ٱلَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ وَيَأْمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلْبُخْلِ وَيَكْتُمُونَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ ۗ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا 37
Translations
Who are stingy and enjoin upon [other] people stinginess and conceal what Allāh has given them of His bounty - and We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment -
Transliteration
Alladhīna yabkhaloona wa ya'muroona an-nāsa bil-bukhli wa yaktamoona mā ātāhum-ullāhu min fadlihi wa a'tadnā lil-kāfirīna 'adhāban muhīnā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who are miserly with their wealth, command others to be stingy, and conceal the blessings Allah has bestowed upon them. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, such behavior reflects ingratitude toward Allah's favors and hypocrisy, as these individuals suppress the truth about Allah's generosity while preventing others from understanding the obligation of charity. The ayah concludes with a stern warning that for the disbelievers (those who reject the command to spend in Allah's way), Allah has prepared a humiliating punishment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan Surah An-Nisa, which extensively addresses social ethics and community responsibilities. It is situated within a passage discussing proper conduct regarding wealth and charity, reflecting the Islamic community's early emphasis on redistributing wealth and supporting those in need. The context suggests this was revealed to address attitudes of greed and miserliness that existed even among some believers.
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 3895). Additionally, 'Wealth and children are adornments of life, but the everlasting good deeds are better' (Quran 18:46), which complements the theme of not being attached to material possessions.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that hoarding wealth while discouraging others from charity contradicts Islamic values and invites divine punishment, encouraging us to recognize our blessings as trusts from Allah meant to benefit the community. Modern readers should examine whether they are genuinely grateful for their blessings by sharing them generously rather than hoarding wealth for selfish purposes.
Related Ayahs
يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ مَعَهُمْ إِذْ يُبَيِّتُونَ مَا لَا يَرْضَىٰ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطًا
They conceal [their evil intentions and deeds] from the people, but they cannot conceal [them] from Allāh, and He is with them [in His knowledge] when they spend the night in such as He does not accept of speech. And ever is Allāh, of what they do, encompassing.
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱعْتَصَمُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَسَيُدْخِلُهُمْ فِى رَحْمَةٍ مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلٍ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَيْهِ صِرَٰطًا مُّسْتَقِيمًا
So those who believe in Allāh and hold fast to Him - He will admit them to mercy from Himself and bounty and guide them to Himself on a straight path.
۞ لَّا يُحِبُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْجَهْرَ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا
Allāh does not like the public mention of evil except by one who has been wronged. And ever is Allāh Hearing and Knowing.
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَضْلُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ عَلِيمًا
That is the bounty from Allāh, and sufficient is Allāh as Knower.