وَءَاتِ ذَا ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ حَقَّهُۥ وَٱلْمِسْكِينَ وَٱبْنَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَلَا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيرًا 26
Translations
And give the relative his right, and [also] the poor and the traveler, and do not spend wastefully.
Transliteration
Wa aati dhal-qurbaa haqqahu wal-miskina wabna as-sabili wa la tubazzir tabzira
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands giving the rights of relatives, the poor, and travelers, while strictly forbidding wasteful spending. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this verse establishes a balance between fulfilling family obligations and supporting vulnerable members of society, while condemning extravagance as a sin that contradicts Islamic values of prudence and stewardship. The prohibition of 'tabzir' (wasteful squandering) applies to all spending, whether on lawful or unlawful things, making financial responsibility a core Islamic principle.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Isra, which details the commandments and ethical guidelines revealed during the Meccan period. It comes within a sequence of divine commands addressing social responsibility and proper conduct, forming part of the foundational moral teachings that would govern Islamic society. The context emphasizes personal virtue and social duty as interconnected obligations.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895). Additionally, the Prophet forbade wasteful spending, stating: 'Whoever is merciful, even to the creatures on earth, God will be merciful to him on the Day of Judgment' (Sunan Abu Dawud 4726), highlighting compassion paired with prudent resource management.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true wealth lies not in abundance but in wise and compassionate distribution—fulfilling our obligations to family and society while avoiding wasteful excess. In today's consumer-driven world, it reminds believers that every resource is a trust from Allah, demanding both generosity toward others and accountability in our own spending.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تَقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَوْلَـٰدَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ إِمْلَـٰقٍ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ كَانَ خِطْـًٔا كَبِيرًا
And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin.
تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ ٱلسَّبْعُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَىْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا
The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allāh] by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving.
ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ ضَرَبُوا۟ لَكَ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ فَضَلُّوا۟ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ سَبِيلًا
Look how they strike for you comparisons; but they have strayed, so they cannot [find] a way.
إِذًا لَّأَذَقْنَـٰكَ ضِعْفَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ وَضِعْفَ ٱلْمَمَاتِ ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُ لَكَ عَلَيْنَا نَصِيرًا
Then [if you had], We would have made you taste double [punishment in] life and double [after] death. Then you would not find for yourself against Us a helper.