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he who gives his wealth to purify himself, offering it as a [means of self] purification before Allahu ta’ālā, exalted be He, by making this payment for the sake of Allahu ta’ālā, exalted be He, and not for show or the sake of reputation, so that he [or the offering] stands purified in the sight of Allahu ta’ālā. This [verse] was revealed regarding the truthful one (al-siddīq) [Abū Bakr], may Allahu ta’ālā be pleased with him, when he purchased Bilāl [the Ethiopian], who was being tortured on account of his faith, and then freed him, whereat the disbelievers said, 'He only did this in return for a favour which he [must have] owed him', and so the following was revealed: