وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ هُوَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم ۖ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمْ ۖ سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَٰثُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ 180
Translations
And let not those who [greedily] withhold what Allāh has given them of His bounty ever think that it is better for them. Rather, it is worse for them. Their necks will be encircled by what they withheld on the Day of Resurrection. And to Allāh belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. And Allāh, of what you do, is [fully] Aware.
Transliteration
Wa laa yahsabanna alladhīna yabkhaloona bimā āatāhumu Allāhu min fadlihi huwa khayran lahum; bal huwa sharrun lahum; sayuṭawwaqoona mā bakhiloo bihi yawma al-qiyāmah; wa lilLāhi mīrāthu as-samāwāti wa-al-ard; wa Allāhu bimā taʿmaloona khabīr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns stinginess and miserliness with wealth bestowed by Allah, warning that such behavior is actually harmful rather than beneficial to the miserly person. The classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that those who withhold charity will face punishment on the Day of Judgment, where their hoarded wealth will be transformed into a collar or noose around their necks as a symbol of their transgression. The ayah concludes by reminding believers that all wealth ultimately belongs to Allah alone, who owns the heavens and earth, and that He is fully aware of all human actions.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina within the context of Surah Ali 'Imran, which addresses various aspects of faith, charity, and proper conduct. The broader thematic context deals with the obligation of spending in charity and warns against the spiritual dangers of miserliness, which was a concern among some members of the early Muslim community who hoarded wealth instead of supporting the poor and the cause of Islam.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi), emphasizing generosity within the community. Additionally, 'Wealth and children are adornments of life, but the everlasting good deeds are better' (Quran 18:46), which thematically complements the warning against valuing material wealth over charitable deeds.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that withholding wealth from those in need is spiritually destructive, not beneficial, and that true prosperity comes from generosity and trust in Allah's provision. In modern context, this ayah calls Muslims to examine their relationship with wealth and to use their resources as a means of spiritual growth and social responsibility rather than as a source of pride or false security.