سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 92
لَن تَنَالُوا۟ ٱلْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِن شَىْءٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٌ ﴿92﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
By no means shall you attain Al-Birr (piety, righteousness - here it means Allâh’s Reward, i.e. Paradise), unless you spend (in Allâh’s Cause) of that which you love; and whatever of good you spend, Allâh knows it well.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لَن
lan
Never
تَنَالُوا۟
tanālū
will you attain
ٱلْبِرَّ
l-bira
[the] righteousness
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
تُنفِقُوا۟
tunfiqū
you spend
مِمَّا
mimmā
from what
تُحِبُّونَ ۚ
tuḥibbūna
you love
وَمَا
wamā
And whatever
تُنفِقُوا۟
tunfiqū
you spend
مِن
min
of
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
a thing
فَإِنَّ
fa-inna
then indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
بِهِۦ
bihi
of it
عَلِيمٌۭ
ʿalīmun
(is) All-Knowing
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 92) ➊ {لَنْ تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ … :} { ”الْبِرَّ“ } "Perfect righteousness," {”مِمَّا تُحِبُّوْنَ“} (spend from that which you love) is general, meaning it includes life and wealth, children and relatives, status and honor—in short, everything. This address is to both Muslims and Jews. The relevance of addressing Muslims seems to be that in the previous verse it was stated that spending by a disbeliever will not benefit him at all, and now in this verse, the manner of spending for believers is explained, by which they will benefit in the Hereafter.
➋ {وَ مَا تُنْفِقُوْا مِنْ شَيْءٍ … :} The purpose is that whatever a person spends in the way of Allah, whether little or much, it is in the knowledge of Allah Almighty, and the person (provided he is a Muslim and spends with sincerity) will surely receive its reward. Therefore, one should not consider spending even a small thing as shameful. But to attain the perfect level in righteousness, it is necessary to spend the most beloved thing. After hearing this verse, here are one or two examples of the actions of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that when this verse was revealed, Abu Talha Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him, came to the service of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Of my property, the most beloved to me is the garden of {’’بَيْرُحَاء‘‘ } (which was right in front of the Prophet’s Mosque; the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to go there and drink its pure water), and O Messenger of Allah! Allah Almighty has said: «لَنْ تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتّٰى تُنْفِقُوْا مِمَّا تُحِبُّوْنَ » so I give it in charity in the way of Allah and hope for its reward; you may decide about it as you wish."
[ بخاری، الزکوٰۃ، باب الزکوٰۃ علی الأقارب … : ۱۴۶۱، مختصرًا ] Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "O Messenger of Allah! Of what I received from Khaybar, I have never acquired any wealth more precious than that, and I have intended to give it in charity." The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Keep the principal with you and distribute its fruits in the way of Allah." So Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, made it a waqf (endowment). [ بخاری، الشروط، باب الشروط فی الوقف : ۲۷۳۷۔ ابن ماجہ :۲۳۹۶، ۲۳۹۷ ]
➌ In the case of addressing the Jews, Shah Abdul Qadir, may Allah have mercy on him, writes: "Perhaps this verse is mentioned in the context of the Jews because their leadership was very dear to them, and in order to maintain it, they would not follow the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. So as long as they do not give that up, they will not attain the rank of faith in the way of Allah." (Mawdhih)
➍ {مِمَّا تُحِبُّوْنَ:} See the grace of Allah: He did not ask His servants for all of their beloved things, but declared spending some of it as perfect righteousness.
➋ {وَ مَا تُنْفِقُوْا مِنْ شَيْءٍ … :} The purpose is that whatever a person spends in the way of Allah, whether little or much, it is in the knowledge of Allah Almighty, and the person (provided he is a Muslim and spends with sincerity) will surely receive its reward. Therefore, one should not consider spending even a small thing as shameful. But to attain the perfect level in righteousness, it is necessary to spend the most beloved thing. After hearing this verse, here are one or two examples of the actions of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that when this verse was revealed, Abu Talha Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him, came to the service of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Of my property, the most beloved to me is the garden of {’’بَيْرُحَاء‘‘ } (which was right in front of the Prophet’s Mosque; the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to go there and drink its pure water), and O Messenger of Allah! Allah Almighty has said: «لَنْ تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتّٰى تُنْفِقُوْا مِمَّا تُحِبُّوْنَ » so I give it in charity in the way of Allah and hope for its reward; you may decide about it as you wish."
[ بخاری، الزکوٰۃ، باب الزکوٰۃ علی الأقارب … : ۱۴۶۱، مختصرًا ] Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "O Messenger of Allah! Of what I received from Khaybar, I have never acquired any wealth more precious than that, and I have intended to give it in charity." The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Keep the principal with you and distribute its fruits in the way of Allah." So Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, made it a waqf (endowment). [ بخاری، الشروط، باب الشروط فی الوقف : ۲۷۳۷۔ ابن ماجہ :۲۳۹۶، ۲۳۹۷ ]
➌ In the case of addressing the Jews, Shah Abdul Qadir, may Allah have mercy on him, writes: "Perhaps this verse is mentioned in the context of the Jews because their leadership was very dear to them, and in order to maintain it, they would not follow the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. So as long as they do not give that up, they will not attain the rank of faith in the way of Allah." (Mawdhih)
➍ {مِمَّا تُحِبُّوْنَ:} See the grace of Allah: He did not ask His servants for all of their beloved things, but declared spending some of it as perfect righteousness.
