فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَىٰهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ بَخِلُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ 76
Translations
But when He gave them from His bounty, they were stingy with it and turned away while they refused.
Transliteration
Falamma ataahum min fadlihi bakhiluu bihi wa tawallaw wa hum muraaidun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how certain people, after receiving Allah's blessings and provisions, became stingy with them and turned away from obedience and gratitude. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers specifically to the hypocrites (munafiqun) who, when promised wealth and victory by the Prophet, eagerly joined the cause, but upon receiving their share of the spoils, they became miserly and withdrew from the believers. The ayah illustrates the ingratitude and spiritual disease of the heart that leads to the withholding of charity and rejection of divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a broader discussion in Surah At-Tawbah concerning the hypocrites and their true nature as revealed through their actions. The specific context involves those who made promises during the Battle of Tabuk but failed to fulfill their commitments, and those whose faith was conditional upon worldly gain rather than sincere submission to Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best charity is given when one is in need' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith: 'The miser and the merciful are far apart from each other in the sight of Allah' (related to stinginess being a sign of hypocrisy) reflects the moral principle addressed in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that true faith is tested through our generosity and gratitude; receiving blessings from Allah should increase our obedience and charitable spirit, not lead us to hoard wealth or distance ourselves from the community of believers. Let us examine our own hearts to ensure our faith is not conditional upon worldly gains but rooted in genuine submission to Allah.
Related Ayahs
سَيَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ إِذَا ٱنقَلَبْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لِتُعْرِضُوا۟ عَنْهُمْ ۖ فَأَعْرِضُوا۟ عَنْهُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ رِجْسٌ ۖ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
They will swear by Allāh to you when you return to them that you would leave them alone. So leave them alone; indeed they are evil; and their refuge is Hell as recompense for what they had been earning.
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.
مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى ٱسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّآ أَضَآءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُۥ ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ
Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allāh took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see.
ٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَهُمْ جُنَّةً فَصَدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ سَآءَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
They have taken their oaths as a cover, so they averted [people] from the way of Allāh. Indeed, it was evil that they were doing.