وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلَّا تُنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَٰثُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ لَا يَسْتَوِى مِنكُم مَّنْ أَنفَقَ مِن قَبْلِ ٱلْفَتْحِ وَقَـٰتَلَ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنفَقُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدُ وَقَـٰتَلُوا۟ ۚ وَكُلًّا وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ 10
Translations
And why do you not spend in the cause of Allāh while to Allāh belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth? Not equal among you are those who spent before the conquest [of Makkah] and fought [and those who did so after it]. Those are greater in degree than they who spent afterwards and fought. But to all Allāh has promised the best [reward]. And Allāh, of what you do, is Aware.
Transliteration
Wa maa lakum allaa tunfiqoo fee sabeel illah wa lillah meeraat as-samawati wa al-ard. Laa yastawee minkum man anfaqa min qabl al-fath wa qaatal. Ulaika a'azam darajatan min alladheen anfaqoo min ba'du wa qataluu. Wa kullan wa'ada allahu al-husna. Wa allahu bima ta'maloon khabeer.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes the obligation to spend in Allah's cause, noting that all worldly wealth ultimately belongs to Allah who inherits the heavens and earth. The verse establishes a hierarchy of reward: those who spent and fought before the conquest of Mecca (Fath) receive greater ranks than those who spent and fought afterward, though both are promised goodness by Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain this differentiation as reflecting the greater hardship and sacrifice of the early Meccan Muslims who lacked certainty of victory.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina during the late Meccan/early Medinan period, this ayah addresses the Muslim community after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and before the Conquest of Mecca (Fath). It distinguishes between those who endured persecution and uncertainty in early Islam versus those who joined after Islam's apparent triumph, emphasizing that the struggle's timing affects one's spiritual rank.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best charity is that given when one is in need yet gives,' and 'The foremost ones (in deeds of charity and Islam) from among the emigrants and the helpers, and those who followed them with goodness, Allah is pleased with all of them' (Sahih Bukhari 3795, Surah At-Taubah 9:100).
Themes
Key Lesson
The ayah teaches that sincere spending and sacrifice in Allah's cause is not optional but fundamental to faith, with the greatest reward reserved for those who sacrifice when the outcome is uncertain and the cost is highest. For modern believers, this emphasizes prioritizing faith commitment during difficult times and recognizing that devotion tested by hardship carries deeper spiritual value than devotion after success is assured.
Related Ayahs
۞ أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَن تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا يَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَـٰسِقُونَ
Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allāh and what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly disobedient.
يُولِجُ ٱلَّيْلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلَّيْلِ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
He causes the night to enter the day and causes the day to enter the night, and He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحْىِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۚ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
Know that Allāh gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. We have made clear to you the signs; perhaps you will understand.
ءَامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَأَنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسْتَخْلَفِينَ فِيهِ ۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَأَنفَقُوا۟ لَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ
Believe in Allāh and His Messenger and spend out of that in which He has made you successive inheritors. For those who have believed among you and spent, there will be a great reward.