سُوْرَةُ الْحَدِيْدِ
Surah Al-Hadid (57) — Ayah 10
وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلَّا تُنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَٰثُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ لَا يَسْتَوِى مِنكُم مَّنْ أَنفَقَ مِن قَبْلِ ٱلْفَتْحِ وَقَـٰتَلَ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنفَقُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدُ وَقَـٰتَلُوا۟ ۚ وَكُلًّا وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ﴿10﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And what is the matter with you that you spend not in the Cause of Allâh? And to Allâh belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. Not equal among you are those who spent and fought before the conquering (of Makkah, with those among you who did so later). Such are higher in degree than those who spent and fought afterwards. But to all Allâh has promised the best (reward). And Allâh is All-Aware of what you do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَا
wamā
And what
لَكُمْ
lakum
(is) for you
أَلَّا
allā
that not
تُنفِقُوا۟
tunfiqū
you spend
فِى
fī
in
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
وَلِلَّهِ
walillahi
while for Allah
مِيرَٰثُ
mīrāthu
(is the) heritage
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
(of) the heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ
wal-arḍi
and the earth
لَا
lā
Not
يَسْتَوِى
yastawī
are equal
مِنكُم
minkum
among you
مَّنْ
man
(those) who
أَنفَقَ
anfaqa
spent
مِن
min
before
قَبْلِ
qabli
before
ٱلْفَتْحِ
l-fatḥi
the victory
وَقَـٰتَلَ ۚ
waqātala
and fought
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ
ulāika
Those
أَعْظَمُ
aʿẓamu
(are) greater
دَرَجَةًۭ
darajatan
(in) degree
مِّنَ
mina
than
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
أَنفَقُوا۟
anfaqū
spent
مِنۢ
min
afterwards
بَعْدُ
baʿdu
afterwards
وَقَـٰتَلُوا۟ ۚ
waqātalū
and fought
وَكُلًّۭا
wakullan
But to all
وَعَدَ
waʿada
Allah has promised
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah has promised
ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ
l-ḥus'nā
the best
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
بِمَا
bimā
of what
تَعْمَلُونَ
taʿmalūna
you do
خَبِيرٌۭ
khabīrun
(is) All-Aware
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.
10. And what is the matter with you that you do not spend in the way of Allah, while to Allah belongs the inheritance [14] of the heavens and the earth? Not equal among you are those who spent and fought before the victory (of Makkah) [15] and those who did so afterwards. They are greater in degree . But to all Allah has promised the best. And Allah is fully aware of what you do.
[14]
The Different Aspects of Allah’s Inheritance:
That is, the wealth which is presently with you will be transferred to your heirs after your death, and this process will continue in the same way until all of it returns to Allah’s inheritance. Its second meaning could also be that when you came into this world, you came empty-handed, and when you depart from here, you will also go empty-handed—so how did this become your property? You can only benefit from it temporarily. And its third aspect is that just as this wealth has come to you today, in your lifetime it can also leave you. This wealth and riches are like a fleeting shadow—sometimes here, sometimes there. Therefore, as long as this wealth is in your possession, why not obtain true benefits from it by spending it according to the will of the real Owner?
[15] Some commentators say that these two verses were revealed after the conquest of Makkah, and according to some, at the time of the Battle of Tabuk, and were placed here due to their relevance to the subject. And by “conquest,” some scholars have taken it to mean the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, because Allah also called it a clear victory. But according to the majority, it refers to the conquest of Makkah, because only after the conquest of Makkah did Islam clearly prevail over disbelief. All the Arab tribes had their eyes fixed for a long time on the battle of Makkah, wondering whether the Quraysh of Makkah would prevail or the Muslims. And whichever side prevailed, they were waiting to support it. In this decisive battle, when Islam gained dominance, the Arab tribes began entering Islam in droves. Now it is clear that the Muslims who made financial sacrifices before the conquest of Makkah could only have done so based on their unwavering faith in the promises of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, otherwise the circumstances were not at all encouraging for them—rather, at times, they were extremely discouraging. In comparison, those who made financial sacrifices after the conquest of Makkah found the circumstances encouraging and hopeful, because they were supporting a dominant group. Then, in the form of spoils, they expected to receive much more wealth in return for what they spent, and most of the time, their expectations were fulfilled. Therefore, the reward for both cannot be the same. However, those who spent after the conquest of Makkah will also be granted a good reward by Allah. And Allah is well aware of the intention with which anyone spends. Therefore, the more sincerity of intention and strength of faith with which a person spends, Allah increases his reward accordingly.
[14]
The Different Aspects of Allah’s Inheritance:
That is, the wealth which is presently with you will be transferred to your heirs after your death, and this process will continue in the same way until all of it returns to Allah’s inheritance. Its second meaning could also be that when you came into this world, you came empty-handed, and when you depart from here, you will also go empty-handed—so how did this become your property? You can only benefit from it temporarily. And its third aspect is that just as this wealth has come to you today, in your lifetime it can also leave you. This wealth and riches are like a fleeting shadow—sometimes here, sometimes there. Therefore, as long as this wealth is in your possession, why not obtain true benefits from it by spending it according to the will of the real Owner?
[15] Some commentators say that these two verses were revealed after the conquest of Makkah, and according to some, at the time of the Battle of Tabuk, and were placed here due to their relevance to the subject. And by “conquest,” some scholars have taken it to mean the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, because Allah also called it a clear victory. But according to the majority, it refers to the conquest of Makkah, because only after the conquest of Makkah did Islam clearly prevail over disbelief. All the Arab tribes had their eyes fixed for a long time on the battle of Makkah, wondering whether the Quraysh of Makkah would prevail or the Muslims. And whichever side prevailed, they were waiting to support it. In this decisive battle, when Islam gained dominance, the Arab tribes began entering Islam in droves. Now it is clear that the Muslims who made financial sacrifices before the conquest of Makkah could only have done so based on their unwavering faith in the promises of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, otherwise the circumstances were not at all encouraging for them—rather, at times, they were extremely discouraging. In comparison, those who made financial sacrifices after the conquest of Makkah found the circumstances encouraging and hopeful, because they were supporting a dominant group. Then, in the form of spoils, they expected to receive much more wealth in return for what they spent, and most of the time, their expectations were fulfilled. Therefore, the reward for both cannot be the same. However, those who spent after the conquest of Makkah will also be granted a good reward by Allah. And Allah is well aware of the intention with which anyone spends. Therefore, the more sincerity of intention and strength of faith with which a person spends, Allah increases his reward accordingly.
