Surah Al-Muminoon (23) — Ayah 60

The meaning of (Ayah 60) {وَ الَّذِيْنَ يُؤْتُوْنَ مَاۤ اٰتَوْا …: ’’ آتٰي يُؤْتِيْ إِيْتَاءً‘‘} is "to give." Generally, it refers to charity and zakat, but Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and Saeed bin Jubair (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "By this, all good deeds are meant." (Tabari) In Arabic, the word {’’إِيْتَاءٌ‘‘} (to give) is not used only in the sense of giving wealth or any material thing, but it is also used in the sense of giving intangible things. For example, to accept someone's obedience, it is said: {’’آتَيْتُهُ مِنْ نَفْسِي الْقَبُوْلَ‘‘} and for not accepting obedience, it is said: {’’آتَيْتُهُ مِنْ نَفْسِي الْإِبَاءَ۔‘‘} Ibn Atiyyah says: "This meaning is more beautiful, as if it is said: {’’وَالَّذِيْنَ يُعْطُوْنَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ فِيْ طَاعَةِ اللّٰهِ مَا بَلَغَهُ جُهْدُهُمْ‘‘}" meaning, they present everything in their power from themselves in obedience to Allah. The point is that while performing every good deed, instead of becoming self-conceited, they are extremely fearful that they have to return to their Lord; who knows whether their deed will be accepted in His presence or not, and who knows what the state of their faith and deeds will be at the time of returning to their Lord, because everything depends on the end. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that I asked: [ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ! «{ وَ الَّذِيْنَ يُؤْتُوْنَ مَاۤ اٰتَوْا وَّ قُلُوْبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ }» المؤمنون : ۶۰ أَ هُوَ الَّذِيْ يَزْنِيْ وَ يَسْرِقُ وَ يَشْرَبُ الْخَمْرَ؟ قَالَ لَا، يَا بِنْتَ أَبِيْ بَكْرٍ ! أَوْ يَا بِنْتَ الصِّدِّيْقِ! وَلٰكِنَّهُ الرَّجُلُ يَصُوْمُ وَ يَتَصَدَّقُ وَ يُصَلِّيْ، وَ هُوَ يَخَافُ أَنْ لَا يُتَقَبَّلَ مِنْهُ ] [ ابن ماجہ، الزھد، باب التوقي علی العمل : ۴۱۹۸۔ ترمذي:۳۱۷۵۔ سلسلۃ الأحادیث الصحیحۃ:۱۶۲] "O Messenger of Allah! (Allah says): «{ وَ الَّذِيْنَ يُؤْتُوْنَ مَاۤ اٰتَوْا وَّ قُلُوْبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ }» Is this referring to the person who steals, commits adultery, and drinks alcohol?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No! O daughter of Abu Bakr! Rather, these are the people who pray, fast, and give charity, and they are fearful that it may not be accepted from them." At the end of the hadith in Tirmidhi, it is mentioned that then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited this verse: «{ اُولٰٓىِٕكَ يُسٰرِعُوْنَ فِي الْخَيْرٰتِ وَ هُمْ لَهَا سٰبِقُوْنَ }» [ المؤمنون : ۶۱ ] "These (the ones with the aforementioned qualities) are the ones who hasten to good deeds, and they are the foremost in them." From this hadith, it is also understood that by {’’ يُؤْتُوْنَ مَاۤ اٰتَوْا ‘‘} is meant not only charity and zakat, but all deeds.