ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِى ٱلسَّرَّآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَٱلْكَـٰظِمِينَ ٱلْغَيْظَ وَٱلْعَافِينَ عَنِ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ 134
Translations
Who spend [in the cause of Allāh] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people - and Allāh loves the doers of good;
Transliteration
Alladhīna yunfiqūna fī as-sarrā'i wa-ad-darrā'i wa-al-kāẓimīna al-ghayẓa wa-al-'āfīna 'an an-nāsi wa-Allāhu yuḥibbu al-muḥsinīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the characteristics of the righteous (al-muttaqīn) who spend their wealth in both prosperity and adversity, restrain their anger when wronged, and forgive others. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, these verses outline the comprehensive virtues of piety: financial generosity regardless of circumstances, emotional discipline, and moral magnanimity. Allah affirms His love for those who practice these virtues (al-muḥsinīn), emphasizing that true piety manifests through both actions and character.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ali 'Imran (Chapter 3), a Medinan surah revealed after the Battle of Uhud. The surrounding verses (3:133-135) describe the characteristics of the pious (al-muttaqīn) who will inherit Paradise, providing moral guidance to the Muslim community during a period of consolidation and spiritual development in Medina.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa-sallam) said: 'The strong person is not the one who overcomes people by his strength, but the strong person is the one who controls himself while in anger' (Sahih Bukhari 6114). Additionally, 'Whoever restrains his anger when he has the ability to act upon it, Allah will call him on the Day of Resurrection before all creation' (Sunan Ibn Majah 4186).
Themes
Key Lesson
True righteousness requires consistent generosity regardless of one's financial situation, and inner strength manifested through controlling anger and extending forgiveness—qualities that demonstrate genuine love for Allah and His creation. These virtues transform the individual spiritually and socially, earning them Allah's love and Paradise as their ultimate reward.
Related Ayahs
بَلِ ٱللَّهُ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلنَّـٰصِرِينَ
But Allāh is your protector, and He is the best of helpers.
وَكَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ وَأَنتُمْ تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱللَّهِ وَفِيكُمْ رَسُولُهُۥ ۗ وَمَن يَعْتَصِم بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ هُدِىَ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And how could you disbelieve while to you are being recited the verses of Allāh and among you is His Messenger? And whoever holds firmly to Allāh has [indeed] been guided to a straight path.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱصْبِرُوا۟ وَصَابِرُوا۟ وَرَابِطُوا۟ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allāh that you may be successful.
هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُۥ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ
At that, Zechariah called upon his Lord, saying, "My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication."