Topic: Of Wealth
View Aspects
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ ۖ قُلْ مَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٌ
معترض اعتراض کرتے ہیں کہ سوال کچھ ہے اور جواب کچھ ہے۔ پوچھا تو یہ گیا ہے کہ کیا خرچ کریں اور جواب یہ دیا جاتا ہے کہ جو کچھ بھی مال میں سے خرچ کرو وہ فلاں فلاں کو دو۔ اس کا جواب یہ ہے کہ یہ اعتراض قلتِ تدبر کی وجہ سے ہے۔ سوال کا جواب آیت میں موجود ہے۔ جب فرماتا ہے کہ جو کچھ بھی اچھے مال سے خرچ کرو تو اس میں سائل کا جواب مکمل آگیا ہے۔ اول یہ کہ کوئی حد بندی نہیں‘ جتنے کی توفیق ہو اتنا خرچ کرو۔ دوم یہ کہ اس امر کا لحاظ رکھو کہ جو خرچ کرو وہ طیّب مال ہو۔ جو لوگ حرام کماتے ہیں اور اس میں سے خدا کی راہ میں خرچ کرکے سمجھتے ہیں کہ ہم نے گویا اپنے گناہ کا کفار کر دیا وہ غلطی پر ہیں۔ خ
2:178; 4:37.
The verse signifies that whatever is spent should have been honestly acquired. What is spent must be good also in the sense that it should be acceptable to the receiver and should satisfy his need and that the object on which it is spent is also worthy and laudable.
2:178; 4:37.
Important Words:
خیر (good and abundant wealth). See 2:181.
اقربین (near relatives) is the plural of اقرب (derived from قریب) meaning, one nearer; a near relative (Aqrab).
Commentary:
When the Companions of the Holy Prophet were told that they could not win the pleasure of God and enter Heaven unless they were made to pass through sufferings and afflictions like those that had gone before, they at once signified their readiness to part with their wealth and property in the cause of God and asked the Holy Prophet to let them know what they should spend in order to win the pleasure of God and attain spiritual progress. They did not wait for the threatened trials to actually overtake them, but were prepared to make every kind of sacrifice in advance. They simply wanted to be told what form their sacrifice should take.
In reply to their eager question, God’s reply also indicates a sort of eagerness, as if He meant to impart to the Faithful the relevant commandment in its entirety, without waiting for any further question on their part; for whereas their question related only "what" they should spend, God’s answer goes a step further, describing also "on whom" the money is to be spent. As to the question, what is to be spent should be (1) well-acquired and (2) abundant. In moments of great national need, there can be no hope of success unless people spend freely and generously. But as free and generous expenditure carries with it the danger of weak people resorting to acquiring wealth by unfair means, therefore the condition about the money being "good" has been added.
As to the other part of the anticipated question, i.e. on whom should the money be spent, the Quran says that money should be spent on parents and near relatives (lit. near ones) and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer. The five classes include all such persons as generally stand in need of help. The two first-mentioned classes include relatives, neighbours and friends who go to form the group that immediately surrounds a man and must claim his first attention, owning to personal relationship or personal contact. Then follow two classes that deserve help owing to their particular circumstance, orphans being without anyone to support them and the needy without any means of support. Lastly comes the wayfarer, whose claim consists in his being a stranger with no friend, no relative and no supporter. By pointing out these five classes as deserving of help, the Quran desires to hint that unless the entire community, including those who come to stay with them temporarily, is prepared to fight in the cause of Allah and unless the well-to-do classes help the weaker ones in their preparation for the national struggle, Muslims cannot present a united front nor can their efforts bring about the desired result. Each and every person must gird up his loins to contribute his fullest possible share, and those who cannot do so for want of means must receive help from others who can afford such help.
d
2:178; 4:37.
157
本节经文的意思是, 凡花费掉的, 应被真正得到。所花费掉的, 也必定是有益的。这所谓有益那就是对接受者来说是可接受的、并应满足他的需要, 而所花费的宗旨也要有价值且值得称赞。
3
معترض اعتراض کرتے ہیں کہ سوال کچھ ہے اور جواب کچھ ہے۔ پوچھا تو یہ گیا ہے کہ کیا خرچ کریں اور جواب یہ دیا جاتا ہے کہ جو کچھ بھی مال میں سے خرچ کرو وہ فلاں فلاں کو دو۔ اس کا جواب یہ ہے کہ یہ اعتراض قلتِ تدبر کی وجہ سے ہے۔ سوال کا جواب آیت میں موجود ہے۔ جب فرماتا ہے کہ جو کچھ بھی اچھے مال سے خرچ کرو تو اس میں سائل کا جواب مکمل آگیا ہے۔ اول یہ کہ کوئی حد بندی نہیں‘ جتنے کی توفیق ہو اتنا خرچ کرو۔ دوم یہ کہ اس امر کا لحاظ رکھو کہ جو خرچ کرو وہ طیّب مال ہو۔ جو لوگ حرام کماتے ہیں اور اس میں سے خدا کی راہ میں خرچ کرکے سمجھتے ہیں کہ ہم نے گویا اپنے گناہ کا کفار کر دیا وہ غلطی پر ہیں۔ خ
a
2:178; 4:37.
222
Important Words:
خیر (good and abundant wealth). See 2:181.
اقربین (near relatives) is the plural of اقرب (derived from قریب) meaning, one nearer; a near relative (Aqrab).
Commentary:
When the Companions of the Holy Prophet were told that they could not win the pleasure of God and enter Heaven unless they were made to pass through sufferings and afflictions like those that had gone before, they at once signified their readiness to part with their wealth and property in the cause of God and asked the Holy Prophet to let them know what they should spend in order to win the pleasure of God and attain spiritual progress. They did not wait for the threatened trials to actually overtake them, but were prepared to make every kind of sacrifice in advance. They simply wanted to be told what form their sacrifice should take.
In reply to their eager question, God’s reply also indicates a sort of eagerness, as if He meant to impart to the Faithful the relevant commandment in its entirety, without waiting for any further question on their part; for whereas their question related only "what" they should spend, God’s answer goes a step further, describing also "on whom" the money is to be spent. As to the question, what is to be spent should be (1) well-acquired and (2) abundant. In moments of great national need, there can be no hope of success unless people spend freely and generously. But as free and generous expenditure carries with it the danger of weak people resorting to acquiring wealth by unfair means, therefore the condition about the money being "good" has been added.
As to the other part of the anticipated question, i.e. on whom should the money be spent, the Quran says that money should be spent on parents and near relatives (lit. near ones) and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer. The five classes include all such persons as generally stand in need of help. The two first-mentioned classes include relatives, neighbours and friends who go to form the group that immediately surrounds a man and must claim his first attention, owning to personal relationship or personal contact. Then follow two classes that deserve help owing to their particular circumstance, orphans being without anyone to support them and the needy without any means of support. Lastly comes the wayfarer, whose claim consists in his being a stranger with no friend, no relative and no supporter. By pointing out these five classes as deserving of help, the Quran desires to hint that unless the entire community, including those who come to stay with them temporarily, is prepared to fight in the cause of Allah and unless the well-to-do classes help the weaker ones in their preparation for the national struggle, Muslims cannot present a united front nor can their efforts bring about the desired result. Each and every person must gird up his loins to contribute his fullest possible share, and those who cannot do so for want of means must receive help from others who can afford such help.
d
2:178; 4:37.
258
The verse signifies that whatever is spent should have been honestly acquired. What is spent must be good also in the sense that it should be acceptable to the receiver and should satisfy his need and that the object on which it is spent is also worthy and laudable.
إِنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ ۚ وَإِن تُؤْمِنُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ يُؤْتِكُمْ أُجُورَكُمْ وَلَا يَسْـَٔلْكُمْ أَمْوَٰلَكُمْ
6:33; 29:65; 57:21.
6:33; 29:65; 57:21.
The verse purports to say that as Muslims have been enjoined to fight in the cause of Allah, they will have to bear the expenses of war also and for that purpose they will have to make sacrifice of money. But Allah does not need their money. It is for their own benefit that sacrifice of life and money is demanded of them because no success is possible without such sacrifice. True believers must understand and realize this supreme lesson.
6:33; 29:65; 57:21.
Commentary:
The verse purports to say that as Muslims have been enjoined to fight in the cause of God, they will have to bear the expenses of war and for this purpose they will have to make sacrifices of life and money. But God does not need their money. It is for their own benefit that sacrifices of life and money are demanded of them because no success is possible without such sacrifices. True believers must understand and realise this supreme lesson.
c
6:33; 29:65; 57:21.
a
6:33; 29:65; 57:21.
3814
Commentary:
The verse purports to say that as Muslims have been enjoined to fight in the cause of God, they will have to bear the expenses of war and for this purpose they will have to make sacrifices of life and money. But God does not need their money. It is for their own benefit that sacrifices of life and money are demanded of them because no success is possible without such sacrifices. True believers must understand and realise this supreme lesson.
c
6:33; 29:65; 57:21.
2759
The verse purports to say that as Muslims have been enjoined to fight in the cause of Allah, they will have to bear the expenses of war also and for that purpose they will have to make sacrifice of money. But Allah does not need their money. It is for their own benefit that sacrifice of life and money is demanded of them because no success is possible without such sacrifice. True believers must understand and realize this supreme lesson.
إِن يَسْـَٔلْكُمُوهَا فَيُحْفِكُمْ تَبْخَلُوا۟ وَيُخْرِجْ أَضْغَٰنَكُمْ
The verse particularly applies to the hypocrites.
Commentary:
The verse applies to hypocrites. Though professing to be Muslims, they will not spend their money in the cause of Islam, however pressing its need might be, because their hearts are full of rancour, malice and spite against it. But whatever they may or may not do, Islam will be victorious and their rancour and malevolence would be exposed.
3815
Commentary:
The verse applies to hypocrites. Though professing to be Muslims, they will not spend their money in the cause of Islam, however pressing its need might be, because their hearts are full of rancour, malice and spite against it. But whatever they may or may not do, Islam will be victorious and their rancour and malevolence would be exposed.
2760
The verse particularly applies to the hypocrites.
هَٰٓأَنتُمْ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ تُدْعَوْنَ لِتُنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَمِنكُم مَّن يَبْخَلُ ۖ وَمَن يَبْخَلْ فَإِنَّمَا يَبْخَلُ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْغَنِىُّ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلْفُقَرَآءُ ۚ وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوٓا۟ أَمْثَٰلَكُم
یعنی اپنی جان ہی کو ثواب سے محروم رکھتا ہے۔
یہاں ثُمَّ کا لفظ ہے جس کے عام معنے ’’پھر‘‘ کے ہوتے ہیں۔ لیکن لغت میں ثُمَّ کے معنے ’’اور‘‘ بھی لکھے ہیں (مُغْنِی اللَّبِیب جلد اول ص۱۰۰ و املاء ابوالبقاء جلد۲ ص۱۲۵) اور وہی اردو میں چسپاں ہوتے ہیں۔ پس ہم نے ان کو اختیار کر لیا ہے۔
5:55.
Miserliness is a deadly moral disease that eats into the vitals of man’s moral and spiritual well-being. Elsewhere, the Qur’an has used very strong language about such people (9:35).
When the Holy Prophet was once asked as to whom the words, 'He will bring instead a people other than you,' referred, he is reported to have said, 'If Faith were to go up to the Pleiades, a man of Persian descent will bring it back to the earth' (Ruhul-Ma‘ani).
35:16.
5:55.
Commentary:
The address in this verse is of general application. Miserliness is a deadly moral disease that eats into the vitals of man’s moral and spiritual well-being. Elsewhere the Quran has used very strong language about misers or niggardly people (9:35). When the Holy Prophet was once asked as to whom the words, "He will bring instead a people other than you," referred, he is reported to have said, "If Faith were to go up to the Pleiades, a man of Persian descent will bring it back to the earth" (Ruhul-Ma‘ani).
a
5:55.
1263
有一次穆圣曾被问到 “安拉将带领一个民族, 但不是你们” 这一句话指谁, 据记载那时他曾说: “如果对安拉的信仰升上昴 (宿) 星团, 有位波斯血统的人会把这信仰带回人间”。(رُوْحُ الْمَعَانِی, Ruhul-Ma‘ani)
2
یعنی اپنی جان ہی کو ثواب سے محروم رکھتا ہے۔
3
یہاں ثُمَّ کا لفظ ہے جس کے عام معنے ’’پھر‘‘ کے ہوتے ہیں۔ لیکن لغت میں ثُمَّ کے معنے ’’اور‘‘ بھی لکھے ہیں (مُغْنِی اللَّبِیب جلد اول ص۱۰۰ و املاء ابوالبقاء جلد۲ ص۱۲۵) اور وہی اردو میں چسپاں ہوتے ہیں۔ پس ہم نے ان کو اختیار کر لیا ہے۔
a
35:16.
b
5:55.
3816
Commentary:
The address in this verse is of general application. Miserliness is a deadly moral disease that eats into the vitals of man’s moral and spiritual well-being. Elsewhere the Quran has used very strong language about misers or niggardly people (9:35). When the Holy Prophet was once asked as to whom the words, "He will bring instead a people other than you," referred, he is reported to have said, "If Faith were to go up to the Pleiades, a man of Persian descent will bring it back to the earth" (Ruhul-Ma‘ani).
a
5:55.
2761
Miserliness is a deadly moral disease that eats into the vitals of man’s moral and spiritual well-being. Elsewhere, the Qur’an has used very strong language about such people (9:35).
2762
When the Holy Prophet was once asked as to whom the words, 'He will bring instead a people other than you,' referred, he is reported to have said, 'If Faith were to go up to the Pleiades, a man of Persian descent will bring it back to the earth' (Ruhul-Ma‘ani).
مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقْرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥ وَلَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ
2:246; 64:18; 73:21.
2:246; 64:18; 73:21.
2:246; 64:18; 73:21.
Commentary:
God regards monetary sacrifices, demanded of Muslims for their own progress and advancement, as a loan lent to Him which He promises to increase and return manifold. The sacrifices rendered by early Muslims in the cause of truth led to a comparatively much greater reward in the form of the conquest of the mightiest empires of the time.
b
2:246; 64:18; 73:21.
a
2:246; 64:18; 73:21.
4154
Commentary:
God regards monetary sacrifices, demanded of Muslims for their own progress and advancement, as a loan lent to Him which He promises to increase and return manifold. The sacrifices rendered by early Muslims in the cause of truth led to a comparatively much greater reward in the form of the conquest of the mightiest empires of the time.
d
2:246; 64:18; 73:21.
إِنَّ ٱلْمُصَّدِّقِينَ وَٱلْمُصَّدِّقَٰتِ وَأَقْرَضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا يُضَٰعَفُ لَهُمْ وَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ
2:246.
2:246.
2:246; 30:40.
Commentary:
After the appearance of a great Divine Reformer among them as promised in the preceding verse, the Muslims will be called upon to make great sacrifices, especially in money and property, as at that time the teachings of Islam wi1l need to be preached and propagated to the ends of the earth and financial help will be very much in demand.
d
2:246.
b
2:246; 30:40.
4161
Commentary:
After the appearance of a great Divine Reformer among them as promised in the preceding verse, the Muslims will be called upon to make great sacrifices, especially in money and property, as at that time the teachings of Islam wi1l need to be preached and propagated to the ends of the earth and financial help will be very much in demand.
b
2:246.
تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَتُجَٰهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِأَمْوَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
9:20, 41.
9:20, 41.
9:20, 41.
Commentary:
The reference in the verse again seems to be to the present time—the era of the Promised Messiah, in which, in the absence of religious wars, monetary sacrifice is given precedence over other forms of sacrifice. The present is the time for propagation of Islamic principles and ideals for which money, more than anything else, is urgently needed. The two verses (11, 12) equally are of general application.
a
9:20, 41.
a
9:20, 41.
4231
Commentary:
The reference in the verse again seems to be to the present time—the era of the Promised Messiah, in which, in the absence of religious wars, monetary sacrifice is given precedence over other forms of sacrifice. The present is the time for propagation of Islamic principles and ideals for which money, more than anything else, is urgently needed. The two verses (11, 12) equally are of general application.
a
9:20, 41.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَٰدُكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَٰسِرُونَ
8:29; 24:38; 64:16; 102:2.
8:29; 24:38; 64:16; 102:2.
8:29; 24:38; 64:16; 102:2.
Commentary:
The believers have been informed in this and the next verse that God demands from them the sacrifice of their wealth and offsprings in the cause of Truth, since it is sacrifice that distinguishes true believers from the hypocrites.
c
8:29; 24:38; 64:16; 102:2.
a
8:29; 24:38; 64:16; 102:2.
4251
Commentary:
The believers have been informed in this and the next verse that God demands from them the sacrifice of their wealth and offsprings in the cause of Truth, since it is sacrifice that distinguishes true believers from the hypocrites.
a
8:29; 24:38; 64:16; 102:2.
وَأَنفِقُوا۟ مِن مَّا رَزَقْنَٰكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَآ أَخَّرْتَنِىٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ
2:196; 9:34.
14:45.
Commentary:
The verse exhorts believers to make the best of their opportunities to serve the cause of truth with all the gifts that God had bestowed upon them, before death comes upon them i.e. before they lose the opportunity or the power to serve.
a
2:196; 9:34.
b
14:45.
b
2:196; 9:34.
c
14:45.
4252
Commentary:
The verse exhorts believers to make the best of their opportunities to serve the cause of truth with all the gifts that God had bestowed upon them, before death comes upon them i.e. before they lose the opportunity or the power to serve.
b
2:196; 9:34.
c
14:45.