Transliteration:( Yas'aloonaka maazaa yunfiqoona qul maaa anfaqtum min khairin falil waalidaini wal aqrabeena walyataamaa wal masaakeeni wabnis sabeel; wa maa taf'aloo min khairin fa innal laaha bihee 'Aleem )
215. They ask you (O Muhammad) what they should spend [502]. Say: "Whatever good you spend should be for parents and near relatives [503], orphans, the needy, and the wayfarers." And whatever good you do [504], surely, Allah is fully aware of it.
This verse highlights two important points:
Only pure, lawful, and cherished wealth should be spent in Allah’s path — as implied by the word “good”. Allah says: “You shall never attain piety unless you spend of that which you love.” (S3:V92)
🔹 For example: the sweets distributed on Shab-e-Baraat should be from wholesome earnings.
It is better to spend while alive, as indicated by the phrase “you spend”, rather than postponing it until death.
This verse teaches that charity should begin at home.
🔹 Parents and close relatives come first before extending charity to others.
🔹 However, Zakaat cannot be given to one's parents, children, or spouse, but it may be given to any other needy Muslims outside of these close dependents.
Two key points emerge:
One should not limit oneself to financial worships alone, but also perform other good deeds, since after “what you spend,” the phrase used is “whatever good you do.”
Along with obligatory (Faraid) acts, one should engage in Nawafil (voluntary) worships as well.
🔹 Faraid are like spiritual nourishment, while Nawafil are spiritual fruits, enriching one’s connection with Allah.
214. Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, “When (will come) the help of Allah” Yes! Certainly, the help of Allah is near!
Allah said:
(Or think you that you will enter Paradise) before you are tested and tried just like the nations that came before you This is why Allah said:
(…without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments) meaning, illnesses, pain, disasters and hardships. Ibn Mas`ud, Ibn `Abbas, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Murrah Al-Hamdani, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, Ar-Rabi`, As-Suddi and Muqatil bin Hayyan said that
(Al-Ba’sa’) means poverty. Ibn `Abbas said that
(…and Ad-Darra’) means ailments.
(and were so shaken) for fear of the enemy, and were tested, and put to a tremendous trial. An authentic Hadith narrated that Khabbab bin Al-Aratt said, “We said, `O Messenger of Allah! Why do you not invoke Allah to support us Why do you not supplicate to Allah for us’ He said:
(The saw would be placed on the middle of the head of one of those who were before you (believers) and he would be sawn until his feet, and he would be combed with iron combs between his skin and bones, yet that would not make him change his religion.)
He then said:
(By Allah! This matter (religion) will spread (or expand) by Allah until the traveler leaves San`a’ to Hadramawt (both in Yemen, but at a great distance from each other) fearing only Allah and then the wolf for the sake of his sheep. You are just a hasty people.)
And Allah said:
(Alif-Lam-Mim. Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars.) (29:1-3)
The Companions experienced tremendous trials during the battle of Al-Ahzab (the Confederates). Allah said:
(When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when the eyes grew wild and the hearts reached to the throats, and you were harboring doubts about Allah. There, the believers were tried and shaken with a mighty shaking. And when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease (of doubts) said: “Allah and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusion!”) (33:10-12)
When Heraclius asked Abu Sufyan, “Did you fight him (Prophet Muhammad)” He said, “Yes.” Heraclius said, “What was the outcome of warfare between you” Abu Sufyan said, “Sometimes we lose and sometimes he loses.” He said, “Such is the case with Prophets, they are tested, but the final victory is theirs.”
Allah’s statement:
(…without (such) (trials) as came to those who passed away before you) meaning, their way of life. Similarly, Allah said:
(Then We destroyed men stronger (in power) than these ـ and the example of the ancients has passed away (before them)) (43: 8) and:
(…were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, “When (will come) the help of Allah.”)
They pleaded (to Allah) for victory against their enemies and invoked Him for aid and deliverance from their hardships and trials. Allah said:
(Yes! Certainly, the help of Allah is near!)
Allah said:
(Verily, along with every hardship is relief. Verily, along with every hardship is relief.) (94:5, 6)
So just as there is hardship, its equal of relief will soon arrive. This is why Allah said:
(Yes! Certainly, the help of Allah is near!)
(2:215) People ask you what they should spend. Say: “Whatever wealth you spend let it be for your parents and kinsmen, the orphans, the needy and the wayfarer; Allah is aware of whatever good you do.”
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
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