إِن يَسْـَٔلْكُمُوهَا فَيُحْفِكُمْ تَبْخَلُوا۟ وَيُخْرِجْ أَضْغَـٰنَكُمْ 37
Translations
If He should ask you for them and press you, you would withhold, and He would expose your hatred [i.e., unwillingness].
Transliteration
In yassalukumuha fa-yuḥfīkum tabkhalū wa-yukhridj aḍghānakum
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the hypocrisy of those who, when asked to spend in charity or for the cause of Allah, refuse and show stinginess, thereby revealing the hidden grudges and enmity in their hearts. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret this as a test of sincerity—true believers give willingly without revealing their inner malice, while the hypocrites' refusal to give exposes their concealed rancor and lack of genuine faith.
Revelation Context
Surah Muhammad addresses the qualities and behaviors of believers versus hypocrites during the Medinan period. This specific ayah appears in the context of discussing the hypocrites' reluctance to support the Muslim community and the Prophet, revealing their true nature through their unwillingness to spend in Allah's cause.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Wealth and children are adornments of this worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are far better' (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46, hadith-related theme). Also relevant is the hadith from Sahih Muslim where the Prophet warned against stinginess: 'The best charity is that given when one is in need.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that our true character and spiritual condition are revealed through our willingness (or reluctance) to sacrifice and give for noble causes; believers should examine their hearts to ensure their giving is sincere and free from hidden malice toward others.
Related Ayahs
لَا يَرْقُبُونَ فِى مُؤْمِنٍ إِلًّا وَلَا ذِمَّةً ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُعْتَدُونَ
They do not observe toward a believer any pact of kinship or covenant of protection. And it is they who are the transgressors.
مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى ٱسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّآ أَضَآءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُۥ ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ
Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allāh took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see.
وَإِنَّ مِنكُمْ لَمَن لَّيُبَطِّئَنَّ فَإِنْ أَصَـٰبَتْكُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالَ قَدْ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىَّ إِذْ لَمْ أَكُن مَّعَهُمْ شَهِيدًا
And indeed, there is among you he who lingers behind; and if disaster strikes you, he says, "Allāh has favored me in that I was not present with them."
هُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ لَا تُنفِقُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَنْ عِندَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ حَتَّىٰ يَنفَضُّوا۟ ۗ وَلِلَّهِ خَزَآئِنُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ
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.