Surah Baqarah ayat 195 Tafsir Quran 2:195

﴿وَأَنفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوا ۛ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ﴾
[ البقرة: 195]

2:195 And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.

And spend in the way of God in obedience to Him in holy struggle and the like; and cast not your own hands yourselves the bā’ of bi-aydīkum ‘with your hands’ is extra into destruction by withholding funds needed for the struggle or abandoning it altogether because this will give your enemy the advantage over you; but be virtuous by spending etc.; God loves the virtuous that is He rewards them.

And let reverence move you to spend in Allah’s cause and do not cast yourselves into ruin with your own hands, and imprint your deeds with wisdom and piety, for Allah likes those who perfect their illustrious toils and turn their thoughts on moral excellence and benevolence

The Command to spend in the Cause of Allah Al-Bukhari recorded that Hudhayfah said: وَأَنفِقُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ تُلْقُواْ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ ( And spend in the cause of Allah and do not throw yourselves into destruction. ) "It was revealed about spending." Ibn Abu Hatim reported him saying similarly.
He then commented, "Similar is reported from Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Ata', Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, As-Suddi and Muqatil bin Hayyan." Aslam Abu `Imran said, "A man from among the Ansar broke enemy ( Byzantine ) lines in Constantinople ( Istanbul ).
Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari was with us then.
So some people said, `He is throwing himself to destruction.' Abu Ayyub said, `We know this Ayah ( 2:195 ) better, for it was revealed about us, the Companions of Allah's Messenger ﷺ who participated in Jihad with him and aided and supported him.
When Islam became strong, we, the Ansar, met and said to each other, `Allah has honored us by being the Companions of His Prophet and in supporting him until Islam became victorious and its following increased.
We had before ignored the needs of our families, estates and children.
Warfare has ceased, so let us go back to our families and children and attend to them.' So this Ayah was revealed about us: وَأَنفِقُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ تُلْقُواْ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ ( And spend in the cause of Allah and do not throw yourselves into destruction. ) the destruction refers to staying with our families and estates and abandoning Jihad'." This was recorded by Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i, `Abd bin Humayd in his Tafsir, Ibn Abu Hatim, Ibn Jarir, Ibn Marduwyah, Al-Hafiz Abu Ya`la in his Musnad, Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim.
At-Tirmidhi said; "Hasan, Sahih, Gharib" Al-Hakim said, "It meets the criteria of the Two Shaykhs ( Al-Bukhari and Muslim ) but they did not record it." Abu Dawud's version mentions that Aslam Abu `Imran said, "We were at ( the siege of ) Constantinople.
Then, `Uqbah bin `Amr was leading the Egyptian forces, while the Syrian forces were led by Fadalah bin `Ubayd.
Later on, a huge column of Roman ( Byzantine ) soldiers departed the city, and we stood in lines against them.
A Muslim man raided the Roman lines until he broke through them and came back to us.
The people shouted, `All praise is due to Allah! He is sending himself to certain demise.' Abu Ayyub said, `O people! You explain this Ayah the wrong way.
It was revealed about us, the Ansar when Allah gave victory to His religion and its following increased.
We said to each other, `It would be better for us now if we return to our estates and attend to them.' Then Allah revealed this Ayah ( 2:195 )'." Abu Bakr bin `Aiyash reported that Abu Ishaq As-Subai`y related that a man said to Al-Bara' bin `Azib, "If I raided the enemy lines alone and they kill me, would I be throwing myself to certain demise" He said, "No.
Allah said to His Messenger : فَقَاتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لاَ تُكَلَّفُ إِلاَّ نَفْسَكَ ( Then fight (O Muhammad ) in the cause of Allah, you are not tasked ( held responsible ) except for yourself.) ( 4:84 ) That Ayah ( 2:195 ) is about ( refraining from ) spending." Ibn Marduwyah reported this Hadith, as well as Al-Hakim in his Mustadrak who said; "It meets the criteria of the Two Shaykhs ( Al-Bukhari and Muslim ) but they did not record it." Ath-Thawri and Qays bin Ar-Rabi` related it from Al-Bara'.
but added: لاَ تُكَلَّفُ إِلاَّ نَفْسَكَ ( You are not tasked (held responsible ) except for yourself.) ( 4:84 ) "Destruction refers to the man who sins and refrains from repenting, thus throwing himself to destruction." Ibn `Abbas said: وَأَنفِقُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ تُلْقُواْ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ ( And spend in the cause of Allah and do not throw yourselves into destruction ) "This is not about fighting.
But about refraining from spending for the sake of Allah, in which case, one will be throwing his self into destruction." The Ayah ( 2:195 ) includes the order to spend in Allah's cause, in the various areas and ways that involve obedience and drawing closer to Allah.
It especially applies to spending in fighting the enemies and on what strengthens the Muslims against the enemy.
Allah states that those who refrain from spending in this regard will face utter and certain demise and destruction, meaning those who acquire this habit.
Allah commands that one should acquire Ihsan ( excellence in the religion ), as it is the highest part of the acts of obedience.
Allah said: وَأَحْسِنُواْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ( and do good.
Truly, Allah loves Al-Muhsinin (those who do good ).)

(2:195) Spend your wealth in the Way of Allah and do not cast yourselves into ruin with your own hands. *207 Do all things gracefully, for Allah loves those who do all things with excellence *208

And spend in the way of Allah meaning

*207).
'To spend in the way of Allah' signifies financial sacrifice in order to establish God's religion.
Not to make any financial sacrifice but to be inclined, instead, to hold personal interests dear to one's heart will lead to one's ruin both in this world and in the Next.
Allah will set the unbelievers to dominate over you in this world and condemn you in the Next world.

*208).
The root of the word ihsan is HSN, which means doing something in a goodly manner.

One standard of conduct is merely to perform the task entrusted to one.
The other and higher standard is to perform that task in a wholesome manner, to devote all one's capacities and resources to its fulfilment, to do one's duty with all one's heart.
The first standard is that of ordinary obedlence for which it is enough that a man should fear God.
The other and higher standard is that of ihsan ( moral and spiritual excellence ) for which it is necessary that one should have a strong love for God and a profound attachment to Him.

 

The Command to spend in the Cause of Allah Al-Bukhari recorded that Hudhayfah said: وَأَنفِقُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ تُلْقُواْ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ ( And spend in the cause of Allah and do not throw yourselves into destruction. ) "It was revealed about spending." Ibn Abu Hatim reported him saying similarly.
He then commented, "Similar is reported from Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Ata', Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, As-Suddi and Muqatil bin Hayyan." Aslam Abu `Imran said, "A man from among the Ansar broke enemy ( Byzantine ) lines in Constantinople ( Istanbul ).
Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari was with us then.
So some people said, `He is throwing himself to destruction.' Abu Ayyub said, `We know this Ayah ( 2:195 ) better, for it was revealed about us, the Companions of Allah's Messenger ﷺ who participated in Jihad with him and aided and supported him.
When Islam became strong, we, the Ansar, met and said to each other, `Allah has honored us by being the Companions of His Prophet and in supporting him until Islam became victorious and its following increased.
We had before ignored the needs of our families, estates and children.
Warfare has ceased, so let us go back to our families and children and attend to them.' So this Ayah was revealed about us: وَأَنفِقُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ تُلْقُواْ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ ( And spend in the cause of Allah and do not throw yourselves into destruction. ) the destruction refers to staying with our families and estates and abandoning Jihad'." This was recorded by Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i, `Abd bin Humayd in his Tafsir, Ibn Abu Hatim, Ibn Jarir, Ibn Marduwyah, Al-Hafiz Abu Ya`la in his Musnad, Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim.
At-Tirmidhi said; "Hasan, Sahih, Gharib" Al-Hakim said, "It meets the criteria of the Two Shaykhs ( Al-Bukhari and Muslim ) but they did not record it." Abu Dawud's version mentions that Aslam Abu `Imran said, "We were at ( the siege of ) Constantinople.
Then, `Uqbah bin `Amr was leading the Egyptian forces, while the Syrian forces were led by Fadalah bin `Ubayd.
Later on, a huge column of Roman ( Byzantine ) soldiers departed the city, and we stood in lines against them.
A Muslim man raided the Roman lines until he broke through them and came back to us.
The people shouted, `All praise is due to Allah! He is sending himself to certain demise.' Abu Ayyub said, `O people! You explain this Ayah the wrong way.
It was revealed about us, the Ansar when Allah gave victory to His religion and its following increased.
We said to each other, `It would be better for us now if we return to our estates and attend to them.' Then Allah revealed this Ayah ( 2:195 )'." Abu Bakr bin `Aiyash reported that Abu Ishaq As-Subai`y related that a man said to Al-Bara' bin `Azib, "If I raided the enemy lines alone and they kill me, would I be throwing myself to certain demise" He said, "No.
Allah said to His Messenger : فَقَاتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لاَ تُكَلَّفُ إِلاَّ نَفْسَكَ ( Then fight (O Muhammad ) in the cause of Allah, you are not tasked ( held responsible ) except for yourself.) ( 4:84 ) That Ayah ( 2:195 ) is about ( refraining from ) spending." Ibn Marduwyah reported this Hadith, as well as Al-Hakim in his Mustadrak who said; "It meets the criteria of the Two Shaykhs ( Al-Bukhari and Muslim ) but they did not record it." Ath-Thawri and Qays bin Ar-Rabi` related it from Al-Bara'.
but added: لاَ تُكَلَّفُ إِلاَّ نَفْسَكَ ( You are not tasked (held responsible ) except for yourself.) ( 4:84 ) "Destruction refers to the man who sins and refrains from repenting, thus throwing himself to destruction." Ibn `Abbas said: وَأَنفِقُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ تُلْقُواْ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ ( And spend in the cause of Allah and do not throw yourselves into destruction ) "This is not about fighting.
But about refraining from spending for the sake of Allah, in which case, one will be throwing his self into destruction." The Ayah ( 2:195 ) includes the order to spend in Allah's cause, in the various areas and ways that involve obedience and drawing closer to Allah.
It especially applies to spending in fighting the enemies and on what strengthens the Muslims against the enemy.
Allah states that those who refrain from spending in this regard will face utter and certain demise and destruction, meaning those who acquire this habit.
Allah commands that one should acquire Ihsan ( excellence in the religion ), as it is the highest part of the acts of obedience.
Allah said: وَأَحْسِنُواْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ( and do good.
Truly, Allah loves Al-Muhsinin (those who do good ).)

( Spend your wealth for the cause of Allah ) in obedience of Allah so as to perform the lesser pilgrimage, ( and be not cast by your own hands to ruin ) Allah says: do not refrain from giving in His cause lest you ruin yourselves. It is also said that this means: do not be the cause of your own ruin; and it is also said that this means: do not despair of Allah’s mercy lest you ruin yourselves; ( and do good ) by spending in the cause of Allah; it is also said that this means: have a good opinion about Allah; and it is also said that this means: be good in your spending in the way of Allah. ( Lo! Allah loveth the beneficent ) who spend in His cause. The verses from ( Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you ) to ( and do good. Lo! Allah loveth the beneficent ) were revealed about the Companions who were in ritual consecration with the Prophet ( pbuh ) on their way to perform the lesser pilgrimage after the year of al-Hudaybiyyah.

And spend in the Cause of Allah (i.e. Jihad of all kinds, etc.) and do not throw yourselves into destruction (by not spending your wealth in the Cause of Allah), and do good. Truly, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers).

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