ٱلَّذِينَ يَلْمِزُونَ ٱلْمُطَّوِّعِينَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِى ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ إِلَّا جُهْدَهُمْ فَيَسْخَرُونَ مِنْهُمْ ۙ سَخِرَ ٱللَّهُ مِنْهُمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ 79
Translations
Those who criticize the contributors among the believers concerning [their] charities and [criticize] the ones who find nothing [to spend] except their effort, so they ridicule them - Allāh will ridicule them, and they will have a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Al-ladhīna yalmizūn al-muṭṭawwi'īn min al-mu'minīn fī al-ṣadaqāt wa-al-ladhīn lā yajidūn illā juhdahum fayaskharūn minhum, sakhira Allāhu minhum wa-lahum 'adhābun alīm.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who mock and find fault with believers who willingly give charity, whether they are wealthy givers or those who sacrifice their limited means. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that such mockery stems from hypocrisy and spiritual arrogance, and Allah warns that He ridicules these mockers and has prepared for them a painful punishment. The ayah highlights that sincere charitable giving from whatever one possesses is praiseworthy, regardless of the amount.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period during the campaign of Tabuk (9 AH) and is part of the broader context of Surah At-Tawbah addressing hypocrisy and weak faith. It relates to the general theme of the surah which examines the attitudes of believers versus hypocrites during military campaigns and charitable obligations. The specific context involves those who mocked sincere believers for their contributions to the war effort against Rome.
Related Hadiths
Hadith from Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best charity is that given when one is in need,' emphasizing that giving from limited means is highly valued. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari about the widow's mite, demonstrating that Allah values sincerity and sacrifice over amount.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should guard against ridiculing others' charitable efforts, no matter how small, as Allah values sincerity and intention over quantity. We must recognize that mocking those who strive in obedience to Allah is a grave sin that invites His displeasure and severe punishment.
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.
خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
[They will be] abiding therein forever. Indeed, Allāh has with Him a great reward.
وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَىٰٓ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدًا وَلَا تَقُمْ عَلَىٰ قَبْرِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ فَـٰسِقُونَ
And do not pray [the funeral prayer, O Muḥammad], over any of them who has died - ever - or stand at his grave. Indeed, they disbelieved in Allāh and His Messenger and died while they were defiantly disobedient.
لَا يَسْتَـْٔذِنُكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ أَن يُجَـٰهِدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
Those who believe in Allāh and the Last Day would not ask permission of you to be excused from striving [i.e., fighting] with their wealth and their lives. And Allāh is Knowing of those who fear Him.