سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 215
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ ۖ قُلْ مَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٌ ﴿215﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They ask you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) what they should spend. Say: Whatever you spend of good must be for parents and kindred and orphans and Al-Masâkîn (the poor) and the wayfarer, and whatever you do of good deeds, truly, Allâh knows it well.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ
yasalūnaka
They ask you
مَاذَا
mādhā
what
يُنفِقُونَ ۖ
yunfiqūna
they (should) spend
قُلْ
qul
Say
مَآ
mā
Whatever
أَنفَقْتُم
anfaqtum
you spend
مِّنْ
min
of
خَيْرٍۢ
khayrin
good
فَلِلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ
falil'wālidayni
(is) for parents
وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ
wal-aqrabīna
and the relatives
وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ
wal-yatāmā
and the orphans
وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ
wal-masākīni
and the needy
وَٱبْنِ
wa-ib'ni
and (of)
ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۗ
l-sabīli
the wayfarer
وَمَا
wamā
And whatever
تَفْعَلُوا۟
tafʿalū
you do
مِنْ
min
of
خَيْرٍۢ
khayrin
good
فَإِنَّ
fa-inna
So indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
بِهِۦ
bihi
of it
عَلِيمٌۭ
ʿalīmun
(is) All-Aware
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 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)
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)
