سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 161
وَمَا كَانَ لِنَبِىٍّ أَن يَغُلَّ ۚ وَمَن يَغْلُلْ يَأْتِ بِمَا غَلَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۚ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ ﴿161﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
It is not for any Prophet to take illegally a part of booty (Ghulul ), and whosoever deceives his companions as regards the booty, he shall bring forth on the Day of Resurrection that which he took (illegally). Then every person shall be paid in full what he has earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَا
wamā
And not
كَانَ
kāna
is
لِنَبِىٍّ
linabiyyin
for a Prophet
أَن
an
that
يَغُلَّ ۚ
yaghulla
he defrauds
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
يَغْلُلْ
yaghlul
defrauds
يَأْتِ
yati
will bring
بِمَا
bimā
what
غَلَّ
ghalla
he had defrauded
يَوْمَ
yawma
(on the) Day
ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۚ
l-qiyāmati
(of) Resurrection
ثُمَّ
thumma
Then
تُوَفَّىٰ
tuwaffā
is repaid in full
كُلُّ
kullu
every
نَفْسٍۢ
nafsin
soul
مَّا
mā
what
كَسَبَتْ
kasabat
it earned
وَهُمْ
wahum
and they
لَا
lā
(will) not
يُظْلَمُونَ
yuẓ'lamūna
be wronged
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.
(Ayah161) ➊ {وَ مَا كَانَ لِنَبِيٍّ اَنْ يَّغُلَّ …:} In the previous verses, there is encouragement for jihad, and in this verse, the rulings of jihad are mentioned.
➋ During the Battle of Uhud, those who left their posts and rushed to collect the spoils of war thought that if they did not reach there, all the spoils would be gathered and taken away by others. They are being warned here: how did you assume that your share from this wealth would not be given to you? Do you not have trust in the trustworthiness of the Prophet (peace be upon him)? Remember! It is not possible for any kind of dishonesty to be committed by a Prophet, because dishonesty is contrary to prophethood. It is understood that the meaning of ghulul (dishonesty) also includes "injustice in distribution," and it is also ghulul if someone takes anything from the spoils of war before distribution without permission.
Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: "Acts of greed cannot even be committed by the lowest of Prophets (let alone the Chief of the Prophets)." (Mawdhih)
➋ During the Battle of Uhud, those who left their posts and rushed to collect the spoils of war thought that if they did not reach there, all the spoils would be gathered and taken away by others. They are being warned here: how did you assume that your share from this wealth would not be given to you? Do you not have trust in the trustworthiness of the Prophet (peace be upon him)? Remember! It is not possible for any kind of dishonesty to be committed by a Prophet, because dishonesty is contrary to prophethood. It is understood that the meaning of ghulul (dishonesty) also includes "injustice in distribution," and it is also ghulul if someone takes anything from the spoils of war before distribution without permission.
Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: "Acts of greed cannot even be committed by the lowest of Prophets (let alone the Chief of the Prophets)." (Mawdhih)
