Verse 2:216 | inQuran

English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ^ra

They ask thee what they shall spend. Say: ‘Whatever of good and abundant wealth you spend should be for parents and near relatives and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer. And whatever good you do, surely Allah knows it well.’

English - Five Volume Translation

They ask thee what they shall spend. Say: [a]‘Whatever of good and abundant wealth you spend should be for parents and near relatives and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer. And whatever good you do, surely Allah knows it well.’[222]

2:178; 4:37.

Important Words:

خیر (good and abundant wealth). See 2:181.

اقربین (near relatives) is the plural of اقرب (derived from قریب) meaning, one nearer; a near relative (Aqrab).

Commentary:

When the Companions of the Holy Prophet were told that they could not win the pleasure of God and enter Heaven unless they were made to pass through sufferings and afflictions like those that had gone before, they at once signified their readiness to part with their wealth and property in the cause of God and asked the Holy Prophet to let them know what they should spend in order to win the pleasure of God and attain spiritual progress. They did not wait for the threatened trials to actually overtake them, but were prepared to make every kind of sacrifice in advance. They simply wanted to be told what form their sacrifice should take.

In reply to their eager question, God’s reply also indicates a sort of eagerness, as if He meant to impart to the Faithful the relevant commandment in its entirety, without waiting for any further question on their part; for whereas their question related only "what" they should spend, God’s answer goes a step further, describing also "on whom" the money is to be spent. As to the question, what is to be spent should be (1) well-acquired and (2) abundant. In moments of great national need, there can be no hope of success unless people spend freely and generously. But as free and generous expenditure carries with it the danger of weak people resorting to acquiring wealth by unfair means, therefore the condition about the money being "good" has been added.

As to the other part of the anticipated question, i.e. on whom should the money be spent, the Quran says that money should be spent on parents and near relatives (lit. near ones) and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer. The five classes include all such persons as generally stand in need of help. The two first-mentioned classes include relatives, neighbours and friends who go to form the group that immediately surrounds a man and must claim his first attention, owning to personal relationship or personal contact. Then follow two classes that deserve help owing to their particular circumstance, orphans being without anyone to support them and the needy without any means of support. Lastly comes the wayfarer, whose claim consists in his being a stranger with no friend, no relative and no supporter. By pointing out these five classes as deserving of help, the Quran desires to hint that unless the entire community, including those who come to stay with them temporarily, is prepared to fight in the cause of Allah and unless the well-to-do classes help the weaker ones in their preparation for the national struggle, Muslims cannot present a united front nor can their efforts bring about the desired result. Each and every person must gird up his loins to contribute his fullest possible share, and those who cannot do so for want of means must receive help from others who can afford such help.

English - Short Commentary Translation

They ask thee what they shall spend. Say, [d]‘Whatever of good[258] and abundant wealth you spend should be for parents and near relatives and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer. And whatever good you do, surely Allah knows it perfectly well.’

اردو ترجمہ مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفة المسیح الرابعؒ

وہ تجھ سے پوچھتے ہیں کہ وہ کیا خرچ کریں۔ تُو کہہ دے کہ تم (اپنے) مال میں سے جو کچھ بھی خرچ کرنا چاہو تو والدین کی خاطر کرو اور اقرباءکی خاطر اور یتیموں کی خاطر اور مسکینوں کی خاطر اور مسافروں کی خاطر۔ اور جو نیکی بھی تم کرو تو اللہ یقیناً اس کا خوب علم رکھتا ہے۔

French

Ils te demandent ce qu’ils doivent dépenser. Dis-leur : « Tout ce que vous dépenserez de vos biens honnêtement acquis doit être pour vos parents, et votre proche famille et les orphelins et les nécessiteux et les voyageurs. Et quelque bien que vous fassiez, Allāh le sait très bien. »

German

Sie fragen dich, was sie spenden sollen. Sprich: "Was ihr spendet an gutem und reichlichem Vermögen*, das sei für Eltern und nahe Angehörige und für die Waisen und Bedürftigen und den Wanderer. Und was ihr Gutes tut, wahrlich, Allah weiß es wohl."

Chinese

他们问你他们应该花费什么。你 (回答他们) 说: [d]“凡是你们花费的好财产, (首先) 要用于父母、至亲、孤儿、贫民、旅客。无论你们做什么好事, 安拉一定是完全知道的。” [157]

Italian

Essi ti chiedono cosa offrire. Di' loro: «Ogni cosa buona ed abbondante che voi offriate sarà da voi data per i vostri genitori e per i parenti e per gli orfani e i bisognosi e i viandanti. E ogni opera buona voi facciate, Allah sicuramente lo sa bene.»

Spanish

Te preguntan acerca de qué deben gastar. Diles: “Cualquier riqueza buena y abundante que empleéis debe ser para los padres y los parientes cercanos, para los huérfanos, los necesitados y el viajero. Y cualquier bien que hagáis, Al-lah ciertamente lo conoce bien”.

اردو تفسیرِ صغیر

وہ تجھ سے سوال کرتے ہیں کہ کیا خرچ کریں؟ تو کہہ دے (کہ) جو اچھا[3] مال بھی تم دو۔ وہ (تمہارے) ماں باپ قریبی رشتہ داروں۔ یتیموں۔ مسکینوں اور مسافر کا (پہلا) حق ہے۔ اور جو نیک کام بھی تم کرو اللہ اسے یقیناً اچھی طرح جانتا ہے۔

اردو ترجمہ مودودی

لوگ پوچھتے ہیں کہ ہم کیا خرچ کریں؟ جواب دو کہ جو مال بھی تم خرچ کرو اپنے والدین پر، رشتے داروں پر، یتیموں اور مسکینوں اور مسافروں پر خرچ کرو اور جو بھلائی بھی تم کرو گے، اللہ اس سے باخبر ہوگا

English - Sahih

They ask you, [O Muhammad], what they should spend. Say, "Whatever you spend of good is [to be] for parents and relatives and orphans and the needy and the traveler. And whatever you do of good - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it."

اردو ترجمہ احمد علی

آپ سے پوچھتے ہیں کیا خرچ کریں کہہ دو جو مال بھی تم خرچ کرو وہ ماں باپ اور رشتہ داروں اور یتیموں اور محتاجوں اور مسافروں کا حق ہے اور جو نیکی تم کرتے ہو سو بے شک الله خوب جانتا ہے

English - Talal Itani

They ask you what they (should) spend. Say, "Whatever you spend of good, (is) for parents, and the relatives, and the orphans, and the needy, and (of) the wayfarer. And whatever you do of good. So indeed, Allah of it (is) All-Aware.

Chinese Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

d

2:178; 4:37.

157

本节经文的意思是, 凡花费掉的, 应被真正得到。所花费掉的, 也必定是有益的。这所谓有益那就是对接受者来说是可接受的、并应满足他的需要, 而所花费的宗旨也要有价值且值得称赞。

اردہ تفصیرِ صغیر نوٹس ^*

3

معترض اعتراض کرتے ہیں کہ سوال کچھ ہے اور جواب کچھ ہے۔ پوچھا تو یہ گیا ہے کہ کیا خرچ کریں اور جواب یہ دیا جاتا ہے کہ جو کچھ بھی مال میں سے خرچ کرو وہ فلاں فلاں کو دو۔ اس کا جواب یہ ہے کہ یہ اعتراض قلتِ تدبر کی وجہ سے ہے۔ سوال کا جواب آیت میں موجود ہے۔ جب فرماتا ہے کہ جو کچھ بھی اچھے مال سے خرچ کرو تو اس میں سائل کا جواب مکمل آگیا ہے۔ اول یہ کہ کوئی حد بندی نہیں‘ جتنے کی توفیق ہو اتنا خرچ کرو۔ دوم یہ کہ اس امر کا لحاظ رکھو کہ جو خرچ کرو وہ طیّب مال ہو۔ جو لوگ حرام کماتے ہیں اور اس میں سے خدا کی راہ میں خرچ کرکے سمجھتے ہیں کہ ہم نے گویا اپنے گناہ کا کفار کر دیا وہ غلطی پر ہیں۔ خ

English - Arberry

They will question thee concerning what they should expend. Say: 'Whatsoever good you expend is for parents and kinsmen, orphans, the needy, and the traveller; and whatever good you may do, God has knowledge of it.'

English - Maududi

The people ask, "What should we spend?" Tell them, "Whatever you spend, spend for your parents, your relatives, orphans, the needy and the wayfarer; and whatever good you do, Allah has knowledge of it.

English - Ahmed Ali

They ask you of what they should give in charity. Tell them: "What you can spare of your wealth as should benefit the parents, the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the wayfarers, for God is not unaware of the good deeds that you do."

English - Yusuf Ali

They ask thee what they should spend (In charity). Say: Whatever ye spend that is good, is for parents and kindred and orphans and those in want and for wayfarers. And whatever ye do that is good, -Allah knoweth it well.

English - Five Volume Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

a

2:178; 4:37.

222

Important Words:

خیر (good and abundant wealth). See 2:181.

اقربین (near relatives) is the plural of اقرب (derived from قریب) meaning, one nearer; a near relative (Aqrab).

Commentary:

When the Companions of the Holy Prophet were told that they could not win the pleasure of God and enter Heaven unless they were made to pass through sufferings and afflictions like those that had gone before, they at once signified their readiness to part with their wealth and property in the cause of God and asked the Holy Prophet to let them know what they should spend in order to win the pleasure of God and attain spiritual progress. They did not wait for the threatened trials to actually overtake them, but were prepared to make every kind of sacrifice in advance. They simply wanted to be told what form their sacrifice should take.

In reply to their eager question, God’s reply also indicates a sort of eagerness, as if He meant to impart to the Faithful the relevant commandment in its entirety, without waiting for any further question on their part; for whereas their question related only "what" they should spend, God’s answer goes a step further, describing also "on whom" the money is to be spent. As to the question, what is to be spent should be (1) well-acquired and (2) abundant. In moments of great national need, there can be no hope of success unless people spend freely and generously. But as free and generous expenditure carries with it the danger of weak people resorting to acquiring wealth by unfair means, therefore the condition about the money being "good" has been added.

As to the other part of the anticipated question, i.e. on whom should the money be spent, the Quran says that money should be spent on parents and near relatives (lit. near ones) and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer. The five classes include all such persons as generally stand in need of help. The two first-mentioned classes include relatives, neighbours and friends who go to form the group that immediately surrounds a man and must claim his first attention, owning to personal relationship or personal contact. Then follow two classes that deserve help owing to their particular circumstance, orphans being without anyone to support them and the needy without any means of support. Lastly comes the wayfarer, whose claim consists in his being a stranger with no friend, no relative and no supporter. By pointing out these five classes as deserving of help, the Quran desires to hint that unless the entire community, including those who come to stay with them temporarily, is prepared to fight in the cause of Allah and unless the well-to-do classes help the weaker ones in their preparation for the national struggle, Muslims cannot present a united front nor can their efforts bring about the desired result. Each and every person must gird up his loins to contribute his fullest possible share, and those who cannot do so for want of means must receive help from others who can afford such help.

English - Short Commentary Notes ^*

Cross Refs:

d

2:178; 4:37.

258

The verse signifies that whatever is spent should have been honestly acquired. What is spent must be good also in the sense that it should be acceptable to the receiver and should satisfy his need and that the object on which it is spent is also worthy and laudable.

English - Pickthall

They ask thee, (O Muhammad), what they shall spend. Say: that which ye spend for good (must go) to parents and near kindred and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer. And whatsoever good ye do, lo! Allah is Aware of it.

English - Muhammad Ali ^ra

They ask thee as to what they should spend. Say: Whatever wealth you spend, it is for the parents and the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer. And whatever good you do, Allah surely is Knower of it.

English - Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan ^ra

They ask thee what shall they spend? Tell them: Of pure and abundant wealth that which you spend is, in the first instance, for parents, near relations, orphans, the needy and the wayfarer. Whatever good you do, surely Allah knows it well.

Verse 216

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