وَمَآ ءَاتَيْتُم مِّن رِّبًا لِّيَرْبُوَا۟ فِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِ ٱلنَّاسِ فَلَا يَرْبُوا۟ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَآ ءَاتَيْتُم مِّن زَكَوٰةٍ تُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُضْعِفُونَ 39
Translations
And whatever you give for interest [i.e., advantage] to increase within the wealth of people will not increase with Allāh. But what you give in zakāh, desiring the face [i.e., approval] of Allāh - those are the multipliers.
Transliteration
Wa mā ātaytum min ribān liyarbuwa fī amwāl an-nās falā yarbū ʿinda Allāh; wa mā ātaytum min zakātin turīdūn wajh Allah fa-ūlāʾika hum al-muḍʿifūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah contrasts two types of wealth transactions: riba (usury/interest) given to increase people's wealth yields no increase with Allah, while zakah (obligatory alms) given with sincere intention to please Allah brings multiplied rewards. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that riba is spiritually sterile despite apparent worldly gain, whereas zakah spiritually enriches the giver through divine multiplication. The verse highlights Allah's justice: ill-gotten gains through exploitation receive no divine blessing, while charitable giving with pure intention receives abundant divine recompense.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ar-Rum, a Meccan chapter addressing pre-Islamic Arabian practices including riba (common in Arabian commerce) and the treatment of wealth. The surah contextualizes this within broader themes of accountability and divine justice, contrasting the temporary nature of worldly transactions with eternal divine rewards.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Charity does not decrease wealth' (Sahih Muslim 2588). Additionally, Hadith Qudsi: 'The son of Adam wrongs Me, he curses time, while I am time, in My hand is the night and the day' relates to how only deeds done for Allah's sake carry eternal value.
Themes
Key Lesson
Wealth accumulated through exploitation and riba bears no spiritual blessing from Allah, while charity given sincerely for His sake brings manifold rewards and eternal benefit. Muslims should purify their intentions and wealth transactions, recognizing that true increase comes from divine favor, not from unlawful enrichment at others' expense.
Related Ayahs
وَلَقَدْ ضَرَبْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِى هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ ۚ وَلَئِن جِئْتَهُم بِـَٔايَةٍ لَّيَقُولَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا مُبْطِلُونَ
And We have certainly presented to the people in this Qur’ān from every [kind of] example. But, [O Muḥammad], if you should bring them a sign, the disbelievers will surely say, "You [believers] are but falsifiers."
فِى بِضْعِ سِنِينَ ۗ لِلَّهِ ٱلْأَمْرُ مِن قَبْلُ وَمِنۢ بَعْدُ ۚ وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
Within three to nine years. To Allāh belongs the command [i.e., decree] before and after. And that day the believers will rejoice
أَوَلَمْ يَتَفَكَّرُوا۟ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِم ۗ مَّا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِلِقَآئِ رَبِّهِمْ لَكَـٰفِرُونَ
Do they not contemplate within themselves? Allāh has not created the heavens and the earth and what is between them except in truth and for a specified term. And indeed, many of the people, in the meeting with their Lord, are disbelievers.
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ وَٱلْإِيمَـٰنَ لَقَدْ لَبِثْتُمْ فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْبَعْثِ ۖ فَهَـٰذَا يَوْمُ ٱلْبَعْثِ وَلَـٰكِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
But those who were given knowledge and faith will say, "You remained the extent of Allāh's decree until the Day of Resurrection, and this is the Day of Resurrection, but you did not used to know."