خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ إِنَّ صَلَوٰتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ 103
Translations
Take, [O Muḥammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase, and invoke [Allāh's blessings] upon them. Indeed, your invocations are reassurance for them. And Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
Transliteration
Khudh min amwalihim sadaqatan tutahhiruhum wa tuzakkihim biha wa salli alaihim inna salataka sakunun lahum wallahu samīʿun ʿalīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah instructs the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to collect voluntary charity (sadaqah) from the believers' wealth, which serves as a means of spiritual purification and growth for them. Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir note that the Prophet's supplication (salah/dua) for those who give charity is a consolation and comfort to their hearts, and Allah is fully aware of their intentions and deeds. The dual function of charity—both purifying the giver and increasing their spiritual rank—is emphasized as a divine mechanism for moral and spiritual development.
Revelation Context
This ayah is situated in Surah At-Tawbah (Chapter 9), which was revealed in the 9th year of Hijrah during the period of campaigns and expeditions. The broader context addresses repentance, the necessity of sincere faith, and the financial obligations of believers. This particular ayah relates to the collection of sadaqah and emphasizes the spiritual benefits accompanying voluntary charity.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim from Abu Huraira: 'Wealth and children are adornments of the worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are better with your Lord in reward and better in hope.' Additionally, the Prophet said in Tirmidhi: 'The best charity is that given when one is in need yet gives,' reinforcing the purifying nature of voluntary giving.
Themes
Key Lesson
Giving charity is not merely a transaction of wealth, but a transformative spiritual practice that purifies the soul and elevates the character of the believer. The acknowledgment that even the Prophet's supplication brings comfort reminds us that charitable acts carry blessings beyond material redistribution—they touch the heart and strengthen community bonds.
Related Ayahs
يَوْمَ يُحْمَىٰ عَلَيْهَا فِى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكْوَىٰ بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمْ وَجُنُوبُهُمْ وَظُهُورُهُمْ ۖ هَـٰذَا مَا كَنَزْتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا۟ مَا كُنتُمْ تَكْنِزُونَ
The Day when it will be heated in the fire of Hell and seared therewith will be their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, [it will be said], "This is what you hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you used to hoard."
فَلْيَضْحَكُوا۟ قَلِيلًا وَلْيَبْكُوا۟ كَثِيرًا جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
So let them laugh a little and [then] weep much as recompense for what they used to earn.
وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ نَفَقَةً صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً وَلَا يَقْطَعُونَ وَادِيًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُمْ لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
Nor do they spend an expenditure, small or large, or cross a valley but that it is registered for them that Allāh may reward them for the best of what they were doing.
وَقَالَتِ ٱلْيَهُودُ عُزَيْرٌ ٱبْنُ ٱللَّهِ وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَى ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ ٱللَّهِ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ قَوْلُهُم بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ ۖ يُضَـٰهِـُٔونَ قَوْلَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ قَـٰتَلَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ
The Jews say, "Ezra is the son of Allāh"; and the Christians say, "The Messiah is the son of Allāh." That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before [them]. May Allāh destroy them; how are they deluded?