سُوْرَةُ الضُّحٰي
Surah Ad-Dhuhaa (93) — Ayah 10
وَأَمَّا ٱلسَّآئِلَ فَلَا تَنْهَرْ ﴿10﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And repulse not the beggar.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَأَمَّا
wa-ammā
And as for
ٱلسَّآئِلَ
l-sāila
one who asks
فَلَا
falā
then (do) not
تَنْهَرْ
tanhar
repel
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.
And do not scold the beggar [9].
[9]
Kind Treatment Towards the One Who Asks:
The meaning of "sa'il" is both someone who asks for something and someone who inquires about something. According to the first meaning, it means that if someone comes to you asking for something, you should definitely give him something, and if you have nothing to give, then excuse yourself gently. That is, it is not permissible to rebuke the one who asks. As is clear from the following hadiths:
1. Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash'ari ؓ says that when a beggar would come to the Prophet ﷺ or someone would state his need, the Prophet ﷺ would say to the companions that you too should intercede. You will receive a reward, and Allah Almighty will decree whatever He wills through the tongue of His Prophet. [بخاری۔ کتاب الزکوۃ۔ باب التحریض علی الصدقۃ والشفاعۃ فیھا]
2. Abdur Rahman bin Bujayd narrates from his grandmother that she asked the Prophet ﷺ, "Sometimes a beggar stands at my door and I have nothing to give him, so what should I do?" The Prophet ﷺ said: "If you find nothing to give the poor person except a burnt hoof of a goat, then put that in his hand." [ترمذی۔ ابواب الزکوٰۃ، باب ماجاء فی حق السائل]
3. Once the Prophet ﷺ said: "Shall I not tell you about the worst person?" The companions said: "Yes, please tell us." He said: "The person from whom something is asked in the name of Allah and he gives nothing." [نسائي۔ كتاب الزكٰوة، عمن يسئل باللٰه عزوجل ولا يعطي به]
There is No Harm in Rebuking a Habitual Beggar:
However, if the one who asks is a habitual beggar and clings persistently in his asking, then there is no harm in rebuking him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, even in the case of such beggars, would give them something in light of this verse. But giving to them was very unpleasant for him. As is clear from the following hadiths:
1. Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah says that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Do not cling to me in your asking. Whoever among you asks me for something, I give him something, even though I dislike it. In this way, there is no blessing left in what I give him." [مسلم، كتاب الزكوٰة باب النهي عن المسئلة]
2. Sayyiduna Umar says that once the Messenger of Allah ﷺ distributed some charity, so I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! By Allah, there were others more deserving of this." In response, the Prophet ﷺ said: "These people have forced me into one of two things: either they ask me shamelessly and persistently, or I appear miserly before them, and I am not one who is miserly." [مسلم، کتاب الزکوۃ۔ باب اعطاء المؤلفۃ۔۔]
From such hadiths, the scholars have deduced that there is no harm in rebuking those who are not deserving, habitual, and cling persistently in their asking. And if the meaning of "sa'il" is taken as someone who asks a question or inquires about an issue, then there are two situations. One is that the questioner is an uncivilized, rude person. Such a person should not be rebuked; rather, his lack of knowledge should be attributed to ignorance, and the issue should be explained to him fully and clearly. The second situation is that the knowledgeable person himself is arrogant and proud of his knowledge, considers himself to be something great, and due to his bad temperament, does not like to answer or explain to common people when they ask a question, and rebukes them. This is a grave sin, and it is this that is forbidden in this verse.
[9]
Kind Treatment Towards the One Who Asks:
The meaning of "sa'il" is both someone who asks for something and someone who inquires about something. According to the first meaning, it means that if someone comes to you asking for something, you should definitely give him something, and if you have nothing to give, then excuse yourself gently. That is, it is not permissible to rebuke the one who asks. As is clear from the following hadiths:
1. Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash'ari ؓ says that when a beggar would come to the Prophet ﷺ or someone would state his need, the Prophet ﷺ would say to the companions that you too should intercede. You will receive a reward, and Allah Almighty will decree whatever He wills through the tongue of His Prophet. [بخاری۔ کتاب الزکوۃ۔ باب التحریض علی الصدقۃ والشفاعۃ فیھا]
2. Abdur Rahman bin Bujayd narrates from his grandmother that she asked the Prophet ﷺ, "Sometimes a beggar stands at my door and I have nothing to give him, so what should I do?" The Prophet ﷺ said: "If you find nothing to give the poor person except a burnt hoof of a goat, then put that in his hand." [ترمذی۔ ابواب الزکوٰۃ، باب ماجاء فی حق السائل]
3. Once the Prophet ﷺ said: "Shall I not tell you about the worst person?" The companions said: "Yes, please tell us." He said: "The person from whom something is asked in the name of Allah and he gives nothing." [نسائي۔ كتاب الزكٰوة، عمن يسئل باللٰه عزوجل ولا يعطي به]
There is No Harm in Rebuking a Habitual Beggar:
However, if the one who asks is a habitual beggar and clings persistently in his asking, then there is no harm in rebuking him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, even in the case of such beggars, would give them something in light of this verse. But giving to them was very unpleasant for him. As is clear from the following hadiths:
1. Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah says that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Do not cling to me in your asking. Whoever among you asks me for something, I give him something, even though I dislike it. In this way, there is no blessing left in what I give him." [مسلم، كتاب الزكوٰة باب النهي عن المسئلة]
2. Sayyiduna Umar says that once the Messenger of Allah ﷺ distributed some charity, so I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! By Allah, there were others more deserving of this." In response, the Prophet ﷺ said: "These people have forced me into one of two things: either they ask me shamelessly and persistently, or I appear miserly before them, and I am not one who is miserly." [مسلم، کتاب الزکوۃ۔ باب اعطاء المؤلفۃ۔۔]
From such hadiths, the scholars have deduced that there is no harm in rebuking those who are not deserving, habitual, and cling persistently in their asking. And if the meaning of "sa'il" is taken as someone who asks a question or inquires about an issue, then there are two situations. One is that the questioner is an uncivilized, rude person. Such a person should not be rebuked; rather, his lack of knowledge should be attributed to ignorance, and the issue should be explained to him fully and clearly. The second situation is that the knowledgeable person himself is arrogant and proud of his knowledge, considers himself to be something great, and due to his bad temperament, does not like to answer or explain to common people when they ask a question, and rebukes them. This is a grave sin, and it is this that is forbidden in this verse.
