ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِى ٱلسَّرَّآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَٱلْكَـٰظِمِينَ ٱلْغَيْظَ وَٱلْعَافِينَ عَنِ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ 134
Translations
Who spend [in the cause of Allāh] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people - and Allāh loves the doers of good;
Transliteration
Alladhīna yunfiqūna fī as-sarrā'i wa-ad-darrā'i wa-al-kāẓimīna al-ghayẓa wa-al-'āfīna 'an an-nāsi wa-Allāhu yuḥibbu al-muḥsinīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the characteristics of the righteous (al-muttaqīn) who spend their wealth in both prosperity and adversity, restrain their anger when wronged, and forgive others. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, these verses outline the comprehensive virtues of piety: financial generosity regardless of circumstances, emotional discipline, and moral magnanimity. Allah affirms His love for those who practice these virtues (al-muḥsinīn), emphasizing that true piety manifests through both actions and character.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ali 'Imran (Chapter 3), a Medinan surah revealed after the Battle of Uhud. The surrounding verses (3:133-135) describe the characteristics of the pious (al-muttaqīn) who will inherit Paradise, providing moral guidance to the Muslim community during a period of consolidation and spiritual development in Medina.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa-sallam) said: 'The strong person is not the one who overcomes people by his strength, but the strong person is the one who controls himself while in anger' (Sahih Bukhari 6114). Additionally, 'Whoever restrains his anger when he has the ability to act upon it, Allah will call him on the Day of Resurrection before all creation' (Sunan Ibn Majah 4186).
Themes
Key Lesson
True righteousness requires consistent generosity regardless of one's financial situation, and inner strength manifested through controlling anger and extending forgiveness—qualities that demonstrate genuine love for Allah and His creation. These virtues transform the individual spiritually and socially, earning them Allah's love and Paradise as their ultimate reward.
Related Ayahs
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۖ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ ٱلنَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ ۗ وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ
Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.
فَمَنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
And whoever invents about Allāh untruth after that - then those are [truly] the wrongdoers.
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "If you should love Allāh, then follow me, [so] Allāh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful."
فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ وَأَنۢبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيَّا ۖ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا ٱلْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزْقًا ۖ قَالَ يَـٰمَرْيَمُ أَنَّىٰ لَكِ هَـٰذَا ۖ قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
So her Lord accepted her with good acceptance and caused her to grow in a good manner and put her in the care of Zechariah. Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, "O Mary, from where is this [coming] to you?" She said, "It is from Allāh. Indeed, Allāh provides for whom He wills without account."