وَمِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَيَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنفِقُ قُرُبَـٰتٍ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَصَلَوَٰتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ ۚ أَلَآ إِنَّهَا قُرْبَةٌ لَّهُمْ ۚ سَيُدْخِلُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِى رَحْمَتِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 99
Translations
But among the bedouins are some who believe in Allāh and the Last Day and consider what they spend as means of nearness to Allāh and of [obtaining] invocations of the Messenger. Unquestionably, it is a means of nearness for them. Allāh will admit them to His mercy. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Wa mina al-a'rabi man yu'minu bi-llahi wa-l-yawmi al-akhiri wa-yattakhidhu ma yunfiqu qurbatan 'inda-llahi wa-salawati ar-rasuli. Ala inna-ha qurbatun lahum. Sayudkhiluhumu-llahu fi rahmatih. Inna-llaha ghafurun rahimun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah highlights that among the Bedouins (Arab nomads), some possess sincere faith in Allah and the Last Day, and they view their charitable expenditures as means of drawing closer to Allah and seeking the Prophet's supplication for them. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi note this verse counters the implication in previous ayat that the Bedouins were universally hypocritical or weak in faith. Allah promises that their intentions and charitable acts are indeed acts of worship that bring them closer to Him, and He will admit them into His mercy, as He is the All-Forgiving and All-Merciful.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the latter section of Surah At-Tawbah (The Repentance), a Medinan surah dealing with hypocrites and believers during the early Islamic period. The context discusses various categories of people—believers, hypocrites, and those whose faith is mixed—providing a nuanced view of the Bedouins rather than wholesale condemnation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best charity is that given when one is in need' (related to the spirit of sincere giving). Additionally, Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet emphasized that Allah looks at the heart and intention in deeds, not merely the outward action—directly supporting this ayah's focus on sincere intention (niyyah) in charity.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that sincere faith and charitable intention matter far more than one's social status or background; a Bedouin with genuine taqwa (God-consciousness) and pure intention is closer to Allah than a wealthy urbanite lacking sincerity. It reminds believers that when we give charity or perform good deeds with the intention of drawing near to Allah, He recognizes and rewards this intention, encompassing us in His infinite mercy.
Related Ayahs
ٱلتَّـٰٓئِبُونَ ٱلْعَـٰبِدُونَ ٱلْحَـٰمِدُونَ ٱلسَّـٰٓئِحُونَ ٱلرَّٰكِعُونَ ٱلسَّـٰجِدُونَ ٱلْـَٔامِرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَٱلنَّاهُونَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱلْحَـٰفِظُونَ لِحُدُودِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
[Such believers are] the repentant, the worshippers, the praisers [of Allāh], the travelers [for His cause], those who bow and prostrate [in prayer], those who enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and those who observe the limits [set by] Allāh. And give good tidings to the believers.
أَفَمَنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيَـٰنَهُۥ عَلَىٰ تَقْوَىٰ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنٍ خَيْرٌ أَم مَّنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيَـٰنَهُۥ عَلَىٰ شَفَا جُرُفٍ هَارٍ فَٱنْهَارَ بِهِۦ فِى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
Then is one who laid the foundation of his building on righteousness [with fear] from Allāh and [seeking] His approval better or one who laid the foundation of his building on the edge of a bank about to collapse, so it collapsed with him into the fire of Hell? And Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.
ٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَصَدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ سَآءَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
They have exchanged the signs of Allāh for a small price and averted [people] from His way. Indeed, it was evil that they were doing.
أَوَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَنَّهُمْ يُفْتَنُونَ فِى كُلِّ عَامٍ مَّرَّةً أَوْ مَرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَا يَتُوبُونَ وَلَا هُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
Do they not see that they are tried every year once or twice but then they do not repent nor do they remember?