سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 103
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ إِنَّ صَلَوٰتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿103﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it, and invoke Allâh for them. Verily! Your invocations are a source of security for them; and Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
خُذْ
khudh
Take
مِنْ
min
from
أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ
amwālihim
their wealth
صَدَقَةًۭ
ṣadaqatan
a charity
تُطَهِّرُهُمْ
tuṭahhiruhum
purifying them
وَتُزَكِّيهِم
watuzakkīhim
and cause them increase
بِهَا
bihā
by it
وَصَلِّ
waṣalli
and bless
عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ
ʿalayhim
[upon] them
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
صَلَوٰتَكَ
ṣalataka
your blessings
سَكَنٌۭ
sakanun
(are a) reassurance
لَّهُمْ ۗ
lahum
for them
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
سَمِيعٌ
samīʿun
(is) All-Hearer
عَلِيمٌ
ʿalīmun
All-Knower
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 103) ➊ {خُذْ مِنْ اَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً:} The narration of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), which was mentioned in the commentary of the previous verse, states that when the repentance of these people was accepted, they came to the service of the Prophet (peace be upon him) with their wealth, asking him to accept their charity and seek forgiveness for them. However, the Prophet (peace be upon him) refused to accept the charity, saying that Allah had not commanded him to do so. Upon this, this verse was revealed, and then he accepted their charity.
➋ In this command, along with accepting the charity of those who confessed their sins, there is also the command to collect charity from all Muslims, because Zakat is included among the five fundamental pillars of Islam. In the absence of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the charity must be given to his deputy. Some people have argued from this verse that the right to collect Zakat belonged only to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and after him, no one else has this right. Thus, after the Prophet’s demise, some people refused to give Zakat to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), but Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and all the Companions rejected their interpretation and fought them until they paid Zakat to the Caliph of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). On this occasion, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) delivered his famous statement: “By Allah! If they withhold from me even a young she-goat (anaaq)—and in another narration, a rope (iqaal) or a year’s Zakat—which they used to give to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), I will fight them for withholding it.”
➌ { تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَ تُزَكِّيْهِمْ بِهَا:} From this, the virtue of Zakat and charity is evident, as through it a person’s wealth, intention, and actions attain purification and cleanliness, and both are increased, because { ’’ زَكَا يَزْكُوْ‘‘} from which {’’ تُزَكِّيْهِمْ ‘‘ } is derived, comes in the meaning of both purification and increase. Also, one reason for calling it 'Sadaqah' (charity) is that it manifests the 'Sidq' (truthfulness) of the one who claims faith.
➍ The meaning of {وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ اِنَّ صَلٰوتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ …: ’’ صَلَاةٌ ‘‘} is prayer, mercy, and supplication as well. Here, Allah has commanded the Prophet (peace be upon him) to supplicate for forgiveness and mercy for those who present charity, as this brings peace to their hearts. Therefore, it was the practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that when anyone brought charity (obligatory Zakat or voluntary charity), he would supplicate for him, as has been mentioned earlier in the commentary of verse (99) with reference, that when Abu Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him) brought Zakat, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said [ اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰی آلِ اَبِيْ اَوْفٰی ] and included his entire family in the supplication. «{ وَ اللّٰهُ سَمِيْعٌ عَلِيْمٌ }» That is, Allah is aware of what they are saying or what is in their hearts, because He is All-Hearing and All-Knowing.
➋ In this command, along with accepting the charity of those who confessed their sins, there is also the command to collect charity from all Muslims, because Zakat is included among the five fundamental pillars of Islam. In the absence of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the charity must be given to his deputy. Some people have argued from this verse that the right to collect Zakat belonged only to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and after him, no one else has this right. Thus, after the Prophet’s demise, some people refused to give Zakat to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), but Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and all the Companions rejected their interpretation and fought them until they paid Zakat to the Caliph of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). On this occasion, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) delivered his famous statement: “By Allah! If they withhold from me even a young she-goat (anaaq)—and in another narration, a rope (iqaal) or a year’s Zakat—which they used to give to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), I will fight them for withholding it.”
➌ { تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَ تُزَكِّيْهِمْ بِهَا:} From this, the virtue of Zakat and charity is evident, as through it a person’s wealth, intention, and actions attain purification and cleanliness, and both are increased, because { ’’ زَكَا يَزْكُوْ‘‘} from which {’’ تُزَكِّيْهِمْ ‘‘ } is derived, comes in the meaning of both purification and increase. Also, one reason for calling it 'Sadaqah' (charity) is that it manifests the 'Sidq' (truthfulness) of the one who claims faith.
➍ The meaning of {وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ اِنَّ صَلٰوتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ …: ’’ صَلَاةٌ ‘‘} is prayer, mercy, and supplication as well. Here, Allah has commanded the Prophet (peace be upon him) to supplicate for forgiveness and mercy for those who present charity, as this brings peace to their hearts. Therefore, it was the practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that when anyone brought charity (obligatory Zakat or voluntary charity), he would supplicate for him, as has been mentioned earlier in the commentary of verse (99) with reference, that when Abu Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him) brought Zakat, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said [ اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰی آلِ اَبِيْ اَوْفٰی ] and included his entire family in the supplication. «{ وَ اللّٰهُ سَمِيْعٌ عَلِيْمٌ }» That is, Allah is aware of what they are saying or what is in their hearts, because He is All-Hearing and All-Knowing.
