Transliteration:( Innal lazeena kafaroo yunfiqoona amwaalahum liyasuddoo 'an sabeelil laah; fasayunfiqoonahaa summa takoonu 'alaihim hasratan summa yughlaboon; wal lazeena kafarooo ilaa Jahannnama yuhsharoona )
"Indeed, the infidels spend their wealth [72], to deter from the path of Allah. They will surely continue to spend it now, then again they will regret [73] about it. Then they will be overpowered [74]. The infidels shall be gathered towards Hell [75]."
This verse refers to the Quraysh leaders who funded the army at Badr by spending heavily—ten camels were slaughtered daily for their troops. Allah labels such spending as opposition to His path. Even today, using wealth to spread disbelief or corruption—such as through secularized schools or anti-Islamic media—falls under this same condemnation.
They will continue spending, but it will bring them no benefit, only grief and regret. Their wealth, meant to harm Islam, becomes the very source of their humiliation.
This verse foretells that disbelievers will be overpowered, whether through direct defeat like at Badr or eventual collapse after temporary success. The final triumph belongs to the believers, as history and prophecy affirm.
On the Day of Judgment, the disbelievers will be gathered in crowds and driven toward Hell—a public disgrace and a form of punishment. In contrast, believing sinners, if punished, will be dealt with individually, so as not to suffer humiliation before others. Allah’s mercy protects the faithful from such dishonor.
36. Verily, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to hinder (men) from the path of Allah, and so will they continue to spend it; but in the end it will become an anguish for them. Then they will be overcome. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto Hell. 37. In order that Allah may distinguish the wicked from the good, and put the wicked one over another, heap them together and cast them into Hell. Those! it is they who are the losers.
Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated that Az-Zuhri, Muhammad bin Yahya bin Hibban, `Asim bin `Umar bin Qatadah, and Al-Husayn bin `Abdur-Rahman bin `Amr bin Sa`id bin Mu`adh said, “The Quraysh suffered defeat at Badr and their forces went back to Makkah, while Abu Sufyan went back with the caravan intact. This is when `Abdullah bin Abi Rabi`ah, `Ikrimah bin Abi Jahl, Safwan bin Umayyah and other men from Quraysh who lost their fathers, sons or brothers in Badr, went to Abu Sufyan bin Harb. They said to him, and to those among the Quraysh who had wealth in that caravan, `O people of Quraysh! Muhammad has grieved you and killed the chiefs among you. Therefore, help us with this wealth so that we can fight him, it may be that we will avenge our losses.’ They agreed.” Muhammad bin Ishaq said, “This Ayah was revealed about them, according to Ibn `Abbas,
(Verily, those who disbelieve spend their wealth…) until,
(they who are the losers. )” Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Al-Hakam bin `Uyaynah, Qatadah, As-Suddi and Ibn Abza said that this Ayah was revealed about Abu Sufyan and his spending money in Uhud to fight the Messenger of Allah . Ad-Dahhak said that this Ayah was revealed about the idolators of Badr. In any case, the Ayah is general, even though there was a specific incident that accompanied its revelation. Allah states here that the disbelievers spend their wealth to hinder from the path of truth. However, by doing that, their money will be spent and then will become a source of grief and anguish for them, availing them nothing in the least. They seek to extinguish the Light of Allah and make their word higher than the word of truth. However, Allah will complete His Light, even though the disbelievers hate it. He will give aid to His religion, make His Word dominant, and His religion will prevail above all religions. This is the disgrace that the disbelievers will taste in this life; and in the Hereafter, they will taste the torment of the Fire. Whoever among them lives long, will witness with his eyes and hear with his ears what causes grief to him. Those among them who are killed or die will be returned to eternal disgrace and the everlasting punishment. This is why Allah said,
(And so will they continue to spend it; but in the end it will become an anguish for them. Then they will be overcome. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto Hell. )
Allah said,
(In order that Allah may distinguish the wicked from the good.), meaning recognize the difference between the people of happiness and the people of misery, according to Ibn `Abbas, as `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from him. Allah distinguishes between those believers who obey Him and fight His disbelieving enemies and those who disobey Him. Allah said in another Ayah,
(Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good. Nor will Allah disclose to you the secrets of the Ghayb (Unseen).) ﴿3:179﴾, and,
(Do you think that you will enter Paradise before Allah (tests) those of you who fought (in His cause) and (also) tests those who are the patient)﴿3:142﴾.
Therefore, the Ayah (8:37) means, `We tried you with combatant disbelievers whom We made able to spend money in fighting you,’
(in order that Allah may distinguish the wicked from the good, and put the wicked one over another, heap them together) put in a pile on top of each other,
(and cast them into Hell. Those! It is they who are the losers.) ﴿8:37﴾, in this life and the Hereafter.
(8:36) Surely those who deny the truth spend their wealth to hinder people from the way of Allah, and will continue to so spend until their efforts become a source of intense regret for them, and then they will be vanquished, and then these deniers of the truth will be driven to Hell,
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
For a faster and smoother experience,
install our mobile app now.
Related Ayat(Verses)/Topics