Surah At-Taghaabun (64) — Ayah 16

(Ayah 16) ➊ { فَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ …:} To protect oneself from the trial of wealth and children, several things have been emphasized, among which the first is to fear Allah as much as possible, then listening and obeying, and finally, to spend that wealth which becomes a trial and to avoid miserliness in it.

➋ { مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ:} From this, it is understood that it is obligatory for a person to act upon Allah’s commands only as much as he is able. Allah Almighty said: « لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللّٰهُ نَفْسًا اِلَّا وُسْعَهَا » [ البقرۃ : ۲۸۶ ] “Allah does not burden any soul beyond its capacity.” Where a person becomes helpless, there is no accountability. (See Baqarah: 173; An’am: 119; Nahl: 106) Accountability is only in the case when a person does not obey Allah despite having the ability. As for the matter that a person makes an excuse and assumes that a certain act is beyond his ability, while it is actually within his capacity, then he will certainly be held accountable for it, because Allah Almighty knows everything.

➌ { وَ اسْمَعُوْا وَ اَطِيْعُوْا:} That is, listen to the commands of Allah and His Messenger and obey them. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to take the pledge of listening and obeying from the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). The words of the hadith regarding the pledge of ‘Ubadah bin Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) are: [ بَايَعْنَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلی السَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ فِي الْمَنْشَطِ وَالْمَكْرَهِ ] [ بخاري، الأحکام، باب کیف یبایع الإمام الناس ؟ : ۷۱۹۹ ] “We pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to listen and obey in both ease and hardship.”

➍ {وَ اَنْفِقُوْا خَيْرًا لِّاَنْفُسِكُمْ: ’’ خَيْرًا ‘‘ ’’يَكُنْ‘‘} is in the accusative because it is the predicate of an implied verb 'yakun', which is the answer to {’’ اَنْفِقُوْا ‘‘} here. That is, spend; it will be better for you. This is the antidote to the trial of wealth: that it should be spent as much as possible and not hoarded. Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was in the shade of the Ka‘bah and he was saying: [ هُمُ الْأَخْسَرُوْنَ وَ رَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ، هُمُ الْأَخْسَرُوْنَ وَ رَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ ] “They are the greatest losers, by the Lord of the Ka‘bah! They are the greatest losers, by the Lord of the Ka‘bah!” I said: “What is my case? Do you see anything (of loss) in me? What is my case?” Anyway, I sat down near you and you kept saying this. I could not remain silent; what Allah willed (i.e., restlessness and anxiety) overcame me, so I asked: “Who are they, O Messenger of Allah! May my parents be sacrificed for you?” He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [هُمُ الْأَكْثَرُوْنَ أَمْوَالًا إِلَّا مَنْ قَالَ هٰكَذَا وَهٰكَذَا وَهٰكَذَا ] [ بخاري، الأیمان والنذور، باب کیف کانت یمین النبي صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ؟ : ۶۶۳۸۔ مسلم : ۹۹۰ ] “Those who have much wealth, except the one who spends it like this and like this and like this (generously).”

➎ { ’’ اَنْفِقُوْا ‘‘} The place to spend (the wealth) has not been specified, so that it remains general and there is emphasis on spending in every obligatory and voluntary way. This includes spending on oneself, on family and dependents, and on those whose care is one’s responsibility. It also includes other places of need, and the eight categories of charity mentioned in Surah Tawbah, Ayah (60) {’’ اِنَّمَا الصَّدَقٰتُ لِلْفُقَرَآءِ …‘‘}, and especially those who are devoted to striving in the way of Allah. See the commentary of Surah Baqarah (2:273).

➏ {وَ مَنْ يُّوْقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهٖ … :} For its details, see the commentary of Surah Hashr, Ayah (9). The emphasis on avoiding “shuh” (miserliness) shows that spending on family and dependents is also included in the matter of giving a goodly loan to Allah.

16. 1. That is, listen to the words of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ with attention and reflection, and act upon them. Because merely listening is useless until there is action.

So fear Allah as much as you are able [24], and listen and obey, and spend (in charity); that is better for yourselves. And whoever is saved from the greed [25] of his own soul—such are the successful.

[24]
Accountability Will Only Be to the Extent of Human Ability:

From this sentence, it is understood that a person is only responsible for avoiding sins and fulfilling commands to the extent of his ability. The same subject is expressed in Surah Al-Baqarah as follows: ﴿لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللّٰهُ نَفْسًا اِلَّا وُسْعَهَا﴾ [282:2] That is, in situations where a person is compelled, there is no accountability upon him. Accountability is only in the case where, despite having the ability, a person does not obey Allah. As for the matter of a person making an incorrect judgment about himself—for example, he assumes that a certain command is beyond his ability, whereas it is actually within his capacity—then he will certainly be held accountable for such a thing, because Allah has knowledge of everything.
[25] For its explanation, see the footnote of Surah Al-Hashr, verse 9.