سُوْرَةُ الْمُجَادَلَةِ

Surah Al-Mujaadila (58) — Ayah 13

The Pleading Woman · Medinan · Juz 28 · Page 544

ءَأَشْفَقْتُمْ أَن تُقَدِّمُوا۟ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ نَجْوَىٰكُمْ صَدَقَـٰتٍ ۚ فَإِذْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا۟ وَتَابَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿13﴾
Are you afraid of spending in charity before your private consultation (with him)? If then you do it not, and Allâh has forgiven you, then (at least) perform Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât ) and give Zakât and obey Allâh (i.e. do all that Allâh and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم order you to do). And Allâh is All-Aware of what you do.
ءَأَشْفَقْتُمْ a-ashfaqtum Are you afraid
أَن an to
تُقَدِّمُوا۟ tuqaddimū offer
بَيْنَ bayna before
يَدَىْ yaday before
نَجْوَىٰكُمْ najwākum your private consultation
صَدَقَـٰتٍۢ ۚ ṣadaqātin charities
فَإِذْ fa-idh Then when
لَمْ lam you do not
تَفْعَلُوا۟ tafʿalū you do not
وَتَابَ watāba and Allah has forgiven
ٱللَّهُ l-lahu and Allah has forgiven
عَلَيْكُمْ ʿalaykum you
فَأَقِيمُوا۟ fa-aqīmū then establish
ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ l-ṣalata the prayer
وَءَاتُوا۟ waātū and give
ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ l-zakata the zakah
وَأَطِيعُوا۟ wa-aṭīʿū and obey
ٱللَّهَ l-laha Allah
وَرَسُولَهُۥ ۚ warasūlahu and His Messenger
وَٱللَّهُ wal-lahu And Allah
خَبِيرٌۢ khabīrun (is) All-Aware
بِمَا bimā of what
تَعْمَلُونَ taʿmalūna you do

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 13) ➊ { ءَاَشْفَقْتُمْ اَنْ تُقَدِّمُوْا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ نَجْوٰىكُمْ صَدَقٰتٍ:} This shows that after this command, the tendency to converse privately with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), which had greatly increased, came to a halt. The hypocrites refrained due to their miserliness, and the sincere Muslims, who were poor, became cautious because of their poverty.

{ فَاِذْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوْا وَ تَابَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيْكُمْ:} This indicates that after the revelation of this command, no one dared to have a confidential conversation with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), nor did anyone get the chance to give charity for this purpose. Rather, they realized that their manner regarding confidential conversation with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was not liked by Allah Almighty, so they regretted it and refrained from this behavior. {’’ وَ تَابَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيْكُمْ ‘‘} That is, Allah Almighty also showed mercy to them and abrogated the command of giving charity before private conversation with you.

{فَاَقِيْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَ اٰتُوا الزَّكٰوةَ … :} That is, when this temporary command was lifted from you, then continue to adhere to those commands which are always obligatory for you. The most important among them are prayer and zakat; along with this, remain steadfast in obeying every command of Allah and His Messenger, and always keep in mind that Allah Almighty is fully aware of your every action.

➍ Although this command was abrogated, the intended purpose was achieved: the Muslims, out of love and respect for the Prophet (peace be upon him), began to avoid lengthy private conversations with him, and the hypocrites, out of fear that if they did so, their hypocrisy would be exposed and they would be recognized.

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.

13. 1 Although this matter was recommended, it was still difficult for the Muslims, so Allah soon abrogated it.

13. 2 That is, adherence to obligations and commands will become a substitute for that charity, which Allah has excused you from due to your hardship.

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.

13. Are you afraid of offering charity before your private conversation [17]? Then when you did not do so, and Allah pardoned you, then establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. And Allah is fully aware of what you do.

[17]
The Harms of the General Permission for Private Conversation with You:

Through this command, the objectives for which it was given were achieved very quickly. This command was revealed at a time when the disbelievers throughout Arabia had become hostile towards the Muslims. If anyone would have a private conversation with you, the hypocrites would immediately spread the rumor that this person had brought news of such-and-such tribe preparing to attack Madinah. Such rumors would quickly circulate in Madinah, causing a sense of panic. The second harm was that unnecessary suspicions would arise, and the third and greatest harm was that people would waste your precious time with trivial and useless matters. Those who engaged in private conversations were mostly wealthy, influential hypocrites. After the command of giving charity, the hypocrites refrained due to their miserliness, and the Muslims became cautious as well. This command remained in effect for at most ten days, and only Sayyiduna Ali ؓ acted upon it once.

The End of the Obligation of Charity:

When the above-mentioned objectives were achieved, Allah abrogated this command. Along with this, the Muslims were instructed to be mindful of performing prayer and paying zakat in full, and to obey Allah and His Messenger sincerely, and not to do anything contrary to their will.