سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 180
وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ هُوَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم ۖ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمْ ۖ سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَٰثُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ﴿180﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And let not those who covetously withhold of that which Allâh has bestowed on them of His Bounty (Wealth) think that it is good for them (and so they do not pay the obligatory Zakât ). Nay, it will be worse for them; the things which they covetously withheld shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection. And to Allâh belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth; and Allâh is Well-Acquainted with all that you do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَا
walā
And (let) not
يَحْسَبَنَّ
yaḥsabanna
think
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
يَبْخَلُونَ
yabkhalūna
withhold
بِمَآ
bimā
of what
ءَاتَىٰهُمُ
ātāhumu
(has) given them
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
مِن
min
of
فَضْلِهِۦ
faḍlihi
His Bounty
هُوَ
huwa
(that) it
خَيْرًۭا
khayran
(is) good
لَّهُم ۖ
lahum
for them
بَلْ
bal
Nay
هُوَ
huwa
it
شَرٌّۭ
sharrun
(is) bad
لَّهُمْ ۖ
lahum
for them
سَيُطَوَّقُونَ
sayuṭawwaqūna
Their necks will be encircled
مَا
mā
(with) what
بَخِلُوا۟
bakhilū
they withheld
بِهِۦ
bihi
[with it]
يَوْمَ
yawma
(on the) Day
ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ
l-qiyāmati
(of) [the] Resurrection
وَلِلَّهِ
walillahi
And for Allah
مِيرَٰثُ
mīrāthu
(is the) heritage
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
(of) the heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ
wal-arḍi
and the earth
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
بِمَا
bimā
with what
تَعْمَلُونَ
taʿmalūna
you do
خَبِيرٌۭ
khabīrun
(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 180) ➊ {وَ لَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِيْنَ يَبْخَلُوْنَ …:} Above, in the context of encouraging jihad, emphasis has been placed on sacrificing life, and those who flee from it to save their lives have been warned. Now here, emphasis is being placed on financial sacrifice in jihad, and miserliness is being condemned. The purpose is that just as these hypocrites love their lives, in the same way, they also love their wealth, and those who neglect to fulfill the rights of wealth, on the Day of Resurrection, this very wealth will become a calamity for them. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Whoever Allah gives some wealth to, and he does not pay its zakat, on the Day of Resurrection, his wealth will be turned into a bald snake and it will be made into a collar for his neck. It will seize him by both his jaws and say: 'I am your wealth, I am your treasure.'" Then the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, recited this verse. [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب : «ولایحسبن الذین یبخلون…» : ۴۵۶۵، عن أبی ھریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ]
➋ Miserliness is the name of not fulfilling those rights that are obligatory upon a person, such as providing for one's family, hospitality to guests, preparation for jihad, zakat, ushr, etc. Abu Bakr Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, said: [ وَ اَيُّ دَائٍ اَدْوَأُ مِنَ الْبُخْلِ ] "What disease can be greater than miserliness?" [ بخاری، المغازی، باب قصۃ عمان والبحرین : ۴۳۸۳ ]
➌ {وَ لِلّٰهِ مِيْرَاثُ … :} That is, when everything in the heavens and the earth is the inheritance and ownership of Allah alone, then why do you show miserliness in the wealth of which you have apparently been made heirs? Shah Abdul Qadir, may Allah have mercy on him, writes: "Allah is the inheritor; in the end, you will die and the wealth will become His. If you give with your own hand, you will earn reward." (Muwadhih)
➋ Miserliness is the name of not fulfilling those rights that are obligatory upon a person, such as providing for one's family, hospitality to guests, preparation for jihad, zakat, ushr, etc. Abu Bakr Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, said: [ وَ اَيُّ دَائٍ اَدْوَأُ مِنَ الْبُخْلِ ] "What disease can be greater than miserliness?" [ بخاری، المغازی، باب قصۃ عمان والبحرین : ۴۳۸۳ ]
➌ {وَ لِلّٰهِ مِيْرَاثُ … :} That is, when everything in the heavens and the earth is the inheritance and ownership of Allah alone, then why do you show miserliness in the wealth of which you have apparently been made heirs? Shah Abdul Qadir, may Allah have mercy on him, writes: "Allah is the inheritor; in the end, you will die and the wealth will become His. If you give with your own hand, you will earn reward." (Muwadhih)
