«السَّدَقَهْ الْمَخْفِيَّهْ فِي الْبِيعْ وِالشِّرَا»

The proverb holds that the most discreet form of almsgiving happens through commerce. It does not treat all trade as charity: a person who wants to help someone can deliberately ease the terms of a sale or purchase with them, so the gift is folded into the deal and never announced.

Two benefits are implied. The giver keeps the good deed hidden, which in religious terms is valued as earning greater reward, and the person helped is spared the embarrassment of openly receiving alms, since they appear simply to have bought or sold.

Suitable when advising someone to help a needy person quietly, for example by asking less from them or paying them more in a transaction, so the help passes as ordinary dealing and the recipient keeps their dignity.