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 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.
121. And whatever they (the fighters) spend, whether little or much [138], or whatever valley they cross, it is all recorded in their favor, so that Allah may reward them with the best of what they used to do.
[138] In the first verse, the recording of righteous deeds in return for every voluntary and involuntary action was mentioned. In this verse, specifically those deeds are mentioned which can only be voluntary and are the foundation of striving in the way of Allah. That is, whatever is possible, they spend on provisions for the journey, mounts, and weapons. Then they actually set out on the journey of jihad. Allah will surely grant them a better reward for these deeds, meaning these actions are of a higher rank among righteous deeds. And its second meaning could also be that whatever the best possible reward for these deeds is, Allah will grant them that.
[138] In the first verse, the recording of righteous deeds in return for every voluntary and involuntary action was mentioned. In this verse, specifically those deeds are mentioned which can only be voluntary and are the foundation of striving in the way of Allah. That is, whatever is possible, they spend on provisions for the journey, mounts, and weapons. Then they actually set out on the journey of jihad. Allah will surely grant them a better reward for these deeds, meaning these actions are of a higher rank among righteous deeds. And its second meaning could also be that whatever the best possible reward for these deeds is, Allah will grant them that.
