سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 121
وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ نَفَقَةً صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً وَلَا يَقْطَعُونَ وَادِيًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُمْ لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿121﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Nor do they spend anything (in Allâh’s Cause) - small or great - nor cross a valley, but is written to their credit that Allâh may recompense them with the best of what they used to do (i.e. Allâh will reward their good deeds according to the reward of their best deeds which they did in the most perfect manner).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَا
walā
And not
يُنفِقُونَ
yunfiqūna
they spend
نَفَقَةًۭ
nafaqatan
any spending
صَغِيرَةًۭ
ṣaghīratan
small
وَلَا
walā
and not
كَبِيرَةًۭ
kabīratan
big
وَلَا
walā
and not
يَقْطَعُونَ
yaqṭaʿūna
they cross
وَادِيًا
wādiyan
a valley
إِلَّا
illā
but
كُتِبَ
kutiba
is recorded
لَهُمْ
lahum
for them
لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ
liyajziyahumu
that Allah may reward them
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
that Allah may reward them
أَحْسَنَ
aḥsana
the best
مَا
mā
(of) what
كَانُوا۟
kānū
they used (to)
يَعْمَلُونَ
yaʿmalūna
do
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 121) ➊ {وَ لَا يُنْفِقُوْنَ نَفَقَةً صَغِيْرَةً … :} In the previous verse, there are also those actions in jihad that are within a person's control and those that occur without choice, such as difficulties and hardships. In this verse, only those actions are mentioned that are within a person's control, but are the foundation of striving in the way of Allah, that is, spending on travel provisions, mounts, and weapons as available, then setting out on the journey of jihad, and traversing jungles and valleys—everything is recorded.
➋ In this battle, Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) contributed the most in preparing the army, that is, “major expenditure” (nfaqah kabirah), and he mentioned this to the companions when the rebels besieged him, saying: Do you know that I prepared the provisions for the {’’جَيْشُ الْعُسْرَةِ‘‘} (the army at the time of hardship)? All the companions acknowledged this. [ ترمذی، المناقب، باب فی عد عثمان تسمیتہ شہیدا… : ۳۶۹۹، وحسنہ الألبانی ] The details are that Abdur Rahman bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Uthman bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) brought one thousand dinars in his sleeve, and when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was preparing the {’’جَيْشُ الْعُسْرَةِ‘‘}, he placed them in the Prophet’s lap. Abdur Rahman bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: Then I saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) turning them over in his lap and saying: “After today, whatever Uthman does will not harm him.” He said this twice. [ترمذی، المناقب، باب فی عد عثمان تسمیتہ شہیدا… : ۳۷۰۰، ۳۷۰۱، و حسنہ الألبانی] And those who spent little (nfaqah saghirah) were also there, who worked all night and brought half a sa’ (1 kg) of dates. See the commentary of Surah Tawbah, verse (79).
➌ {وَ لَا يَقْطَعُوْنَ وَادِيًا اِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُمْ:} The plain between mountains and the passage of water is called a valley, meaning that every valley they cross is recorded in their book of deeds.
➍ { لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللّٰهُ اَحْسَنَ … :} All this is recorded so that Allah Almighty may grant them the best possible reward for any deed.
➋ In this battle, Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) contributed the most in preparing the army, that is, “major expenditure” (nfaqah kabirah), and he mentioned this to the companions when the rebels besieged him, saying: Do you know that I prepared the provisions for the {’’جَيْشُ الْعُسْرَةِ‘‘} (the army at the time of hardship)? All the companions acknowledged this. [ ترمذی، المناقب، باب فی عد عثمان تسمیتہ شہیدا… : ۳۶۹۹، وحسنہ الألبانی ] The details are that Abdur Rahman bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Uthman bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) brought one thousand dinars in his sleeve, and when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was preparing the {’’جَيْشُ الْعُسْرَةِ‘‘}, he placed them in the Prophet’s lap. Abdur Rahman bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: Then I saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) turning them over in his lap and saying: “After today, whatever Uthman does will not harm him.” He said this twice. [ترمذی، المناقب، باب فی عد عثمان تسمیتہ شہیدا… : ۳۷۰۰، ۳۷۰۱، و حسنہ الألبانی] And those who spent little (nfaqah saghirah) were also there, who worked all night and brought half a sa’ (1 kg) of dates. See the commentary of Surah Tawbah, verse (79).
➌ {وَ لَا يَقْطَعُوْنَ وَادِيًا اِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُمْ:} The plain between mountains and the passage of water is called a valley, meaning that every valley they cross is recorded in their book of deeds.
➍ { لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللّٰهُ اَحْسَنَ … :} All this is recorded so that Allah Almighty may grant them the best possible reward for any deed.
