إِنَّ ٱلْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوٓا۟ إِخْوَٰنَ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينِ ۖ وَكَانَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ لِرَبِّهِۦ كَفُورًا 27
Translations
Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.
Transliteration
Inna al-mubadhdhireena kanoo ikhwana ash-shayateeni wa kana ash-shaytan li-rabbihi kafura
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns extravagance and wasteful spending by equating those who squander their wealth with the brothers of Satan, emphasizing the spiritual danger of such behavior. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this comparison highlights how wasteful spending reflects the same disobedience and ingratitude that characterize Satan himself, who was ungrateful to his Lord (kafur). The ayah establishes a direct link between financial irresponsibility and moral corruption, warning that wastefulness is not merely an economic vice but a spiritual one that distances one from divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-Isra, a Meccan surah that addresses various moral and social commandments. It forms part of a passage (17:26-27) discussing proper conduct toward parents and balanced spending—neither stingy nor wasteful. The context suggests this teaching was relevant to both the early Muslim community and the broader Arabian society, addressing a common human weakness of either hoarding wealth or squandering it.
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' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), contextualizing proper resource management within family duties. Additionally, the Prophet warned against wastefulness even with water during ablution, demonstrating the comprehensive Islamic principle against extravagance (Sunan Ibn Majah 425).
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims are called to practice moderation and conscious spending, avoiding both miserliness and wastefulness, as financial irresponsibility reflects spiritual disease and distance from divine mercy. This ayah reminds us that how we use our resources is a moral and spiritual matter that reflects our relationship with Allah and our gratitude for His blessings.
Related Ayahs
وَمَا مَنَعَنَآ أَن نُّرْسِلَ بِٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ إِلَّآ أَن كَذَّبَ بِهَا ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ ۚ وَءَاتَيْنَا ثَمُودَ ٱلنَّاقَةَ مُبْصِرَةً فَظَلَمُوا۟ بِهَا ۚ وَمَا نُرْسِلُ بِٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ إِلَّا تَخْوِيفًا
And nothing has prevented Us from sending signs [i.e., miracles] except that the former peoples denied them. And We gave Thamūd the she-camel as a visible sign, but they wronged her. And We send not the signs except as a warning.
أَفَأَمِنتُمْ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمْ جَانِبَ ٱلْبَرِّ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُوا۟ لَكُمْ وَكِيلًا
Then do you feel secure that [instead] He will not cause a part of the land to swallow you or send against you a storm of stones? Then you would not find for yourselves an advocate.
سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِۦ لَيْلًا مِّنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا ٱلَّذِى بَـٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
Exalted is He who took His Servant [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] by night from al-Masjid al-Ḥarām to al-Masjid al-Aqṣā, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
مَّنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِى لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبْعَثَ رَسُولًا
Whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We punish until We sent a messenger.