هُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ لَا تُنفِقُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَنْ عِندَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ حَتَّىٰ يَنفَضُّوا۟ ۗ وَلِلَّهِ خَزَآئِنُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ 7
Translations
They are the ones who say, "Do not spend on those who are with the Messenger of Allāh until they disband." And to Allāh belong the depositories of the heavens and the earth, but the hypocrites do not understand.
Transliteration
Hum alladhīna yaqūlūna lā tunfiqū 'alā man 'inda rasūli Allāh hattā yanfaddū wa-lilLāhi khazāinu as-samāwāti wa-l-ardi wa-lākinna l-munāfiqīna lā yafqahūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns the hypocrites who discourage believers from spending on those who gather around the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), hoping they will disperse and leave him. The ayah refutes their misguided logic by affirming that all treasures of the heavens and earth belong to Allah alone, implying that Allah provides for His servants and the hypocrites' schemes are futile. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as highlighting the hypocrites' failure to understand that provision comes from Allah, not from material withholding, and their inability to grasp the spiritual reality of the believers' commitment to the Prophet.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Medina and addresses the characteristics of hypocrites (munāfiqūn) who professed Islam outwardly while concealing disbelief. This specific ayah reflects the historical context of Medina where some wealthy individuals opposed the Prophet and attempted to undermine the Muslim community by discouraging financial support to his followers, hoping to weaken the nascent Islamic state.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), emphasizing the importance of caring for believers. Additionally, the hadith about the hypocrite's signs in Sahih Bukhari (33) mentions that hypocrites refuse to spend in the cause of Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should trust in Allah's infinite provision rather than fearing scarcity when spending in charitable causes, and should recognize that those who attempt to discourage generosity and community support reveal their lack of faith and spiritual understanding. The ayah teaches that our reliance should be on Allah's treasures, not on the approval or material support of the hypocritical.
Related Ayahs
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةَ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ فَمَا رَبِحَت تِّجَـٰرَتُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ مُهْتَدِينَ
Those are the ones who have purchased error [in exchange] for guidance, so their transaction has brought no profit, nor were they guided.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَرِهُوا۟ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأَحْبَطَ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ
That is because they disliked what Allāh revealed, so He rendered worthless their deeds.
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.
وَكَيْفَ يُحَكِّمُونَكَ وَعِندَهُمُ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةُ فِيهَا حُكْمُ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَمَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
But how is it that they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the judgement of Allāh? Then they turn away, [even] after that; but those are not [in fact] believers.