Surah Nisa ayat 37 Tafsir Quran 4:37

﴿الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ وَيَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبُخْلِ وَيَكْتُمُونَ مَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ ۗ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا﴾
[ النساء: 37]

4:37 Who are stingy and enjoin upon [other] people stinginess and conceal what Allah has given them of His bounty - and We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment -

Those alladhīna the subject who are niggardly in their duty and bid other people to be niggardly in the same and conceal what God has bestowed upon them of His bounty in the way of knowledge and property these are the Jews the predicate of the said subject is an implied lahum wa‘īdun shadīd ‘for them there is a promise of severe punishment’. And We have prepared for those that disbelieve in this and other matters a humbling chastisement one of humiliation.

Those who are miserly, unwilling to give in benevolence or spend in divine service and induce others to be mean and parsimonious, and hide Allahs grace in whom it abounds, have in effect permitted the forbidden and commended it to others. We have prepared for those who bid defiance to Allah and rise defiant against His ordinances a condign and humiliating punishment

The Censure of Stingy Behavior Allah chastises the stingy behavior of those who refuse to spend their money for what Allah ordered them, such as being kind to parents and compassionate to relatives, orphans, the poor, the relative who is also a neighbor, the companion during travel, the needy wayfarer, the slaves and servants.
Such people do not give Allah's right from their wealth, and they assist in the spread of stingy behavior.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«وَأَيُّ دَاءٍ أَدْوَأُ مِنَ الْبُخْل»
( What disease is more serious than being stingy ) He also said,
«إِيَّاكُمْ وَالشُّحَّ، فَإِنَّهُ أَهْلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ، أَمَرَهُمْ بِالْقَطِيْعَةِ فَقَطَعُوا، وَأَمَرَهُمْ بِالْفُجُورِ فَفَجَرُوا»
( Beware of being stingy, for it destroyed those who were before you, as it encouraged them to cut their relations and they did, and it encouraged them to commit sin and they did. ) Allah said, وَيَكْتُمُونَ مَآ ءَاتَـهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ ( and hide what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounties, ) Therefore, the miser is ungrateful for Allah's favor, for its effect does not appear on him, whether in his food, clothes or what he gives.
Similarly, Allah said, إِنَّ الإِنسَـنَ لِرَبِّهِ لَكَنُودٌ - وَإِنَّهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ لَشَهِيدٌ ( Verily, man is ungrateful to his Lord.
And to that he bears witness. ) by his manners and conduct, وَإِنَّهُ لِحُبِّ الْخَيْرِ لَشَدِيدٌ ( And verily, he is violent in the love of wealth. ) Allah said, وَيَكْتُمُونَ مَآ ءَاتَـهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ ( and hide what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounties ) and this is why He threatened them, وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَـفِرِينَ عَذَاباً مُّهِيناً ( And We have prepared for the disbelievers a disgraceful torment. ) Kufr means to cover something.
Therefore, the Bakhil ( miser ) covers the favors that Allah has blessed him with, meaning he does not spread those favors.
So he is described by the term Kafir ( ungrateful ) regarding the favors that Allah granted him.
A Hadith states that,
«إِنَّ اللهَ إِذَا أَنْعَمَ نِعْمَةً عَلى عَبْدٍ،أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَظْهَرَ أَثَرُهَا عَلَيْه»
( When Allah grants a servant a favor, He likes that its effect appears on him. ) Some of the Salaf stated that this Ayah 4:37 is describing the Jews who hid the knowledge they had about the description of Muhammad ﷺ, and there is no doubt that the general meaning of the Ayah includes this.
The apparent wording for this Ayah indicates that it is talking about being stingy with money, even though miserly conduct with knowledge is also included.
The Ayah talks about spending on relatives and the weak, just as the Ayah after it, وَالَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَلَهُمْ رِئَـآءَ النَّاسِ ( And (also ) those who spend of their wealth to be seen of men, ) Allah first mentions the punished misers who do not spend, then He mentions those who spend to show off to gain the reputation that they are generous, not for the Face of Allah.
A Hadith states that the first three persons on whom the fire will feed are a scholar, a fighter and a spender who shows off with their actions.
For instance,
«يَقُولُ صَاحِبُ الْمَالِ: مَا تَرَكْتُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ تُحِبُّ أَنْ يُنْفَقَ فِيهِ، إِلَّا أَنْفَقْتُ فِي سَبِيلِكَ، فَيَقُولُ اللهُ: كَذَبْتَ، إِنَّمَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ يُقَالَ: جَوَادٌ، فَقَدْدِقيل»
( The wealthy will say, "I did not leave any area that You like to be spent on, but I spent on it in Your cause." Allah will say, "You lie, you only did that so that it is said, `He is generous.' And it was said..." ) meaning you acquired your reward in the life, and this is indeed what you sought with your action.
This is why Allah said, وَلاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلاَ بِالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ ( and believe not in Allah and the Last Day, ) meaning, it is Shaytan who lured them to commit this evil action, instead of performing the good deed as it should be performed.
Shaytan encouraged, excited and lured them by making the evil appear good, وَمَن يَكُنِ الشَّيْطَـنُ لَهُ قَرِيناً فَسَآءَ قِرِيناً ( And whoever takes Shaytan as an intimate; then what a dreadful intimate he has! ) Allah then said, وَمَاذَا عَلَيْهِمْ لَوْ ءَامَنُواْ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ وَأَنفَقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقَهُمُ اللَّهُ ( And what loss have they if they had believed in Allah and in the Last Day, and they spend out of what Allah has given them for sustenance ) This Ayah means, what harm would it cause them if they believe in Allah, go on the righteous path, replace showing off with sincerity, have faith in Allah, and await His promise in the Hereafter, for those who do good and spend what He has given them on what He likes and is pleased with.
Allah's statement: وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِهِم عَلِيماً ( And Allah is Ever All-Knower of them. ) means, He has perfect knowledge of their intentions, whether good or evil.
Indeed, Allah knows those who deserve success, and He grants them success and guidance, directing them to perform righteous actions that will earn them His pleasure.
He also knows those who deserve failure and expulsion from His great mercy, which amounts to utter failure in this life and the Hereafter for them, we seek refuge in Allah from this evil end.

(4:37) who are niggardly and bid others to be niggardly and conceal the bounty which Allah has bestowed upon them. *63 We have kept in readiness a humiliating chastisement for such deniers (of Allah's bounty).

Who are stingy and enjoin upon [other] meaning

*63).
Concealing God's bounty is to live, as if God had not bestowed that bounty.
If anyone has considerable wealth and yet lives at a standard strikingly lower than that warranted by his income, if he shuns spending on himself and his family, and also on helping other creatures of God, and avoids providing financial support to any philanthropic cause, then he creates the false impression of being in a state of financial stringency.
This is sheer ingratitude to God.
The Prophet ( peace be on him ) is reported, according to a tradition, as saying: 'If God confers a bounty on somebody, He would like to see that benefaction displayed.' ( Ibn Kathir, vol.
4, p.
486 - Ed. ) This means that a person's day-to-day life, his eating and drinking, his dress and his abode and his spending on others, all these should reflect God's bounty.

 

The Censure of Stingy Behavior Allah chastises the stingy behavior of those who refuse to spend their money for what Allah ordered them, such as being kind to parents and compassionate to relatives, orphans, the poor, the relative who is also a neighbor, the companion during travel, the needy wayfarer, the slaves and servants.
Such people do not give Allah's right from their wealth, and they assist in the spread of stingy behavior.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «وَأَيُّ دَاءٍ أَدْوَأُ مِنَ الْبُخْل» ( What disease is more serious than being stingy ) He also said, «إِيَّاكُمْ وَالشُّحَّ، فَإِنَّهُ أَهْلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ، أَمَرَهُمْ بِالْقَطِيْعَةِ فَقَطَعُوا، وَأَمَرَهُمْ بِالْفُجُورِ فَفَجَرُوا» ( Beware of being stingy, for it destroyed those who were before you, as it encouraged them to cut their relations and they did, and it encouraged them to commit sin and they did. ) Allah said, وَيَكْتُمُونَ مَآ ءَاتَـهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ ( and hide what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounties, ) Therefore, the miser is ungrateful for Allah's favor, for its effect does not appear on him, whether in his food, clothes or what he gives.
Similarly, Allah said, إِنَّ الإِنسَـنَ لِرَبِّهِ لَكَنُودٌ - وَإِنَّهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ لَشَهِيدٌ ( Verily, man is ungrateful to his Lord.
And to that he bears witness. ) by his manners and conduct, وَإِنَّهُ لِحُبِّ الْخَيْرِ لَشَدِيدٌ ( And verily, he is violent in the love of wealth. ) Allah said, وَيَكْتُمُونَ مَآ ءَاتَـهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ ( and hide what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounties ) and this is why He threatened them, وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَـفِرِينَ عَذَاباً مُّهِيناً ( And We have prepared for the disbelievers a disgraceful torment. ) Kufr means to cover something.
Therefore, the Bakhil ( miser ) covers the favors that Allah has blessed him with, meaning he does not spread those favors.
So he is described by the term Kafir ( ungrateful ) regarding the favors that Allah granted him.
A Hadith states that, «إِنَّ اللهَ إِذَا أَنْعَمَ نِعْمَةً عَلى عَبْدٍ،أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَظْهَرَ أَثَرُهَا عَلَيْه» ( When Allah grants a servant a favor, He likes that its effect appears on him. ) Some of the Salaf stated that this Ayah 4:37 is describing the Jews who hid the knowledge they had about the description of Muhammad ﷺ, and there is no doubt that the general meaning of the Ayah includes this.
The apparent wording for this Ayah indicates that it is talking about being stingy with money, even though miserly conduct with knowledge is also included.
The Ayah talks about spending on relatives and the weak, just as the Ayah after it, وَالَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَلَهُمْ رِئَـآءَ النَّاسِ ( And (also ) those who spend of their wealth to be seen of men, ) Allah first mentions the punished misers who do not spend, then He mentions those who spend to show off to gain the reputation that they are generous, not for the Face of Allah.
A Hadith states that the first three persons on whom the fire will feed are a scholar, a fighter and a spender who shows off with their actions.
For instance, «يَقُولُ صَاحِبُ الْمَالِ: مَا تَرَكْتُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ تُحِبُّ أَنْ يُنْفَقَ فِيهِ، إِلَّا أَنْفَقْتُ فِي سَبِيلِكَ، فَيَقُولُ اللهُ: كَذَبْتَ، إِنَّمَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ يُقَالَ: جَوَادٌ، فَقَدْدِقيل» ( The wealthy will say, "I did not leave any area that You like to be spent on, but I spent on it in Your cause." Allah will say, "You lie, you only did that so that it is said, `He is generous.' And it was said..." ) meaning you acquired your reward in the life, and this is indeed what you sought with your action.
This is why Allah said, وَلاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلاَ بِالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ ( and believe not in Allah and the Last Day, ) meaning, it is Shaytan who lured them to commit this evil action, instead of performing the good deed as it should be performed.
Shaytan encouraged, excited and lured them by making the evil appear good, وَمَن يَكُنِ الشَّيْطَـنُ لَهُ قَرِيناً فَسَآءَ قِرِيناً ( And whoever takes Shaytan as an intimate; then what a dreadful intimate he has! ) Allah then said, وَمَاذَا عَلَيْهِمْ لَوْ ءَامَنُواْ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ وَأَنفَقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقَهُمُ اللَّهُ ( And what loss have they if they had believed in Allah and in the Last Day, and they spend out of what Allah has given them for sustenance ) This Ayah means, what harm would it cause them if they believe in Allah, go on the righteous path, replace showing off with sincerity, have faith in Allah, and await His promise in the Hereafter, for those who do good and spend what He has given them on what He likes and is pleased with.
Allah's statement: وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِهِم عَلِيماً ( And Allah is Ever All-Knower of them. ) means, He has perfect knowledge of their intentions, whether good or evil.
Indeed, Allah knows those who deserve success, and He grants them success and guidance, directing them to perform righteous actions that will earn them His pleasure.
He also knows those who deserve failure and expulsion from His great mercy, which amounts to utter failure in this life and the Hereafter for them, we seek refuge in Allah from this evil end.

( Who are avaricious ) by concealing the traits and description of Muhammad as mentioned in their Scripture. These are Ka’b Ibn al-Ashraf and his companions ( and enjoin avarice ) concealment ( on others, and hide that which Allah hath bestowed upon them ) they hide that which Allah exposited to them in their Scripture ( of His bounty ) of the traits and description of Muhammad. ( For disbelievers ) for the Jews ( We prepare a shameful doom ) through which they will be humiliated;

Those who are miserly and enjoin miserliness on other men and hide what Allah has bestowed upon them of His Bounties. And We have prepared for the disbelievers a disgraceful torment.

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