۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلْأَحْبَارِ وَٱلرُّهْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَٰلَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ ٱلذَّهَبَ وَٱلْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ 34
Translations
O you who have believed, indeed many of the scholars and the monks devour the wealth of people unjustly and avert [them] from the way of Allāh. And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allāh - give them tidings of a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu inna kathiran mina al-ahbari wa-al-ruhbani layakuluna amwala al-nasi bi-al-batil wa-yasudduna an sabili Allah wa-alladhina yaknizuna al-dhahaba wa-al-fiddah wa-la yunfiqunaha fi sabili Allah fa-bashshirhum bi-adhab alim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns the believers against two groups: religious scholars and monks who unlawfully consume people's wealth and turn them away from Allah's path, and those who hoard gold and silver without spending in Allah's cause. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this refers to those who prioritize worldly gain over spiritual duty and exploit people's trust for personal enrichment. The warning extends to all who accumulate wealth without fulfilling their obligation to spend in Allah's path, as such hoarding contradicts Islamic principles of charity and social responsibility.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed during the Medinan period as part of Surah At-Tawbah, which deals with repentance and the obligations of believers. The context addresses the hypocrisy of some religious leaders and the wealthy who exploit their positions, particularly among the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab). This connects to the broader theme of At-Tawbah regarding distinguishing true believers from those who merely claim faith.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever hoards grain for forty days, seeking to raise its price, has indeed separated himself from Allah and Allah has separated Himself from him' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, the Prophet warned: 'The best charity is that given when one is in need yet still gives' (At-Tirmidhi), emphasizing the virtue of spending over hoarding.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that wealth and religious position are trusts from Allah that carry moral responsibility; accumulating resources while neglecting the needy and avoiding charitable obligations incurs divine punishment. Believers must examine their intentions in earning and spending, ensuring their wealth serves the cause of Allah rather than becoming an instrument of exploitation or selfish indulgence.
Related Ayahs
ثُمَّ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَعَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَنزَلَ جُنُودًا لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَعَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Then Allāh sent down His tranquility upon His Messenger and upon the believers and sent down soldiers [i.e., angels] whom you did not see and punished those who disbelieved. And that is the recompense of the disbelievers.
ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقَـٰتُ بَعْضُهُم مِّنۢ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَقْبِضُونَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ ۚ نَسُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَنَسِيَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ هُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ
The hypocrite men and hypocrite women are of one another. They enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right and close their hands. They have forgotten Allāh, so He has forgotten them [accordingly]. Indeed, the hypocrites - it is they who are the defiantly disobedient.
عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَتَعْلَمَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
Allāh has pardoned you, [O Muḥammad, but] why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was evident to you who were truthful and you knew [who were] the liars.
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.