Does sending charity to one's family in the homeland to distribute among the poor negate the virtue of secret charity? And is the inclination in one's heart to seek the admiration of parents for what has been done considered hypocrisy, or is it merely a whisper from Satan? And how can a charitable person achieve the secret charity where his left hand does not know what his right hand has spent?

The prophetic Sunnah (definition) clarified the virtue of secret charity in the hadith (definition) of the seven whom Allah will shade, among them: "A man who gave in charity and concealed it to such an extent that his left hand did not know what his right hand spent." This indicates the desirability of extreme concealment in charity. However, concealing charity is not always preferable; sometimes, publicizing it might be better if it leads to a greater benefit, such as people emulating it. The general principle is that secrecy is superior, as Allah Almighty says: "If you disclose your charities, it is well; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, it is better for you."