Surah Al-Layl — Verse 8

Word Meanings:

• بَخِلَ (Bakhila): He was miserly, withholding what he should give, whether wealth, knowledge, or effort in the path of Allah.
• وَاسْتَغْنَىٰ (Wastaghna): He deemed himself self-sufficient, turning away from Allah and His commands, content with worldly pleasures instead of seeking the reward of the Hereafter.

Explanation of the Verse:

After mentioning the one who gives in charity and fears Allah, the verse now turns to the opposite character: *"And as for the one who is miserly and deems himself self-sufficient."* This describes a person who clings tightly to his wealth, refusing to spend it in the ways Allah has commanded—whether in obligatory charity (zakah), supporting family, or helping the needy. He does not see any need for Allah’s bounty, feeling that his riches are enough for him. He turns away from the call of faith, disbelieving in the Oneness of Allah and the Day of Judgment, and instead immerses himself in the fleeting pleasures of this world, neglecting the everlasting bliss of the Hereafter. Such a person, by his own choices, paves the way for hardship and misery in this life and the next. His wealth, which he hoarded so carefully, will be of no benefit to him when he faces the Fire—it cannot ransom him or shield him from the consequences of his arrogance and stinginess.

A Call to Reflection:

Dear reader, see how the Qur’an paints these two portraits side by side: one hand open in giving, the other clenched in greed. Which do you wish to resemble? The miserly soul thinks his treasure protects him, but in truth, it chains him—while the generous soul, even with little, finds freedom and peace. Islam teaches us that wealth is a trust from Allah, not a trophy for pride. When you spend for His sake, you are not losing—you are investing in a bank that never fails. And when you feel self-sufficient, remember that every breath you take is a gift from the One who owns all things. Open your heart, loosen your hand, and seek His pleasure—for true richness lies not in what you hoard, but in what you give for His love.