سُوْرَةُ الْاَحْزَابِ
Surah Al-Ahzaab (33) — Ayah 19
أَشِحَّةً عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ ٱلْخَوْفُ رَأَيْتَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَيْكَ تَدُورُ أَعْيُنُهُمْ كَٱلَّذِى يُغْشَىٰ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۖ فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ ٱلْخَوْفُ سَلَقُوكُم بِأَلْسِنَةٍ حِدَادٍ أَشِحَّةً عَلَى ٱلْخَيْرِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ فَأَحْبَطَ ٱللَّهُ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرًا ﴿19﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Being miserly towards you (as regards help and aid in Allâh’s Cause). Then when fear comes, you will see them looking to you, their eyes revolving like (those of) one over whom hovers death; but when the fear departs, they will smite you with sharp tongues, miserly towards (spending anything in any) good (and only covetous of booty and wealth). Such have not believed. Therefore Allâh makes their deeds fruitless and that is ever easy for Allâh.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَشِحَّةً
ashiḥḥatan
Miserly
عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ
ʿalaykum
towards you
فَإِذَا
fa-idhā
But when
جَآءَ
jāa
comes
ٱلْخَوْفُ
l-khawfu
the fear
رَأَيْتَهُمْ
ra-aytahum
you see them
يَنظُرُونَ
yanẓurūna
looking
إِلَيْكَ
ilayka
at you
تَدُورُ
tadūru
revolving
أَعْيُنُهُمْ
aʿyunuhum
their eyes
كَٱلَّذِى
ka-alladhī
like one who
يُغْشَىٰ
yugh'shā
faints
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
faints
مِنَ
mina
from
ٱلْمَوْتِ ۖ
l-mawti
[the] death
فَإِذَا
fa-idhā
But when
ذَهَبَ
dhahaba
departs
ٱلْخَوْفُ
l-khawfu
the fear
سَلَقُوكُم
salaqūkum
they smite you
بِأَلْسِنَةٍ
bi-alsinatin
with tongues
حِدَادٍ
ḥidādin
sharp
أَشِحَّةً
ashiḥḥatan
miserly
عَلَى
ʿalā
towards
ٱلْخَيْرِ ۚ
l-khayri
the good
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ
ulāika
Those
لَمْ
lam
not
يُؤْمِنُوا۟
yu'minū
they have believed
فَأَحْبَطَ
fa-aḥbaṭa
so Allah made worthless
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
so Allah made worthless
أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ ۚ
aʿmālahum
their deeds
وَكَانَ
wakāna
And is
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
عَلَى
ʿalā
for
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
يَسِيرًۭا
yasīran
easy
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
They are extremely stingy in helping you. Then, when danger comes, you see them looking at you with their eyes rolling (in fear) as if death has overtaken them. But when the danger is over, they lash you with sharp tongues in their greed for the spoils of war [25]. Such people have not truly believed, so Allah will render their deeds void [26], and that is very easy [27] for Allah.
[24]
The Scene of the Cowardice of the Hypocrites:
Their cowardice is such that if they even hear talk of danger or an enemy attack, they begin to faint as if death has already overtaken them. If this is their condition, how can they possibly support the Muslims?
[25] ﴿أشحّة﴾ (root ش ح ح) "Shaheeh" refers to a person who is extremely greedy in accumulating wealth but extremely stingy in spending it. That is, when it comes to supporting you in battle, they act with extreme miserliness. But when the battle is over, the field is in the hands of the Muslims, and it is time to distribute the spoils of war, then these people are desperate for the wealth and want all of it to come into their hands. Then they begin to display all sorts of loyalties and sympathies to prove their entitlement to the spoils of war.
[26] That is, their hearts conceal nothing but disbelief, and for the reward of deeds in the Hereafter, faith is the first condition, which they do not possess at all. Therefore, all their deeds will be wasted, and for their evil deeds, they will certainly be held accountable, and their greatest evil deed is hypocrisy.
[27] That is, these people have no argument to prove the reward of their deeds, nor do they have any power or strength that would make it difficult or noteworthy for Allah to render their deeds void.
[24]
The Scene of the Cowardice of the Hypocrites:
Their cowardice is such that if they even hear talk of danger or an enemy attack, they begin to faint as if death has already overtaken them. If this is their condition, how can they possibly support the Muslims?
[25] ﴿أشحّة﴾ (root ش ح ح) "Shaheeh" refers to a person who is extremely greedy in accumulating wealth but extremely stingy in spending it. That is, when it comes to supporting you in battle, they act with extreme miserliness. But when the battle is over, the field is in the hands of the Muslims, and it is time to distribute the spoils of war, then these people are desperate for the wealth and want all of it to come into their hands. Then they begin to display all sorts of loyalties and sympathies to prove their entitlement to the spoils of war.
[26] That is, their hearts conceal nothing but disbelief, and for the reward of deeds in the Hereafter, faith is the first condition, which they do not possess at all. Therefore, all their deeds will be wasted, and for their evil deeds, they will certainly be held accountable, and their greatest evil deed is hypocrisy.
[27] That is, these people have no argument to prove the reward of their deeds, nor do they have any power or strength that would make it difficult or noteworthy for Allah to render their deeds void.
