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
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.
لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا لَّٱتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَـٰكِنۢ بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلشُّقَّةُ ۚ وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ لَوِ ٱسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ يُهْلِكُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ
Had it been a near [i.e., easy] gain and a moderate trip, they [i.e., the hypocrites] would have followed you, but distant to them was the journey. And they will swear by Allāh, "If we were able, we would have gone forth with you," destroying themselves [through false oaths], and Allāh knows that indeed they are liars.
۞ لَّئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَٱلْمُرْجِفُونَ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ لَنُغْرِيَنَّكَ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ لَا يُجَاوِرُونَكَ فِيهَآ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
If the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease and those who spread rumors in al-Madīnah do not cease, We will surely incite you against them; then they will not remain your neighbors therein except for a little,
وَلَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ عَـٰهَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مِن قَبْلُ لَا يُوَلُّونَ ٱلْأَدْبَـٰرَ ۚ وَكَانَ عَهْدُ ٱللَّهِ مَسْـُٔولًا
And they had already promised Allāh before not to turn their backs [i.e., flee]. And ever is the promise to Allāh [that about which one will be] questioned.