ءَامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَأَنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسْتَخْلَفِينَ فِيهِ ۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَأَنفَقُوا۟ لَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ 7
Translations
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.
Transliteration
Āminū billāhi wa rasūlih wa anfiqū mimmā jaʿalakum mustakhlafīn fīh. Falladhīna āmanū minkum wa anfaqū lahum ajrun kabīr.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believers to have faith in Allah and His Messenger while spending from the wealth that Allah has made them trustees over (not true owners), as all provisions ultimately belong to Allah. Ibn Kathir notes that this emphasizes both spiritual commitment (īmān) and practical demonstration through charity (infāq), with the promise that those who believe and spend will receive a great reward. The concept of being 'mustakhlafīn' (vicegerents/trustees) reminds believers of their accountability before Allah for how they utilize His blessings.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Hadid is a Medinan surah revealed in the later period of the Prophet's life, focusing on faith, charity, and preparation for the afterlife. This particular ayah addresses the early Muslim community's obligation to support the Islamic state and those in need through zakāh and voluntary charity, especially during the period when Muslims faced economic challenges and warfare.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said: 'The best charity is when you give while you are in good health and hope to live' (Sahih Bukhari 1419). Also relevant: 'Wealth and children are adornments of this worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are far better' (Quran 18:46), emphasizing the temporary nature of material wealth.
Themes
Key Lesson
Wealth is a test and trust from Allah—believers are not true owners but stewards who will be accountable for how they use their resources. True faith must be accompanied by concrete action through spending and charity, which brings both spiritual elevation and divine reward in this life and the next.