۞ يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ ۖ قُلْ فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا ۗ وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ ٱلْعَفْوَ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ 219
Translations
They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they should spend. Say, "The excess [beyond needs]." Thus Allāh makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought
Transliteration
Yas'alunaka anil-khamri wal-maysir. Qul fihima ithmun kabir wa manaafi'u lin-nas wa ithmuhuma akbaru min nafi'ihima. Wa yas'alunaka maadha yunfiqun. Qulil-'afw. Kadhalika yubayyinul-lahu lakumul-ayat la'allakum tatafakkarun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses two questions from the Companions about intoxicants (khamr) and gambling (maysir). Allah acknowledges that while both may have some worldly benefits, their harms far outweigh any benefits, establishing the principle of weighing consequences before action. Ibn Kathir notes this represents a gradual approach to prohibition, preparing the Muslim community for the complete ban revealed later. The second part addresses charitable spending (infaq), instructing believers to give from their surplus (al-'afw) rather than what they need, balancing justice with generosity.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Madinah during the early Islamic period when the Muslim community was still adjusting to Islamic law. This ayah represents the first stage of prohibition regarding intoxicants and gambling—acknowledging their harms while the complete prohibition came in later surahs (5:90-91). The question about spending reflects the Companions' earnestness in understanding Islamic financial ethics.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The best charity is that given when one is in need yet still gives.' Related to the concept of al-'afw. Also, various hadiths in Sahih Muslim describe the Prophet's prohibition of khamr and maysir as part of major sins.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims to critically evaluate their actions by weighing consequences rather than being swayed by superficial benefits, and to practice charity from their surplus with a mindset of justice and compassion rather than self-deprivation.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ قَالُوا۟ بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَآ أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ ءَابَآءَنَآ ۗ أَوَلَوْ كَانَ ءَابَآؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ
And when it is said to them, "Follow what Allāh has revealed," they say, "Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing." Even though their fathers understood nothing, nor were they guided?
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا ۖ وَلَا تُسْـَٔلُ عَنْ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
Indeed, We have sent you, [O Muḥammad], with the truth as a bringer of good tidings and a warner, and you will not be asked about the companions of Hellfire.
وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ نَرَى ٱللَّهَ جَهْرَةً فَأَخَذَتْكُمُ ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ
And [recall] when you said, "O Moses, we will never believe you until we see Allāh outright"; so the thunderbolt took you while you were looking on.
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْىِۦٓ أَن يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًا مَّا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَـٰذَا مَثَلًا ۘ يُضِلُّ بِهِۦ كَثِيرًا وَيَهْدِى بِهِۦ كَثِيرًا ۚ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
Indeed, Allāh is not timid to present an example - that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did Allāh intend by this as an example?" He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby. And He misleads not except the defiantly disobedient,