وَلَا يَأْتَلِ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْفَضْلِ مِنكُمْ وَٱلسَّعَةِ أَن يُؤْتُوٓا۟ أُو۟لِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينَ وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَلْيَعْفُوا۟ وَلْيَصْفَحُوٓا۟ ۗ أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 22
Translations
And let not those of virtue among you and wealth swear not to give [aid] to their relatives and the needy and the emigrants for the cause of Allāh, and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allāh should forgive you? And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Wa lā yā'tali ulū al-faḍli minkum wa-al-saʿati an yu'tū ulī al-qurbā wa-al-masākīn wa-al-muhājirīn fī sabīli -llāh wa-al-yaʿfū wa-al-yaṣfaḥū alā tuḥibbūn an yaghfira -llāhu lakum wa -llāhu ghafūr raḥīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands those of wealth and capability among the Muslims not to swear an oath refusing to give charity to their relatives, the poor, and those who emigrated in the cause of Allah. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi explain that this verse was revealed in response to a specific incident where some wealthy companions withheld charity from relatives who had been slandered or had fallen into hardship. The ayah emphasizes that generosity, forgiveness, and clemency are pathways to receiving Allah's forgiveness, culminating in the rhetorical question: 'Do you not love that Allah forgive you?'
Revelation Context
This ayah is situated within Surah An-Nur's discussion of moral conduct and community ethics. It follows the incident of the false accusation against Aisha (the Mother of the Believers), and specifically addresses the case of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, who had initially withheld financial support from his relative Mistah ibn Uthathah due to Mistah's involvement in spreading the slander. This verse called Abu Bakr to generosity and forgiveness despite the offense.
Related Hadiths
Hadith from Sahih Bukhari and Muslim: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on earth, and the One in the heavens will have mercy upon you.' This reflects the ayah's emphasis on mercy leading to divine forgiveness.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true faith requires extending compassion and support to those in need, even when personal grievances exist. Modern believers should recognize that withholding charity or forgiveness due to pride or past offenses contradicts the spirit of Islam, and that showing mercy to others is the means through which we attract Allah's infinite mercy upon ourselves.