Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 215

(Ayah 215) ➊ In the previous verses, Allah Almighty mentioned the adornment of worldly life for the disbelievers, and also stated that the cause of mutual differences among the Children of Israel was jealousy, stubbornness, and rebellion, which generally arise from wealth. Then the question of the noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, was mentioned: what should they spend (to protect themselves from this trial)? Allah Almighty also answered this and also explained where to spend, because Allah Almighty is Wise, and wisdom required that the places of spending also be mentioned. This is just like if a patient with a bilious condition (heat) asks a kind doctor whether he should drink honey, and the doctor replies: drink it, but mix it with vinegar, because vinegar will reduce its heat. The answer to their question is: "Whatever you spend out of good," meaning spend whatever you wish, but the wealth should be acquired in a lawful manner, because unlawful wealth cannot be called good. (Tantawi)

➋ Among the places to spend, the parents are mentioned first, so that some right of their giving birth and upbringing is fulfilled; then the closest relatives, so that the right of kinship and relationship is fulfilled; then the orphans, because they have been deprived of the shade of a kind father; then the needy, due to their poverty and need; then the traveler, because being far from his city, he is in a way needy. Razi said, this order among the places to spend is the correct order. Then Allah Almighty, after detailing, summarized that whatever good deed you do, surely Allah knows it well. This also includes those deeds and places which are not mentioned here, such as the beggars and the debtors, provided that the deed and the place are good, because spending in the wrong place is not a good deed. Maymun bin Mehran, after reciting this verse, used to say: these are the places for a Muslim to spend; there is no mention of drum, sarangi, wooden images, or home decoration. (Ibn Kathir)

➌ In this verse, spending other than zakat is mentioned, whether it is voluntary or sometimes obligatory, because it is not permissible to give zakat to parents. See Surah Tawbah (60).

➍ In one narration, the questioner is said to be Amr bin Jamuh, may Allah be pleased with him, but that narration is fabricated; in it, Kalbi and Abu Salih are accused of lying. (Al-Isti'ab fi Bayan al-Asbab)

215. 1. Upon the inquiry of some Companions, the primary recipients for spending wealth are being mentioned, meaning these are the most deserving of your financial support. Therefore, it is understood that this command of spending is related to voluntary charity, not to Zakat, because it is not permissible to spend Zakat funds on parents. Hazrat Maimun bin Mehran recited this verse and said that among the places to spend wealth mentioned here, there is no mention of drum, sarangi, wooden pictures, or decorative curtains hung on walls. The meaning is that spending wealth on such things is disliked and wasteful. It is unfortunate that today these wasteful and disliked expenditures have become such an essential part of our lives that we no longer see any aspect of dislike in them.

215. They ask you what they should spend. Say, "Whatever wealth you spend [274], let it be for parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, and the traveler." And whatever good you do, surely Allah knows it well.

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The Order of Spending in the Way of Allah:

Some wealthy Companions (such as Amr bin Al-Jamuh and others) asked youﷺ this question, in response to which this verse was revealed. And it is obvious that this question could only be regarding voluntary charity. There can be three questions about spending in the way of Allah: (1) How much should be spent? (2) On whom should it be spent? and (3) From which things should it be spent? Regarding obligatory charity (i.e., Zakat), the answer to the second question, which was the most important, has been given in detail by the Noble Quran itself [9: 60]. The answers to the remaining two questions are mentioned in detail in the Sunnah. Here, even in voluntary charity, the same second important question has been considered first: to whom should it be given? There is a difference between the recipients of voluntary and obligatory charity, because voluntary charity is related to individual matters, while the recipients of Zakat are related to collective matters. In any case, regarding the spending of individual and voluntary charity, it has been stated that the most deserving are the parents. After them, in order of priority, are relatives, orphans, the poor, and travelers, etc. It is also stated that whatever you spend, whether it is much or little, you should keep in mind these members of society, and you should keep in mind the same order that is being mentioned here.