed Vickar Ahamed   
You may mention the (acts of) charity, however, it is better, if you do not talk about them, and make them reach those (who are really) in need: That is best for you; It will remove from you some of your (stains of) evil. And Allah is well Informed (Khabeer) of what you do
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)   
If you disclose your charitable expenditures, they are good; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, it is better for you, and He will remove from you some of your misdeeds [thereby]. And Allah , with what you do, is [fully] Acquainted
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)   
If you openly give charity, then it is acceptable; but if you conceal it and give it to the poor, then that is better for you. And He cancels some of your sins; and God is Expert to all that you do
Abdel Haleem   
If you give charity openly, it is good, but if you keep it secret and give to the needy in private, that is better for you, and it will atone for some of your bad deeds: God is well aware of all that you do
Abdul Majid Daryabadi   
If ye disclose the alms, even so it is well, and if ye hide them and give them unto the poor, it will be better for you and He will expiate some of your misdeeds Allah is of that which ye work Aware
Ahmed Ali   
If you give alms openly, it is well; but if you do it secretly and give to the poor, that is better. This will absolve you of some of your sins; and God is cognisant of all you do
Aisha Bewley   
If you make your sadaqa public, that is good. But if you conceal it and give it to the poor, that is better for you, and We will erase some of your bad actions from you. Allah is aware of what you do.
Ali Ünal   
If you dispense your alms openly, it is well, but if you conceal it and give it to the poor (in secret), this is better for you; and God will (make it an atonement to) blot out some of your evil deeds. God is fully aware of all that you do
Ali Quli Qara'i   
If you disclose your charities, that is well, but if you hide them and give them to the poor, that is better for you, and it will atone for some of your misdeeds, and Allah is well aware of what you do
Hamid S. Aziz   
If you display your almsgiving, then it is well ; but if you hide it and bring it to the poor, then is it better for you, and will atone for you some of your evil deeds; for Allah is Informed of what you do
Ali Bakhtiari Nejad   
If you openly give to charity then it is good, but if you hide it and give it to the poor then it is better for you, and it removes some of your sins from you. God is well aware of what you do.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)   
If you disclose your charity, that is fine. But if you give anonymously to those in need, that is best for you. It will remove from you some of your guilt, and God is well acquainted with what you do
Musharraf Hussain   
If you give charity openly, that is wonderful, but giving it secretly to the needy is even better; in both casesit will compensate for your sins. Allah is fully aware of what you do
Maududi   
If you practise charity publicly, it is good; but if you give charity secretly to the needy, it is much better for you, for this will expiate many of your sins. Anyhow, Allah is well aware of whatever you do
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)   
If you openly give charities, then it is acceptable; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, then that is better for you. And He cancels some of your sins; and God is Expert to all that you do.
Mohammad Shafi   
If you give suadaquaat openly it is good. And if you do it in secrecy, and give it to the poor, then it is better for you. And it will atone for some of your misdeeds. And Allah is aware of what you do

Controversial or status undetermined works
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)   
If you give charity openly then what a good thing it is; and if you give to beggars hidingly it is better for you than every thing, and He will remove some of your sins. And Allah is Aware of what you do.
Rashad Khalifa   
If you declare your charities, they are still good. But if you keep them anonymous, and give them to the poor, it is better for you, and remits more of your sins. GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah   
If you reveal your charity it is good, but to give charity to the poor in private is better and will acquit you from some of your evil deeds. Allah is Knowledgeable of what you do
Maulana Muhammad Ali   
If you manifest charity, how excellent it is! And if you hide it and give it to the poor, it is good for you. And it will do away with some of your evil deeds; and Allah is Aware of what you do
Muhammad Ahmed & Samira   
If you show the charities, so it is blessed/praised, and if you hide it and you bring/give (to) the poor/needy ,so it is better for you, and He covers/substitutes from you, from your sins/crimes, and God (is) with what you make/do informed/experienced
Bijan Moeinian   
It is O.K. to spend openly on charity; however, it will be much better to help the needy people as an unknown person as it will washes more of your sins. God knows well what you are doing
Faridul Haque   
If you give charity openly, what an excellent deed it is! And if you secretly give it to the poor, it is the best for you; and it will redeem some of your sins; and Allah is Aware of your deeds
Sher Ali   
If you give alms openly it is well and good; but if you hide them and give them to the poor, it is better for you, And HE will remit from you many of your evil deeds. And ALLAH is Aware of what you do
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri   
If you give charity in public, it is worthwhile (for it will persuade others), but if you hide and deliver it to the poor in secret, that is (far) better for you. And Allah will remove from you some of your sins (due to this charity). And Allah is Well Aware of all that you do
Amatul Rahman Omar   
If you give (your) alms openly it is well and good (in itself). But if you keep them secret and give them to the needy it is better for your ownselves and He will (thereby) acquit you of some of your evil deeds. Allah is fully aware of what you do
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-Hilali   
If you disclose your Sadaqat (alms-giving), it is well, but if you conceal it, and give it to the poor, that is better for you. (Allah) will forgive you some of your sins. And Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do

Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John Arberry   
If you publish your freewill offerings, it is excellent; but if you conceal them, and give them to the poor, that is better for you, and will acquit you of your evil deeds; God is aware of the things you do
George Sale   
If ye make your alms to appear, it is well; but if ye conceal them, and give them unto the poor, this will be better for you, and will atone for your sins: And God is well informed of that which ye do
Edward Henry Palmer   
If ye display your almsgiving, then well is it; but if ye hide it and bring it to the poor, then is it better for you, and will expiate for you your evil deeds; for God of what ye do is well aware
John Medows Rodwell   
Give ye your alms openly? it is well. Do ye conceal them and give them to the poor? This, too, will be of advantage to you, and will do away your sins: and God is cognisant of your actions
N J Dawood (2014)   
To be charitable in public is good, but to give alms to the poor in private is better for you and will atone for some of your sins. God has knowledge of all your actions

New, Partial, or In Progress Translations
Fode Drame   
If you make public the charities, then so much so good but if you conceal it and give it to the poor, then it is better for you and He removes from you your evil deeds and Allah is All-acquainted with all that you do.
Munir Mezyed   
If you disclose your alms, they are still excellent. If you give them in private to the poor, it will be better for you and expiation for some of your iniquitous deeds. Allâh is Well- Acquainted with whatsoever you do.
Sahib Mustaqim Bleher   
If you give charity openly, then this is excellent, and if you hide it and give it to the poor, that is better for you, and it will undo some of your bad deeds for you, and Allah knows what you do.
Linda “iLHam” Barto   
If you make known your acts of charity, it’s okay; but, if you keep them to yourself, just making sure that they get to those in need, that is better for you. (Allah) will erase some of your sins. Allah is well aware of all that you do.
Fadel Soliman, Bridges‘ Translation   
If youpl disclose donations, then that is excellent. But if youpl hide them and bring them to the needy, then that is better for you. and it will remit your evil deeds for you. For Allah is All-Aware of what you do.
Irving & Mohamed Hegab   
If you publicize any acts of charity, it is quite worthwhile; while if you conceal them and give [directly] to the poor, it will be even better for you, and will cancel out some of your evil deeds for you. Allah (God) is Informed about anything you do.
Samy Mahdy   
If you appear, the alms, that is graceful. And if you hide it and give it to the poor, that is goodness for you. And He will atone about you, among your bad deeds. And Allah is with what you are working, Expert.
Ahmed Hulusi   
It is good if you give charity openly, but if you keep your charity a secret and give in private it is better for you. This will atone for your bad deeds. Allah is Habir (All-Aware) of what you do (as He comprises your being).
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli   
If you give alms openly, it is well; but if you hide it and give it to the poor, it is better for you, and it will remove from you some of your sins; and Allah is aware of what you do
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur‘an al-Karim   
If you perform benevolent acts openly with good will and a clean heart, it is meritorious. But if you conceal your charitable acts when you offer in benevolence to the needy, it is better for you; such acts expiate some of your wrongs by benefits, and Allah is 'Alimun of All that you do
Mir Aneesuddin   
If you give charity openly then that is good, and if you hide it and give it to the poor then that is better for you, and this will wipe off (some) of your evil (deeds), and Allah is informed of what you do.
The Wise Quran   
If you display the charities, then it is excellent; and if you hide it and give it to the needy, then is it better for you, and He will cover from you your evil deeds; and God is aware of what you do.

Obsolete and/or older editions
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)   
If ye disclose (acts of) charity, even so it is well, but if ye conceal them, and make them reach those (really) in need, that is best for you: It will remove from you some of your (stains of) evil. And God is well acquainted with what ye do
OLD Literal Word for Word   
If you disclose the charities then good it (is). But if you keep it secret and give it (to) the poor, then it (is) better for you. And He will remove from you [of] your evil deeds. And Allah with what you do (is) All-Aware
OLD Transliteration   
In tubdoo alssadaqati faniAAimma hiya wa-in tukhfooha watu/tooha alfuqaraa fahuwa khayrun lakum wayukaffiru AAankum min sayyi-atikum waAllahu bima taAAmaloona khabeerun