سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ

Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 38

The Women · Medinan · Juz 5 · Page 85

وَٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ رِئَآءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَلَا بِٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۗ وَمَن يَكُنِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ لَهُۥ قَرِينًا فَسَآءَ قَرِينًا ﴿38﴾
And (also) those who spend of their substance to be seen of men, and believe not in Allâh and the Last Day [they are the friends of Shaitân (Satan)], and whoever takes Shaitân (Satan) as an intimate; then what a dreadful intimate he has!
وَٱلَّذِينَ wa-alladhīna And those who
يُنفِقُونَ yunfiqūna spend
أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ amwālahum their wealth
رِئَآءَ riāa to be seen
ٱلنَّاسِ l-nāsi (by) the people
وَلَا walā and not
يُؤْمِنُونَ yu'minūna they believe
بِٱللَّهِ bil-lahi in Allah
وَلَا walā and not
بِٱلْيَوْمِ bil-yawmi in the Day
ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۗ l-ākhiri the Last
وَمَن waman and whoever
يَكُنِ yakuni has
ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ l-shayṭānu the Shaitaan
لَهُۥ lahu for him
قَرِينًۭا qarīnan (as) companion
فَسَآءَ fasāa then evil
قَرِينًۭا qarīnan (is he as) a companion

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.

(Verse 38) After condemning the misers, now those who spend out of show-off are being condemned and they are declared as companions of Satan. In the hadith, it is mentioned that three people will be thrown into the fire first, and they are: (1) the show-off scholar, (2) the show-off warrior, (3) and the show-off generous person. [ مسلم، الإمارۃ، باب من قاتل للریاء… : ۱۹۰۵ ] Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: "Just as being miserly in giving wealth is bad in the sight of Allah, so is giving to show off to people. What is accepted is that which is given to those rightful recipients who have already been mentioned, and then given with faith in Allah and hope for the Hereafter." (Muwaddih)

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.

38. 1. Miserliness (i.e., not spending in the way of Allah) or spending but for show, that is, for ostentation. Both of these are severely disliked by Allah, and it is enough for their regret that here in the Noble Quran, both of these actions are described as the practice of disbelievers and the habit of those who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day, and whose companion is Satan.

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.

38. And also for those [71] who spend their wealth only to be seen by people, while they neither believe in Allah nor in the Last Day. And whoever has Satan as a companion—what an evil companion he is!

[71]
The Reason for Showing Off:

This verse can also be related to the previous subject. In that case, its meaning would be that another characteristic of these arrogant and boastful people is that even if they spend, they do so only to show off to people; when it comes to spending for the pleasure of Allah, they become stingy. It can also be understood separately. In the first case, its address is general for everyone. Thus, these are two separate sins: when it comes to spending in the way of Allah, they act with miserliness, and they spend generously only when ostentation and display are the objective. The cause of both these sins is that such people either do not have faith in Allah and the Hereafter at all, or if they do, it is very weak.