وَمَاذَا عَلَيْهِمْ لَوْ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَأَنفَقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِمْ عَلِيمًا 39
Translations
And what [harm would come] upon them if they believed in Allāh and the Last Day and spent out of what Allāh provided for them? And Allāh is ever, about them, Knowing.
Transliteration
Wa-matha `alayhim law `amanoo bil-lahi wa-al-yawmi al-akhiri wa-anfaqoo mimma razaqahum-u Allah. Wa-kana Allahu bihim `alimah.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah poses a rhetorical question to those who reject faith and refuse to spend from Allah's blessings: 'What harm would befall them if they believed in Allah and the Last Day and spent from what Allah has provided them?' The verse emphasizes that belief and charitable spending are acts of wisdom that benefit the believer themselves, not Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this is an invitation to recognition of faith's benefits, coupled with a reminder that Allah is fully aware of all intentions and actions, implying that sincerity in belief and charity will not go unnoticed.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nisa, a Medinan chapter dealing extensively with social ethics, women's rights, and community conduct. It follows verses addressing those who reject belief and refuse to support the Muslim community through spending (zakat and voluntary charity). The context reflects the early Muslim community's struggles with hypocrites and those who withheld resources.
Related Hadiths
Hadith: 'The best charity is when one gives while in difficulty' (Tirmidhi). Also related: 'Wealth and children are adornments of this life, but the everlasting good deeds are better' (Quran 18:46, supported by multiple hadiths on the superiority of righteous deeds over material possessions in Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believing in Allah and spending from one's blessings are ultimately acts of enlightened self-interest that benefit the believer in this life and the hereafter, not burdensome obligations. The reminder that 'Allah is with them All-Knowing' encourages sincerity in faith and charity, knowing that every intention and action is recorded by the All-Aware.
Related Ayahs
۞ لَّا يُحِبُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْجَهْرَ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا
Allāh does not like the public mention of evil except by one who has been wronged. And ever is Allāh Hearing and Knowing.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِمَا نَزَّلْنَا مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا مَعَكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّطْمِسَ وُجُوهًا فَنَرُدَّهَا عَلَىٰٓ أَدْبَارِهَآ أَوْ نَلْعَنَهُمْ كَمَا لَعَنَّآ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلسَّبْتِ ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ مَفْعُولًا
O you who were given the Scripture, believe in what We have sent down [to Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)], confirming that which is with you, before We obliterate faces and turn them toward their backs or curse them as We cursed the sabbath-breakers. And ever is the matter [i.e., decree] of Allāh accomplished.
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۗ وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حَدِيثًا
Allāh - there is no deity except Him. He will surely assemble you for [account on] the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt. And who is more truthful than Allāh in statement.
أَمْ لَهُمْ نَصِيبٌ مِّنَ ٱلْمُلْكِ فَإِذًا لَّا يُؤْتُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ نَقِيرًا
Or have they a share of dominion? Then [if that were so], they would not give the people [even as much as] the speck on a date seed.