Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And let not your hand be tied (like a miser) to your neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach (like a spendthrift), so that you become blameworthy and in severe poverty.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَاwalāAnd (do) not
تَجْعَلْtajʿalmake
يَدَكَyadakayour hand
مَغْلُولَةًmaghlūlatanchained
إِلَىٰilāto
عُنُقِكَʿunuqikayour neck
وَلَاwalāand not
تَبْسُطْهَاtabsuṭ'hāextend it
كُلَّkulla(to its) utmost
ٱلْبَسْطِl-basṭireach
فَتَقْعُدَfataqʿudaso that you sit
مَلُومًۭاmalūmanblameworthy
مَّحْسُورًاmaḥsūraninsolvent
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 29) {وَلَاتَجْعَلْيَدَكَمَغْلُوْلَةً … : ’’ مَغْلُوْلَةً ‘‘ ’’غُلٌّ‘‘} is derived from, which means a collar around the neck, with which the hands are also tied, as is done with criminals and prisoners. The meaning intended is miserliness and stinginess, and by {’’ الْبَسْطِ ‘‘} (to open) is meant generosity. {’’ مَحْسُوْرًا ‘‘} is one who, after becoming exhausted, is left behind from walking. That is, if you are completely miserly, you will become blameworthy in the sight of both the Creator and the creation, and if you open your hand completely and give away everything, becoming empty-handed, then along with the blame of your family and dependents, you will be left behind, exhausted, in the race of life, and it is possible that you may even have to resort to begging. The best is moderation, as He said: «وَالَّذِيْنَاِذَاۤاَنْفَقُوْالَمْيُسْرِفُوْاوَلَمْيَقْتُرُوْاوَكَانَبَيْنَذٰلِكَقَوَامًا »[ الفرقان: ۶۷ ] "And those (are the servants of the Most Merciful) who, when they spend, do not do so extravagantly nor do they withhold, and (their spending) is moderate between that." Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ خَيْرُالصَّدَقَةِمَاكَانَعَنْظَهْرِغِنًی،وَابْدَأْبِمَنْتَعُوْلُ][بخاری، الزکوٰۃ، باب لا صدقۃ إلا عن ظہر غنی : ۱۴۲۶ ] "The best charity is that after which sufficiency remains (a person does not become poor), and begin with those whom you support."
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
29. 1. In the previous verse, the etiquette of denial was mentioned; now the etiquette of spending (infaq) is being discussed, and that is that a person should not be miserly to the extent that he does not spend even on his own and his family's necessities, nor should he be extravagant to the extent that he spends recklessly without considering his means and capacity. The result of miserliness will be that a person will be deemed blameworthy and regretful, and as a result of extravagance, he will become "mahsur" (exhausted and regretful). "Mahsur" refers to an animal that has become tired from walking and is now unable to walk any further. Similarly, the one who is extravagant eventually ends up empty-handed. "Do not keep your hand tied to your neck" is an allusion to miserliness, and "nor stretch it out completely" is an allusion to extravagance. "Malooman mahsura" is an ordered distribution, meaning "maluman" is the result of miserliness and "mahsur" is the result of extravagance.
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
And do not keep your hand tied to your neck, nor stretch it out completely open, lest you become blameworthy [34] and destitute.
[34] Moderation in Spending:
"Tying your hand to your neck" is an idiom meaning to be stingy. That is, when spending, one should neither be stingy nor spend so much that nothing remains even for one's own needs and one falls into hardship. Whether this spending is for one's own needs or in the form of spending in the way of Allah. The highest level of spending in the way of Allah is "to spend everything that is surplus to one's needs" [2: 219] That is, in this divine command as well, it is said to spend the wealth that is surplus to one's needs, not all of it. And when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked which charity is best, he ﷺ replied: "Charity from a state of self-sufficiency," meaning the charity after which a person does not become needy himself or become eligible to receive charity. [بخاري] It is also mentioned in a hadith that whoever adopts moderation does not become needy.
