وَأَعْطَىٰ قَلِيلًا وَأَكْدَىٰٓ 34
Translations
And gave a little and [then] refrained?
Transliteration
Wa-a'ţā qalīlan wa-akdā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes a miserly person who gives little in charity and withholds generously. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to those who are stingy with their wealth and begrudge spending in the way of Allah, despite their ability to do so. The term 'akdā' conveys the sense of being niggardly and refusing to give, reflecting a hardened heart devoid of compassion and gratitude for Allah's blessings.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah An-Najm, which addresses the characteristics of those who reject faith and those who embrace it. The broader context (53:32-34) contrasts the humble and righteous with the stingy and ungrateful, serving as a moral critique of disbelievers and those who hoard wealth without recognizing Allah's sovereignty.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895), emphasizing generosity within family. Additionally, 'Wealth and children are adornments of this worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are far better' (Quran 18:46, related hadith in Sahih Bukhari 5047) reinforces that true wealth is in righteous action, not hoarding.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that withholding wealth and displaying ingratitude for Allah's blessings reflects a diseased heart; true nobility lies in generosity, gratitude, and recognizing that all wealth is a trust from Allah meant to be used righteously and shared with those in need.
Related Ayahs
عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰٓ
Near it is the Garden of Refuge [i.e., Paradise] -
ذَٰلِكَ مَبْلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ
That is their sum of knowledge. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who strays from His way, and He is most knowing of who is guided.
إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّآ أَسْمَآءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـٰنٍ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى ٱلْأَنفُسُ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ
They are not but [mere] names you have named them - you and your forefathers - for which Allāh has sent down no authority. They follow not except assumption and what [their] souls desire, and there has already come to them from their Lord guidance.
أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ
That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another