Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to hinder (men) from the Path of Allâh, and so will they continue to spend it; but in the end it will become an anguish for them. Then they will be overcome. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto Hell.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّinnaIndeed
ٱلَّذِينَalladhīnathose who
كَفَرُوا۟kafarūdisbelieve
يُنفِقُونَyunfiqūnathey spend
أَمْوَٰلَهُمْamwālahumtheir wealth
لِيَصُدُّوا۟liyaṣuddūto hinder (people)
عَنʿanfrom
سَبِيلِsabīli(the) way
ٱللَّهِ ۚl-lahi(of) Allah
فَسَيُنفِقُونَهَاfasayunfiqūnahāSo they will spend it
ثُمَّthummathen
تَكُونُtakūnuit will be
عَلَيْهِمْʿalayhimfor them
حَسْرَةًۭḥasratana regret
ثُمَّthummathen
يُغْلَبُونَ ۗyugh'labūnathey will be overcome
وَٱلَّذِينَwa-alladhīnaAnd those who
كَفَرُوٓا۟kafarūdisbelieve
إِلَىٰilāto
جَهَنَّمَjahannamaHell
يُحْشَرُونَyuḥ'sharūnathey will be gathered
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 36) {اِنَّالَّذِيْنَكَفَرُوْايُنْفِقُوْنَاَمْوَالَهُمْ … :} Here, {’’ عَنْسَبِيْلِاللّٰهِ ‘‘} refers to Islam, meaning the disbelievers, especially the people of Makkah who are being mentioned here, spend their wealth in every possible way to prevent people from Islam—by offering monetary temptations and by providing food, mounts, weapons, and men for preparation of war. Their enmity and hostility towards Islam is such that they do not hesitate to spend even their most beloved possession, wealth, to prevent it. However, Allah Almighty has already warned that whenever they take any action against the Muslims in the future, they will face the same failure and regret as they did now at Badr. Accordingly, after this, in the battles of Uhud and Khandaq as well, they had to return with failure; they could neither capture Madinah, nor obtain any spoils of war, nor enslave anyone. And in the Hereafter, the fate of these disbelievers is that they will be driven and gathered into Hell. Even later, as long as the Muslims adhered to Allah’s commands and did not show negligence in preparing for jihad, the wealth spent by the disbelievers for war against them always became a cause of regret for them, and they always remained defeated.
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.
36. 1. When the Quraysh of Makkah were defeated at Badr and their defeated companions returned to Makkah, and on the other side, Abu Sufyan also arrived there with his trade caravan, then some people whose fathers, sons, or brothers had been killed in this battle went to Abu Sufyan and those who had a share in the trade goods, and requested them to use this wealth to take revenge against the Muslims. The Muslims have caused us great harm, so it is necessary to wage a retaliatory war against them. Allah Almighty stated in this verse regarding these people or those who adopt such behavior, that indeed these people may spend their wealth to prevent people from the path of Allah, but nothing will come to them except regret and defeat, and in the Hereafter their abode will be Hell.
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.
36. Indeed, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to hinder others from the way of Allah. They will continue to spend it, but it will become a source of regret for them. Then they will be overcome, and those who disbelieve will be gathered to Hell. [37]
[37] The Disbelievers' Regret Over Financial and Physical Loss:
During the Battle of Badr, the daily food expense for the army of one thousand disbelievers was ten camels. And this was only the expense for meat; all other expenses were in addition to this. Furthermore, the entire profit from Abu Sufyan's trade caravan was used against the Muslims. In short, in this verse, which was revealed after the Battle of Badr, a prophecy was made regarding the disbelievers that proved to be true word for word in later times. That is, even after the Battle of Badr, the disbelievers would continue to spend and would continue to be defeated and beaten, and a time would come when the wealth they spent, the time they spent, their physical efforts, and the loss of their lives in the path of enmity towards Islam would each become a cause of regret for them. Then, in addition to being beaten in this world, there will be the punishment of Hell in the Hereafter.
