Surah Nisa ayat 38 Tafsir Quran 4:38

﴿وَالَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ رِئَاءَ النَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَا بِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۗ وَمَن يَكُنِ الشَّيْطَانُ لَهُ قَرِينًا فَسَاءَ قَرِينًا﴾
[ النساء: 38]

4:38 And [also] those who spend of their wealth to be seen by the people and believe not in Allah nor in the Last Day. And he to whom Satan is a companion - then evil is he as a companion.

And those wa’lladhīna a supplement to the previous alladhīna ‘those’ who expend of their substance to show off to people to be seen of them and believe not in God and the Last Day the likes of the hypocrites and the Meccans. Whoever has Satan for a comrade for a companion whose command he follows as these do then an evil comrade has he.

And those who spend of their wealth ostentatiously under the garb of benevolence only to attract notice and to win the admiration of people while in fact they believe neither in Allah nor in the Last Day, have bound themselves to their wicked kind and walked in the footsteps of those with characteristics befitting AL-Shaytan. And he who associates himself with the Devil, has in fact espoused evil, and evil indeed. Is the companion

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.

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.

( And (also ) those) the Jewish leaders ( who spend their wealth in order to be seen of men ) by showing off to people so that they say about them that they follow the practice of Abraham and that they give and spend of their money, ( and believe not in Allah ) Muhammad or the Qur’an ( nor the Last Day ) resurrection after death nor in the bliss of Paradise. ( Whoso taketh Satan for a comrade ) a helper in this world, ( a bad comrade hath he ) an evil companion he will have in hell.

And (also) those who spend of their substance to be seen of men, and believe not in Allah and the Last Day [they are the friends of Shaitan (Satan)], and whoever takes Shaitan (Satan) as an intimate; then what a dreadful intimate he has!

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