وَلَا تَأْكُلُوٓا۟ أَمْوَٰلَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَتُدْلُوا۟ بِهَآ إِلَى ٱلْحُكَّامِ لِتَأْكُلُوا۟ فَرِيقًا مِّنْ أَمْوَٰلِ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ 188
Translations
And do not consume one another's wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful].
Transliteration
Wa la ta'kulu amwalakum baynakum bil-batili wa tudlu biha ila al-hukkami li-ta'kulu fariqan min amwali an-nasi bil-ithmi wa antum ta'lamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah prohibits consuming one another's wealth through false and illegal means, and specifically forbids presenting false claims to judges in order to wrongfully seize people's wealth while knowing it is sinful. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this verse targets both the corrupt parties in disputes and those who knowingly participate in injustice, stressing the moral culpability of those who act with full knowledge of the wrongdoing.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a series of ethical guidelines revealed in Surah Al-Baqarah (a Medinan surah) addressing social and economic morality in the early Muslim community. It addresses the practical realities of disputes and commerce in Medina, where false testimony and fraudulent claims to judges were occurring among the believers, necessitating clear divine guidance on financial honesty and integrity in legal proceedings.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever bears false witness does not depart from this place [the mosque] until he has incurred the wrath of Allah.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1454). Additionally, the Prophet stated: 'I am but a human judge, and it may be that some of you have more eloquent arguments than others in presenting your cases... whoever I judge in his favor from the wealth of his Muslim brother, let him not take it' (Sahih Bukhari 2457).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that knowingly defrauding others through false claims or dishonest dealings, especially in legal matters, is a grave sin that cannot be concealed from Allah who sees our intentions. Modern believers must uphold absolute honesty in business, contracts, and all disputes, recognizing that material gain obtained through deception incurs divine displeasure regardless of legal victory.
Related Ayahs
مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى ٱسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّآ أَضَآءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُۥ ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ
Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allāh took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَٱلْهُدَىٰ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّـٰهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ ٱللَّـٰعِنُونَ
Indeed, those who conceal what We sent down of clear proofs and guidance after We made it clear for the people in the Scripture - those are cursed by Allāh and cursed by those who curse,
۞ أَفَتَطْمَعُونَ أَن يُؤْمِنُوا۟ لَكُمْ وَقَدْ كَانَ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ كَلَـٰمَ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُحَرِّفُونَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا عَقَلُوهُ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
Do you covet [the hope, O believers], that they would believe for you while a party of them used to hear the words of Allāh and then distort it [i.e., the Torah] after they had understood it while they were knowing?
وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْغَمَامَ وَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَنَّ وَٱلسَّلْوَىٰ ۖ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ ۖ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
And We shaded you with clouds and sent down to you manna and quails, [saying], "Eat from the good things with which We have provided you." And they wronged Us not - but they were [only] wronging themselves.