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
قُلْ هَلْ تَرَبَّصُونَ بِنَآ إِلَّآ إِحْدَى ٱلْحُسْنَيَيْنِ ۖ وَنَحْنُ نَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمْ أَن يُصِيبَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِعَذَابٍ مِّنْ عِندِهِۦٓ أَوْ بِأَيْدِينَا ۖ فَتَرَبَّصُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّتَرَبِّصُونَ
Say, "Do you await for us except one of the two best things [i.e., martyrdom or victory] while we await for you that Allāh will afflict you with punishment from Himself or at our hands? So wait; indeed we, along with you, are waiting."
فَأَعْقَبَهُمْ نِفَاقًا فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يَلْقَوْنَهُۥ بِمَآ أَخْلَفُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا وَعَدُوهُ وَبِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْذِبُونَ
So He penalized them with hypocrisy in their hearts until the Day they will meet Him - because they failed Allāh in what they promised Him and because they [habitually] used to lie.
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلْعَبُ ۚ قُلْ أَبِٱللَّهِ وَءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَرَسُولِهِۦ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
And if you ask them, they will surely say, "We were only conversing and playing." Say, "Is it Allāh and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?"
إِن تُصِبْكَ حَسَنَةٌ تَسُؤْهُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُصِبْكَ مُصِيبَةٌ يَقُولُوا۟ قَدْ أَخَذْنَآ أَمْرَنَا مِن قَبْلُ وَيَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُمْ فَرِحُونَ
If good befalls you, it distresses them; but if disaster strikes you, they say, "We took our matter [in hand] before," and turn away while they are rejoicing.