مَّآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْقُرَىٰ فَلِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ كَىْ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةًۢ بَيْنَ ٱلْأَغْنِيَآءِ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَىٰكُمْ عَنْهُ فَٱنتَهُوا۟ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ 7
Translations
And what Allāh restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns - it is for Allāh and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives and orphans and the needy and the [stranded] traveler - so that it will not be a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you. And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from. And fear Allāh; indeed, Allāh is severe in penalty.
Transliteration
Mā afāʾa -llāhu ʿalā rasūlihi min ahl al-qurā fa-li-llāh wa-li-r-rasūl wa-li-dhī l-qurbā wa-l-yatāmā wa-l-masākīn wa-ibn as-sabīl kay lā yakūn dulatan bayna l-aghniyāʾ minkum wa-mā ātākum ar-rasūl fa-khudūh wa-mā nahākum ʿanh fa-n-tahū wa-t-taqū -llāh inn-a -llāh shadīd al-ʿiqāb
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the distribution of fay' (war booty from non-Muslim territories conquered without battle) among seven recipients: Allah, His Messenger, relatives of the Prophet, orphans, the poor, and travelers. The primary purpose is to prevent wealth concentration among the rich and ensure equitable distribution in society. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir emphasize that obedience to the Messenger in implementing these rulings is mandatory, with severe punishment promised for those who disobey.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of the expulsion of Banu Nadir, a Jewish tribe from Medina in 4 AH. The Muslims gained substantial war booty without engaging in battle, and this ayah clarifies the proper distribution system for such gains. It also establishes the principle that the Messenger's decisions in distribution are binding and must be followed without question.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (Book of Distribution of Fay'): The Prophet (ﷺ) distributed the wealth from Banu Nadir according to this principle, giving extra shares to those in greater need. Related: Tirmidhi reports that the Prophet emphasized that his Sunnah in financial matters is binding upon the Ummah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true Islamic governance prioritizes economic justice and prevents wealth accumulation by the elite alone; for believers today, it emphasizes that obedience to authentic Islamic principles—through the Sunnah—is not optional but obligatory, with accountability to Allah for rejection.
Related Ayahs
لَا يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ جَمِيعًا إِلَّا فِى قُرًى مُّحَصَّنَةٍ أَوْ مِن وَرَآءِ جُدُرٍۭ ۚ بَأْسُهُم بَيْنَهُمْ شَدِيدٌ ۚ تَحْسَبُهُمْ جَمِيعًا وَقُلُوبُهُمْ شَتَّىٰ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْقِلُونَ
They will not fight you all except within fortified cities or from behind walls. Their violence [i.e., enmity] among themselves is severe. You think they are together, but their hearts are diverse. That is because they are a people who do not reason.
لَأَنتُمْ أَشَدُّ رَهْبَةً فِى صُدُورِهِم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ
You [believers] are more fearful within their breasts than Allāh. That is because they are a people who do not understand.
وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ نَسُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَأَنسَىٰهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ
And be not like those who forgot Allāh, so He made them forget themselves. Those are the defiantly disobedient.
لِلْفُقَرَآءِ ٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا۟ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِمْ وَأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنًا وَيَنصُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلصَّـٰدِقُونَ
For the poor emigrants who were expelled from their homes and their properties, seeking bounty from Allāh and [His] approval and supporting [the cause of] Allāh and His Messenger, [there is also a share]. Those are the truthful.