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
وَيُذْهِبْ غَيْظَ قُلُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَيَتُوبُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
And remove the fury in their [i.e., the believers'] hearts. And Allāh turns in forgiveness to whom He wills; and Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
Allāh has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide eternally. That is the great attainment.
وَءَاخَرُونَ ٱعْتَرَفُوا۟ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ خَلَطُوا۟ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا وَءَاخَرَ سَيِّئًا عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And [there are] others who have acknowledged their sins. They had mixed [i.e., polluted] a righteous deed with another that was bad. Perhaps Allāh will turn to them in forgiveness. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ ٱنفِرُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ أَرَضِيتُم بِٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا مِنَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ فَمَا مَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ
O you who have believed, what is [the matter] with you that, when you are told to go forth in the cause of Allāh, you adhere heavily to the earth? Are you satisfied with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? But what is the enjoyment of worldly life compared to the Hereafter except a [very] little.