سُوْرَةُ التَّوْبَةِ
Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 79
ٱلَّذِينَ يَلْمِزُونَ ٱلْمُطَّوِّعِينَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِى ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ إِلَّا جُهْدَهُمْ فَيَسْخَرُونَ مِنْهُمْ ۙ سَخِرَ ٱللَّهُ مِنْهُمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿79﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Those who defame such of the believers who give charity (in Allâh’s Cause) voluntarily, and such who could not find to give charity (in Allâh’s Cause) except what is available to them - so they mock at them (believers); Allâh will throw back their mockery on them, and they shall have a painful torment.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
Those who
يَلْمِزُونَ
yalmizūna
criticize
ٱلْمُطَّوِّعِينَ
l-muṭawiʿīna
the ones who give willingly
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
l-mu'minīna
the believers
فِى
fī
concerning
ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ
l-ṣadaqāti
the charities
وَٱلَّذِينَ
wa-alladhīna
and those who
لَا
lā
not
يَجِدُونَ
yajidūna
find
إِلَّا
illā
except
جُهْدَهُمْ
juh'dahum
their effort
فَيَسْخَرُونَ
fayaskharūna
so they ridicule
مِنْهُمْ ۙ
min'hum
them
سَخِرَ
sakhira
Allah will ridicule
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah will ridicule
مِنْهُمْ
min'hum
them
وَلَهُمْ
walahum
and for them
عَذَابٌ
ʿadhābun
(is) a punishment
أَلِيمٌ
alīmun
painful
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.
(Among the hypocrites are those) who criticize the believers who give charity willingly [94], and also those (poor Muslims) who can find nothing to give except from their hard-earned labor. These hypocrites mock at them. Allah will mock them in return, and for them is a painful punishment.
[94]
Those Who Donated for the Battle of Tabuk:
At the time of the Battle of Tabuk, there was also a famine. The crops had not yet ripened. The journey was long and distant. The confrontation was with the Romans, and there was a significant shortage of weapons and mounts. Therefore, the Prophet ﷺ made a strong appeal for the jihad fund, as a result of which Sayyiduna Uthman ؓ and Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Awf ؓ participated enthusiastically and donated so much that the Prophet ﷺ became pleased. Sayyiduna Umar ؓ brought half of his household assets for the jihad fund, and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ brought all of his household assets and presented them. Every Muslim contributed to this fund according to his ability. The poor gave according to their means, and the wealthy gave according to their means and eagerness. One companion, Abu Aqil, worked as a laborer all night, for which his wage was one sa’ of dates. He took half a sa’ home and brought the other half to the Prophet ﷺ. [ بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير۔ سورة توبه زير آيت هذا]
The Prophet ﷺ was so pleased with this half sa’ that he spread those dates on top of the pile. In reality, it was not the value of the half sa’ of dates, but rather the intention, eagerness, and desire with which he, by cutting from his family’s share, presented half a sa’.
The Hypocrites’ Taunts Against the Donors:
On this occasion, the hypocrites found ample opportunity to make sarcastic remarks. If someone donated generously, they would say that all of this was for show and ostentation. And if someone gave a little, they would say, “With such a small amount, what war need can be fulfilled? These people just want to get their names written among the martyrs by smearing a little blood.” And what concern would Allah have for this? In short, no one was safe from their taunts and reproaches. This is the background of the revelation of this verse, as is made clear by the following hadith: Abu Mas’ud Ansari ؓ says, “When we were commanded to give charity, at that time we used to carry loads for wages. Abu Aqil (from such labor) brought half a sa’ of dates, so the hypocrites said, ‘What concern would Allah have for Abu Aqil’s charity?’ Another man (Abdur Rahman bin Awf ؓ) brought a large amount of wealth, so the hypocrites said, ‘He has given so much in charity for show (fame).’ At that time, this verse was revealed.” [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير۔ مسلم۔ كتاب الزكوٰة باب الحمل باجرة يتصدق بها]
[94]
Those Who Donated for the Battle of Tabuk:
At the time of the Battle of Tabuk, there was also a famine. The crops had not yet ripened. The journey was long and distant. The confrontation was with the Romans, and there was a significant shortage of weapons and mounts. Therefore, the Prophet ﷺ made a strong appeal for the jihad fund, as a result of which Sayyiduna Uthman ؓ and Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Awf ؓ participated enthusiastically and donated so much that the Prophet ﷺ became pleased. Sayyiduna Umar ؓ brought half of his household assets for the jihad fund, and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ brought all of his household assets and presented them. Every Muslim contributed to this fund according to his ability. The poor gave according to their means, and the wealthy gave according to their means and eagerness. One companion, Abu Aqil, worked as a laborer all night, for which his wage was one sa’ of dates. He took half a sa’ home and brought the other half to the Prophet ﷺ. [ بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير۔ سورة توبه زير آيت هذا]
The Prophet ﷺ was so pleased with this half sa’ that he spread those dates on top of the pile. In reality, it was not the value of the half sa’ of dates, but rather the intention, eagerness, and desire with which he, by cutting from his family’s share, presented half a sa’.
The Hypocrites’ Taunts Against the Donors:
On this occasion, the hypocrites found ample opportunity to make sarcastic remarks. If someone donated generously, they would say that all of this was for show and ostentation. And if someone gave a little, they would say, “With such a small amount, what war need can be fulfilled? These people just want to get their names written among the martyrs by smearing a little blood.” And what concern would Allah have for this? In short, no one was safe from their taunts and reproaches. This is the background of the revelation of this verse, as is made clear by the following hadith: Abu Mas’ud Ansari ؓ says, “When we were commanded to give charity, at that time we used to carry loads for wages. Abu Aqil (from such labor) brought half a sa’ of dates, so the hypocrites said, ‘What concern would Allah have for Abu Aqil’s charity?’ Another man (Abdur Rahman bin Awf ؓ) brought a large amount of wealth, so the hypocrites said, ‘He has given so much in charity for show (fame).’ At that time, this verse was revealed.” [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير۔ مسلم۔ كتاب الزكوٰة باب الحمل باجرة يتصدق بها]
