وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ أَنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَنُطْعِمُ مَن لَّوْ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ أَطْعَمَهُۥٓ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ 47
Translations
And when it is said to them, "Spend from that which Allāh has provided for you," those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Should we feed one whom, if Allāh had willed, He would have fed? You are not but in clear error."
Transliteration
Wa-idha qila lahum anfiqū mimma razaqakumu Allāhu qāla alladhīna kafarū lilladhīna āmanū a-nuṭ'imu man law yashā'u Allāhu aṭ'amahu in antum illā fī ḍalālin mubīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah depicts the disbelievers' arrogant objection when believers are commanded to give charity from Allah's provisions. The disbelievers mockingly argue that if Allah had willed to feed the poor, He would do so Himself, thus dismissing the obligation of charity and accusing the believers of being in clear error. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain this as the disbelievers' rejection of Allah's divine wisdom in commanding charitable obligations, revealing their denial of both Allah's oneness and His legislative authority over human affairs.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan Surah Ya-Sin, which addresses the disbelievers' rejection of the message and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The broader context deals with the disbelievers' objections and false arguments against Islamic teachings, particularly regarding matters of faith, provision, and social responsibility. The theme reflects the general Meccan period's focus on core Islamic beliefs and the disbelievers' various contentious responses.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best charity is when you give while you are in need' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith 'None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) relates to the spiritual obligation of caring for others through charity.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that obedience to Allah's commands regarding charity and social welfare is not contingent on human logic or circumstantial objections; rather, it is a divine obligation that reflects our trust in Allah's wisdom. The lesson warns against spiritual arrogance and the trap of rationalizing away religious duties through sophistry, urging believers to maintain steadfast commitment to Islamic teachings regardless of worldly resistance.