هَـٰذَا عَطَآؤُنَا فَٱمْنُنْ أَوْ أَمْسِكْ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ 39
Translations
[We said], "This is Our gift, so grant or withhold without account."
Transliteration
Haadhaa 'ataa'una famnun aw amsik bighayri hisaab
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is part of Allah's address to Prophet Dawud (David), declaring that the wealth and authority granted to him is a divine gift with no obligation of accounting or reckoning. Ibn Kathir explains this as Allah's declaration that Dawud may give generously to others or withhold as he sees fit, without needing to justify his decisions to anyone, reflecting the absolute nature of divine bounty. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this demonstrates the completeness of Dawud's favor and kingship, wherein he possessed both material abundance and freedom of choice in its distribution.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Sad (Meccan period), which recounts the story of Prophet Dawud and his son Sulayman. The broader context describes Allah's blessings upon Dawud, including the restoration of a flock and the granting of unparalleled wisdom and understanding. This specific ayah follows Allah's affirmation of Dawud's righteousness and precedes the narrative about Sulayman's inheritance of both prophethood and material wealth.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Sahih Bukhari records that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best charity is to give when one is in need' and various hadiths emphasize that righteous wealth distribution is without calculation or expectation of return, reflecting the spirit of this verse's message about generous dispensation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true wealth and authority are trusts from Allah, and those blessed with abundance should give generously without grudging or excessive calculation, while recognizing that all decisions ultimately rest with divine wisdom. It reminds believers that freedom in giving is a reflection of divine grace, and generosity without counting the cost is a hallmark of the righteous.
Related Ayahs
وَمَا خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَـٰطِلًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ظَنُّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ
And We did not create the heaven and the earth and that between them aimlessly. That is the assumption of those who disbelieve, so woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire.
يَـٰدَاوُۥدُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَـٰكَ خَلِيفَةً فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ ٱلْهَوَىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌۢ بِمَا نَسُوا۟ يَوْمَ ٱلْحِسَابِ
[We said], "O David, indeed We have made you a successor upon the earth, so judge between the people in truth and do not follow [your own] desire, as it will lead you astray from the way of Allāh." Indeed, those who go astray from the way of Allāh will have a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Account.
وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥٓ أَهْلَهُۥ وَمِثْلَهُم مَّعَهُمْ رَحْمَةً مِّنَّا وَذِكْرَىٰ لِأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ
And We granted him his family and a like [number] with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for those of understanding.
بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى عِزَّةٍ وَشِقَاقٍ
But those who disbelieve are in pride and dissension.