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
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.
ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ لِإِخْوَٰنِهِمْ وَقَعَدُوا۟ لَوْ أَطَاعُونَا مَا قُتِلُوا۟ ۗ قُلْ فَٱدْرَءُوا۟ عَنْ أَنفُسِكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
Those who said about their brothers while sitting [at home], "If they had obeyed us, they would not have been killed." Say, "Then prevent death from yourselves, if you should be truthful."
فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَىٰهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ بَخِلُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
But when He gave them from His bounty, they were stingy with it and turned away while they refused.
فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابَ إِذَا هُمْ يَنكُثُونَ
But when We removed from them the affliction, at once they broke their word.