وَأَنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا۟ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى ٱلتَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوٓا۟ ۛ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ 195
Translations
And spend in the way of Allāh and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allāh loves the doers of good.
Transliteration
Wa-anfiqoo fee sabeelis-Allahi wa laa tulqoo bi-aydeekum ila-at-tahlukah wa-ahsinoo inna-Allaha yuhibbu-al-muhsineen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands believers to spend their wealth in the way of Allah while warning against self-destruction through stinginess or recklessness, and emphasizes doing good deeds with excellence. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that 'throwing oneself into destruction' (al-tahlukah) refers to withholding wealth from righteous causes, which leads to spiritual ruin, while the command to 'do good' (ihsan) encompasses all aspects of spending and action with sincerity and perfection. The ayah balances financial obligation with wisdom, encouraging neither excessive waste nor miserly hoarding in the path of Allah.
Revelation Context
Revealed in the Medinan period within the context of Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of obligations toward faith and community. This ayah appears in the section addressing charity and financial responsibility, likely in the early-to-mid Medinan period when the Muslim community was establishing financial norms and principles of mutual support.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best charity is that given when one is in need yet still gives' (related to themes of spending despite difficulty). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari: 'The best charity is that which is given when one is in straitened circumstances,' emphasizing the virtue of spending in Allah's way.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should balance generosity with wisdom—neither hoarding wealth selfishly nor spending recklessly—recognizing that investing in Allah's cause is an investment in one's own spiritual well-being, not a loss. The pursuit of excellence (ihsan) in all our actions, including charitable giving, is fundamental to pleasing Allah and building a just community.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِـَٔادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَٱسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.
وَقَالُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَـٰرَىٰ تَهْتَدُوا۟ ۗ قُلْ بَلْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
They say, "Be Jews or Christians [so] you will be guided." Say, "Rather, [we follow] the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth, and he was not of the polytheists."
أَيَوَدُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن تَكُونَ لَهُۥ جَنَّةٌ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَابٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ لَهُۥ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ وَأَصَابَهُ ٱلْكِبَرُ وَلَهُۥ ذُرِّيَّةٌ ضُعَفَآءُ فَأَصَابَهَآ إِعْصَارٌ فِيهِ نَارٌ فَٱحْتَرَقَتْ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Would one of you like to have a garden of palm trees and grapevines underneath which rivers flow in which he has from every fruit? But he is afflicted with old age and has weak [i.e., immature] offspring, and it is hit by a whirlwind containing fire and is burned. Thus does Allāh make clear to you [His] verses that you might give thought.
وَإِن كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ مَيْسَرَةٍ ۚ وَأَن تَصَدَّقُوا۟ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
And if someone is in hardship, then [let there be] postponement until [a time of] ease. But if you give [from your right as] charity, then it is better for you, if you only knew.