يَمْحَقُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ وَيُرْبِى ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ أَثِيمٍ 276
Translations
Allāh destroys interest and gives increase for charities. And Allāh does not like every sinning disbeliever.
Transliteration
Yamhaqu Allahu ar-riba wa yurbee as-sadaqat, wa Allahu la yuhibbu kulla kaffarin athim.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah erases and diminishes riba (usury/interest), stripping away its apparent profits and blessings, while He increases and multiplies sadaqah (charity), causing it to grow and flourish both spiritually and materially. The ayah concludes that Allah does not love those who are ungrateful disbelievers and sinners, emphasizing that the rejection of riba and practice of charity reflect true faith and gratitude to Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this ayah establishes the divine law that illicit wealth is ultimately destructive while righteous charity attracts divine blessing (barakah).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the section of Surah Al-Baqarah (verses 275-280) that comprehensively addresses the Islamic prohibition of riba, a practice that was common in pre-Islamic Arabia and among People of the Book. The context emphasizes the contrast between the deceptive gains of riba and the lasting benefits of charity, reinforcing the economic and moral teachings revealed during the Medinan period.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best charity is that given when one is in need yet still gives' (related in various hadith collections). Also relevant: 'Wealth and children are adornments of this worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are better' (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46), which aligns with the theme of lasting versus fleeting gains.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that financial dealings rooted in exploitation and greed are ultimately destructive and displeasing to Allah, while generosity and charitable giving attract divine blessing and increase in ways unseen. For believers today, it emphasizes choosing ethical financial practices and prioritizing charitable giving as acts of worship that align with divine will.
Related Ayahs
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,
وَقَالُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَـٰرَىٰ تَهْتَدُوا۟ ۗ قُلْ بَلْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
They say, "Be Jews or Christians [so] you will be guided." Say, "Rather, [we follow] the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth, and he was not of the polytheists."
۞ إِنَّ ٱلصَّفَا وَٱلْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ ٱلْبَيْتَ أَوِ ٱعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ
Indeed, aṣ-Ṣafā and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allāh. So whoever makes ḥajj [pilgrimage] to the House or performs ʿumrah - there is no blame upon him for walking between them. And whoever volunteers good - then indeed, Allāh is Appreciative and Knowing.
أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ
Do you not know that to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and [that] you have not besides Allāh any protector or any helper?