إِن يَسْـَٔلْكُمُوهَا فَيُحْفِكُمْ تَبْخَلُوا۟ وَيُخْرِجْ أَضْغَـٰنَكُمْ 37
Translations
If He should ask you for them and press you, you would withhold, and He would expose your hatred [i.e., unwillingness].
Transliteration
In yassalukumuha fa-yuḥfīkum tabkhalū wa-yukhridj aḍghānakum
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the hypocrisy of those who, when asked to spend in charity or for the cause of Allah, refuse and show stinginess, thereby revealing the hidden grudges and enmity in their hearts. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret this as a test of sincerity—true believers give willingly without revealing their inner malice, while the hypocrites' refusal to give exposes their concealed rancor and lack of genuine faith.
Revelation Context
Surah Muhammad addresses the qualities and behaviors of believers versus hypocrites during the Medinan period. This specific ayah appears in the context of discussing the hypocrites' reluctance to support the Muslim community and the Prophet, revealing their true nature through their unwillingness to spend in Allah's cause.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Wealth and children are adornments of this worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are far better' (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46, hadith-related theme). Also relevant is the hadith from Sahih Muslim where the Prophet warned against stinginess: 'The best charity is that given when one is in need.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that our true character and spiritual condition are revealed through our willingness (or reluctance) to sacrifice and give for noble causes; believers should examine their hearts to ensure their giving is sincere and free from hidden malice toward others.
Related Ayahs
وَمِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنفِقُ مَغْرَمًا وَيَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمُ ٱلدَّوَآئِرَ ۚ عَلَيْهِمْ دَآئِرَةُ ٱلسَّوْءِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And among the bedouins are some who consider what they spend as a loss and await for you turns of misfortune. Upon them will be a misfortune of evil. And Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمُ ٱلرِّجْزَ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ هُم بَـٰلِغُوهُ إِذَا هُمْ يَنكُثُونَ
But when We removed the punishment from them until a term which they were to reach, then at once they broke their word.
قُلْ إِن كَانَتْ لَكُمُ ٱلدَّارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ خَالِصَةً مِّن دُونِ ٱلنَّاسِ فَتَمَنَّوُا۟ ٱلْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "If the home of the Hereafter with Allāh is for you alone and not the [other] people, then wish for death, if you should be truthful."
فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابَ إِذَا هُمْ يَنكُثُونَ
But when We removed from them the affliction, at once they broke their word.