Quran-9:121 Surah At-tawbah English Translation,Transliteration and Tafsir(Tafseer).

وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ نَفَقَةٗ صَغِيرَةٗ وَلَا كَبِيرَةٗ وَلَا يَقۡطَعُونَ وَادِيًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُمۡ لِيَجۡزِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَحۡسَنَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ,

Transliteration:( Wa laa yunfiqoona nafa qatan sagheeratanw wa laa kabeeratanw wa laa yaqta'oona waadiyan illaa kutiba lahum liyajziyahumul laahu ahsana maa kaanoo ya'maloon )

121. And whatever they spend, small or great [345], and the valley they cross [346], all is written for them, so that Allah may reward them for their best deeds. (Kanzul Imaan Translation)

(121) Nor do they spend an expenditure, small or large, or cross a valley but that it is registered for them that Allāh may reward them for the best of what they were doing. (Saheen International Translation)

Surah At-Tawbah Ayat 121 Tafsir (Commentry)



  • Tafseer-e-Naeemi (Ahmad Yaar Khan)
  • Ibn Kathir
  • Ala-Madudi
  • Shaheen International

📖 Commentary of Surah At-Tawbah – Verse 121

“And whatever they spend, small or great [345], and the valley they cross [346], all is written for them, so that Allah may reward them for their best deeds.”

✅ 345. Small and Great Contributions

This verse acknowledges that every expense, no matter how small or great, is recorded in the sight of Allah. An example of small expenditure is the donation of a few dates by Hazrat Ali Murtaza (RA) during the Battle of Tabuk, while the great expenditure was made by Hazrat Uthman Ghani (RA) who donated nine hundred camels. Both types of contributions are accepted and rewarded, as sincerity is the essence of worship.

✅ 346. Crossing Valleys as Worship

Whether one crosses valleys within Muslim lands or in the lands of the enemy, it is counted in the path of Allah. The entire journey of an Islamic soldier, including every step, valley, and movement, is treated as an act of worship. This verse reinforces that nothing goes unnoticed, and every action done for Allah’s cause is preserved for eternal reward.

Ibn-Kathir

121. Neither do they spend any contribution — small or great — nor cross a valley, but is written to their credit that Allah may recompense them with the best of what they used to do.) Allah said next,


﴿وَلاَ يُنفِقُونَ﴾

(Neithr do they spend), in reference to the fighters in Allah’s cause,

﴿نَفَقَةً صَغِيرَةً وَلاَ كَبِيرَةً﴾

(any contribution — small or great –), with regards to its amount,

﴿وَلاَ يَقْطَعُونَ وَادِيًا﴾

(nor cross a valley), while marching towards the enemy,

﴿إِلاَّ كُتِبَ لَهُمْ﴾

(but is written to their credit), for these actions that they take ﴿and which are under their control﴾,

﴿لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ﴾

(that Allah may recompense them with the best of what they used to do.) Certainly, the Leader of the faithful, `Uthman bin `Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, acquired a tremendous share of the virtues mentioned in this honorable Ayah. He spent large amounts and tremendous wealth on this battle (Tabuk). Abdullah, the son of Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdur-Rahman bin Khabbab As-Sulami said; “The Messenger of Allah gave a speech in which he encouraged spending on the army of distress (for Tabuk). I`Uthman bin `Affan, may Allah be pleased with him said; `I will give one hundred camels with their saddles and supplies.’ Then he exhorted them some more. So `Uthman said; `I will give one hundred more camels with their saddles and supplies.’ Then he descended one step of the Minbar and exhorted them some more. So `Uthman bin `Affan said; `I will give one hundred more camels with their saddles and supplies.’ Then I saw Allah’s Messenger with his hand moving like this – and `Abdus-Samad’s ﴿one of the narrators﴾ hand went out like one in amazement – he said,

«مَا عَلَى عُثْمَانَ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ هَذَا»

(It does not matter what `Uthman does after. ) It is also recorded in the Musnad that `Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah said, “`Uthman brought a thousand Dinars in his garment so that the Prophet could prepare supplies for the army of distress. `Uthman poured the money on the Prophet’s lap, and the Prophet started turning it around with his hand and declaring repeatedly,

«مَا ضَرَّ ابْنَ عَفَّانٍ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ الْيَوْم»

(The son of `Affan (i.e., `Uthman) will never be harmed by anything he does after today.)” Qatadah commented on Allah’s statement,

﴿وَلاَ يَقْطَعُونَ وَادِيًا إِلاَّ كُتِبَ لَهُمْ﴾

(nor cross a valley, but is written to their credit), “The farther any people march forth away from their families in the cause of Allah, the nearer they will be to Allah.”

(9:121) Likewise, each amount they spend, be it small or large, and each journey they undertake, shall be recorded in their favour so that Allah may bestow upon them reward for their good deeds.

Ala-Maududi

(9:121) Likewise, each amount they spend, be it small or large, and each journey they undertake, shall be recorded in their favour so that Allah may bestow upon them reward for their good deeds.


There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.

(121) Nor do they spend an expenditure, small or large, or cross a valley but that it is registered for them that Allāh may reward them for the best of what they were doing.

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