هُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ لَا تُنفِقُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَنْ عِندَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ حَتَّىٰ يَنفَضُّوا۟ ۗ وَلِلَّهِ خَزَآئِنُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ 7
Translations
They are the ones who say, "Do not spend on those who are with the Messenger of Allāh until they disband." And to Allāh belong the depositories of the heavens and the earth, but the hypocrites do not understand.
Transliteration
Hum alladhīna yaqūlūna lā tunfiqū 'alā man 'inda rasūli Allāh hattā yanfaddū wa-lilLāhi khazāinu as-samāwāti wa-l-ardi wa-lākinna l-munāfiqīna lā yafqahūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns the hypocrites who discourage believers from spending on those who gather around the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), hoping they will disperse and leave him. The ayah refutes their misguided logic by affirming that all treasures of the heavens and earth belong to Allah alone, implying that Allah provides for His servants and the hypocrites' schemes are futile. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as highlighting the hypocrites' failure to understand that provision comes from Allah, not from material withholding, and their inability to grasp the spiritual reality of the believers' commitment to the Prophet.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Medina and addresses the characteristics of hypocrites (munāfiqūn) who professed Islam outwardly while concealing disbelief. This specific ayah reflects the historical context of Medina where some wealthy individuals opposed the Prophet and attempted to undermine the Muslim community by discouraging financial support to his followers, hoping to weaken the nascent Islamic state.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) 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), emphasizing the importance of caring for believers. Additionally, the hadith about the hypocrite's signs in Sahih Bukhari (33) mentions that hypocrites refuse to spend in the cause of Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should trust in Allah's infinite provision rather than fearing scarcity when spending in charitable causes, and should recognize that those who attempt to discourage generosity and community support reveal their lack of faith and spiritual understanding. The ayah teaches that our reliance should be on Allah's treasures, not on the approval or material support of the hypocritical.
Related Ayahs
لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا لَّٱتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَـٰكِنۢ بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلشُّقَّةُ ۚ وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ لَوِ ٱسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ يُهْلِكُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ
Had it been a near [i.e., easy] gain and a moderate trip, they [i.e., the hypocrites] would have followed you, but distant to them was the journey. And they will swear by Allāh, "If we were able, we would have gone forth with you," destroying themselves [through false oaths], and Allāh knows that indeed they are liars.
وَلَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ عَـٰهَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مِن قَبْلُ لَا يُوَلُّونَ ٱلْأَدْبَـٰرَ ۚ وَكَانَ عَهْدُ ٱللَّهِ مَسْـُٔولًا
And they had already promised Allāh before not to turn their backs [i.e., flee]. And ever is the promise to Allāh [that about which one will be] questioned.
لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أَتَوا۟ وَّيُحِبُّونَ أَن يُحْمَدُوا۟ بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا۟ فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّهُم بِمَفَازَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And never think that those who rejoice in what they have perpetrated and like to be praised for what they did not do - never think them [to be] in safety from the punishment, and for them is a painful punishment.
مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى ٱسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّآ أَضَآءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُۥ ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ
Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allāh took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see.