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
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ
And when it is said to them, "Do not cause corruption on the earth," they say, "We are but reformers."
فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا۟ فَأْذَنُوا۟ بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۖ وَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَٰلِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَ
And if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allāh and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal - [thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged.
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّقَوْا۟ لَمَثُوبَةٌ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ ۖ لَّوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ
And if they had believed and feared Allāh, then the reward from Allāh would have been [far] better, if they only knew.
وَقَالَتِ ٱلْيَهُودُ لَيْسَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ لَيْسَتِ ٱلْيَهُودُ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ وَهُمْ يَتْلُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ مِثْلَ قَوْلِهِمْ ۚ فَٱللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
The Jews say, "The Christians have nothing [true] to stand on," and the Christians say, "The Jews have nothing to stand on," although they [both] recite the Scripture. Thus do those who know not [i.e., the polytheists] speak the same as their words. But Allāh will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.