إِن تُقْرِضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا يُضَـٰعِفْهُ لَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ شَكُورٌ حَلِيمٌ 17
Translations
If you loan Allāh a goodly loan, He will multiply it for you and forgive you. And Allāh is [most] Appreciative and Forbearing,
Transliteration
In tuqridū Allāha qardan hasanan yudā'ifhu lakum wa yaghfir lakum wa-Allāhu Shakūrun Halīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah encourages believers to lend to Allah through charity and righteous spending, with the promise that Allah will multiply the reward manifold and forgive sins. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that 'lending to Allah' is a metaphorical expression for spending in His cause and helping His servants, reflecting the profound Divine reciprocity where Allah accepts these acts with gratitude and patience. The multiplying of rewards is not merely quantitative but encompasses spiritual elevation, as Allah is 'Shākūr' (Most Appreciative) of even the smallest sincere deed.
Revelation Context
Surah At-Taghabun was revealed in Madinah and addresses themes of mutual accountability and the transient nature of worldly life. This particular ayah appears in the final passage encouraging believers to have taqwa (God-consciousness) and prepare for the Hereafter through righteous deeds, positioned within the broader context of financial responsibility and sincere devotion.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best charity is that given when one is in need yet gives' (Musnad Ahmad). Additionally, 'Whoever gives in charity the equivalent of a date from lawful earnings—for Allah accepts only the lawful—Allah will take it in His right hand and nurture it for its owner as one of you nurtures a foal, until it becomes as large as a mountain' (Sahih Bukhari 1410).
Themes
Key Lesson
True wealth lies not in accumulating material possessions but in investing in the pleasure of Allah through charitable giving, knowing that Divine returns far exceed human expectations in both quantity and quality. This ayah teaches believers that sincere service to Allah and His creation is never wasted—Allah appreciates every effort and repays with immeasurable bounty and mercy.
Related Ayahs
لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
That Allāh may reward them [according to] the best of what they did and increase them from His bounty. And Allāh gives provision to whom He wills without account [i.e., limit].
فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَىٰ وَٱتَّقَىٰ
As for he who gives and fears Allāh
وَيُطْعِمُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا
And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive,
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
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.