وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ أَن تُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَقَـٰتُهُمْ إِلَّآ أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِۦ وَلَا يَأْتُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَىٰ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كَـٰرِهُونَ 54
Translations
And what prevents their expenditures from being accepted from them but that they have disbelieved in Allāh and in His Messenger and that they come not to prayer except while they are lazy and that they do not spend except while they are unwilling.
Transliteration
Wa mā mana'ahum an tuqbala min-hum nafaqātuhum illā annahum kafarū billāhi wa bi-rasūlih wa lā ya'tūn aṣ-ṣalāta illā wa-hum kusālā wa lā yunfiqūn illā wa-hum kārhūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) whose charitable contributions are rejected by Allah despite their material offerings. The rejection is not due to the amount or type of spending, but because their disbelief in Allah and His Messenger, combined with their reluctance and laziness in prayer and begrudging attitude toward charity, render all their deeds void. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that actions performed without sincere faith and proper intention are spiritually worthless, regardless of external appearances.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah At-Tawbah's broader discussion of the hypocrites during the early Medinan period, particularly addressing those who claimed to be Muslims but lacked genuine faith and commitment. The context relates to the Tabūk expedition where hypocrites made excuses not to participate and their subsequent empty gestures of charity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Indeed, Allah does not look at your forms or wealth, but He looks at your hearts and deeds' (Sahih Muslim 2564). Also relevant: 'The best charity is that given when one is in need yet still gives' (Tirmidhi), contrasting with the hypocrites' reluctant spending.
Themes
Key Lesson
True worship and charity require sincere faith in Allah and genuine intention, not merely outward compliance; actions performed half-heartedly or without belief are spiritually hollow. For believers today, this is a reminder to examine their intentions and ensure that religious practices stem from genuine conviction rather than social obligation or habit.
Related Ayahs
وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَهَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلَّذِينَ أَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ ۙ إِنَّهُمْ لَمَعَكُمْ ۚ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ خَـٰسِرِينَ
And those who believe will say, "Are these the ones who swore by Allāh their strongest oaths that indeed they were with you?" Their deeds have become worthless, and they have become losers.
۞ قَدْ يَعْلَمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُعَوِّقِينَ مِنكُمْ وَٱلْقَآئِلِينَ لِإِخْوَٰنِهِمْ هَلُمَّ إِلَيْنَا ۖ وَلَا يَأْتُونَ ٱلْبَأْسَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
Already Allāh knows the hinderers among you and those [hypocrites] who say to their brothers, "Come to us," and do not go to battle, except for a few,
ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَرَبَّصُونَ بِكُمْ فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمْ فَتْحٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ قَالُوٓا۟ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ وَإِن كَانَ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ نَصِيبٌ قَالُوٓا۟ أَلَمْ نَسْتَحْوِذْ عَلَيْكُمْ وَنَمْنَعْكُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۚ فَٱللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ وَلَن يَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلًا
Those who wait [and watch] you. Then if you gain a victory from Allāh, they say, "Were we not with you?" But if the disbelievers have a success, they say [to them], "Did we not gain the advantage over you, but we protected you from the believers?" Allāh will judge between [all of] you on the Day of Resurrection, and never will Allāh give the disbelievers over the believers a way [to overcome them].
وَإِذَآ أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ أَنْ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَجَـٰهِدُوا۟ مَعَ رَسُولِهِ ٱسْتَـْٔذَنَكَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلطَّوْلِ مِنْهُمْ وَقَالُوا۟ ذَرْنَا نَكُن مَّعَ ٱلْقَـٰعِدِينَ
And when a sūrah was revealed [enjoining them] to believe in Allāh and to fight with His Messenger, those of wealth among them asked your permission [to stay back] and said, "Leave us to be with them who sit [at home]."