Which is better: to conceal charity from relatives and help them without their knowledge, or to make it public so that they may be pleased and feel the bond of kinship, while fearing ostentation and the loss of reward if they come to know?

The preference for secret charity over public charity is derived from the Quran and Sunnah, because it is more conducive to sincerity, further removed from ostentation, and less embarrassing for the poor. However, public charity may be preferred if it results in an overriding benefit, such as encouraging others to emulate it, while being cautious of ostentation and self-admiration.