Question:
The questioner asks: Does informing the people about what a person gives in charity or making it apparent to them deprive the person who does this of the reward (of spending in charity)? For example if every person from a particular group of people were to give a certain (known) amount in spending.
Answer:
If a person manifests his charity or the sum contributed is manifested to the people, or other than it, then this does not reduce his reward; because Allaah has praised those who spend their wealth in private and public; rather sometimes it may be that spending openly is better than spending secretly if there is a benefit in making it open, such that the people follow his (i.e. the spender’s) footsteps and do what he did.This may be similar to the one who guides to good and the one who guides to good is similar to its doer. “Whoever starts a good thing in Islam, and others do likewise after him, there will be written for him a reward like that of those who followed him in that until the day of resurrection.”(1) Yes. If a person knew in his heart that by manifesting it (i.e. spending in charity) he is intending to show off to the people and to be seen, so that they can praise him for performing this act of worship; then indeed this is from Riyaa, which a person must strive to free himself as much as he can. And Allaah is the one who grants success.
Shaykh Uthaymeen: Fataawa Noor ala ad-Darb page 12-13 vol 7
[1] A brief clarification: “Whoever starts a good thing in Islam, and others do likewise after him, there will be written for him a reward like that of those who followed him in that until the day of resurrection.”
http://www.salaficentre.com/2014/07/giving-in-charity-open-secretly-pledges-announcing-donations-shaykh-uthaymeen-salafi_school/
Giving in Charity – Open, Secretly, Pledges & Announcing Donations
