قُل لَّوْ أَنتُمْ تَمْلِكُونَ خَزَآئِنَ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّىٓ إِذًا لَّأَمْسَكْتُمْ خَشْيَةَ ٱلْإِنفَاقِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ قَتُورًا 100
Translations
Say [to them], "If you possessed the depositories of the mercy of my Lord, then you would withhold out of fear of spending." And ever has man been stingy.
Transliteration
Qul law antum tamlikoon khazaa'ina rahmat rabbi idhan la-amsaktum khashyat al-infaaq; wa kaana al-insanu qatooraa
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a hypothetical scenario wherein Allah instructs the Prophet (peace be upon him) to tell people that if they possessed the treasures of his Lord's mercy, they would withhold from spending out of fear of depletion—demonstrating humanity's innate stinginess and lack of trust in divine provision. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this ayah highlights the contrast between Allah's infinite mercy and abundance versus human miserliness and anxiety about scarcity, thereby exposing the spiritual disease of greed (bukhl) that afflicts the human heart.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah Al-Isra and is contextually situated within passages addressing the arrogance and disbelief of the Quraysh. It serves to rebuke their rejection of the Prophet's message and their obsession with worldly wealth, illustrating how their spiritual blindness prevents them from recognizing Allah's infinite generosity and the foolishness of hoarding in the face of divine omnipotence.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Wealth and children are the adornments of worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are better' (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46, echoing similar sentiments). Additionally, in Sahih Bukhari, the Prophet warned against miserliness, stating that the generous person is close to Allah while the miser is far from Him.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims to cultivate generous hearts by recognizing that all provision comes from Allah's infinite treasures, and that hoarding wealth stems from spiritual poverty and weak faith. By understanding that resources are not truly ours but trusts from the Divine, believers are encouraged to spend in charity and obedience, freeing themselves from the anxiety and spiritual constriction that accompanies greed.
Related Ayahs
وَكُلَّ إِنسَـٰنٍ أَلْزَمْنَـٰهُ طَـٰٓئِرَهُۥ فِى عُنُقِهِۦ ۖ وَنُخْرِجُ لَهُۥ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ كِتَـٰبًا يَلْقَىٰهُ مَنشُورًا
And [for] every person We have imposed his fate upon his neck, and We will produce for him on the Day of Resurrection a record which he will encounter spread open.
ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَا لَكُمُ ٱلْكَرَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَمْدَدْنَـٰكُم بِأَمْوَٰلٍ وَبَنِينَ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ أَكْثَرَ نَفِيرًا
Then We gave back to you a return victory over them. And We reinforced you with wealth and sons and made you more numerous in manpower.
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِـَٔادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ قَالَ ءَأَسْجُدُ لِمَنْ خَلَقْتَ طِينًا
And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam," and they prostrated, except for Iblees. He said, "Should I prostrate to one You created from clay?"
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ مَالَ ٱلْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ ۚ وَأَوْفُوا۟ بِٱلْعَهْدِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْـُٔولًا
And do not approach the property of an orphan, except in the way that is best, until he reaches maturity. And fulfill [every] commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned.