۞ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ عَـٰهَدَ ٱللَّهَ لَئِنْ ءَاتَىٰنَا مِن فَضْلِهِۦ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ وَلَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ 75
Translations
And among them are those who made a covenant with Allāh, [saying], "If He should give us from His bounty, we will surely spend in charity, and we will surely be among the righteous."
Transliteration
Wa minhum man 'aahada Allaha la-in atana min fadlihi lanastaddaqanna wa lanakoonanna mina as-salihin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes hypocrites who make covenants with Allah, swearing that if He grants them wealth from His bounty, they will certainly give charity and be among the righteous. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to those whose intentions are insincere—they make promises to Allah based on conditional material gain rather than genuine piety. The ayah highlights the hypocrisy of those who tie their righteousness to worldly acquisitions, demonstrating how wealth can become a test of one's true faith and character.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah At-Tawbah (Chapter 9), which was revealed in Medina and deals extensively with the characteristics of hypocrites (munafiqun) and those who made insincere pledges. The surah was revealed after the Battle of Tabuk, addressing those who made false promises to Allah regarding their conduct and charity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Wealth and children are adornments of life, but the everlasting good deeds are better' (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46, with related meaning in At-Tirmidhi 2465). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari (1472) emphasizes that deeds are judged by intentions, showing the necessity of sincere intention behind charitable acts.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true righteousness cannot be conditioned upon material gain; genuine piety flows from sincere intention and love of Allah, not from transactional promises made during times of need. Believers should examine their hearts to ensure their acts of charity and worship stem from genuine faith rather than worldly expectations or social obligation.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۚ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ
Indeed, to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; He gives life and causes death. And you have not besides Allāh any protector or any helper.
لَّيْسَ عَلَى ٱلضُّعَفَآءِ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْمَرْضَىٰ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ مَا يُنفِقُونَ حَرَجٌ إِذَا نَصَحُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۚ مَا عَلَى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ مِن سَبِيلٍ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
There is not upon the weak or upon the ill or upon those who do not find anything to spend any discomfort [i.e., guilt] when they are sincere to Allāh and His Messenger. There is not upon the doers of good any cause [for blame]. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
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."
مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يَعْمُرُوا۟ مَسَـٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ شَـٰهِدِينَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِم بِٱلْكُفْرِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ وَفِى ٱلنَّارِ هُمْ خَـٰلِدُونَ
It is not for the polytheists to maintain the mosques of Allāh [while] witnessing against themselves with disbelief. [For] those, their deeds have become worthless, and in the Fire they will abide eternally.