Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary * - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (26) Surah: Al-Isrā’
وَءَاتِ ذَا ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ حَقَّهُۥ وَٱلۡمِسۡكِينَ وَٱبۡنَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَلَا تُبَذِّرۡ تَبۡذِيرًا
(26) [3552]Bestow on the relative his due right[3553] as well as the destitute and the wayfarer[3554]; [3555]but do not waste ˹your money˺ away!
[3552] This passage talks about the very important issue of economic security both in its social and financial aspects. Social security is accomplished through members maintaining bonds and partaking in wealth in the form of charity, and financial security is attained through wise management of finances (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr).
[3553] As much as one’s relatives branch off from ones’ parents, they are to be given their “due right” of maintaining ties, empathy and sympathy (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Samarqandī). Anas Ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever wishes his provision expanded and his mark more enduring, let him maintain the ties of the womb!” (al-Bukhārī: 2067; Muslim: 2557).
[3554] This “due right” which springs from a Divine dictate and a sense of social bond is also to be given to the less advantaged segments of society, the financially straitened. Whereas dutifulness to the wayfarer (ibn al-sabīl, lit. the son of the road) comes out of nurturing empathy and building a society on a spirit of dutifulness shown even to those outside the family and close community (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr).
[3555] Giving charity is a great human trait, but squandering and wasting away money is an unhealthy one; mention of one calls for the other (cf. al-Biqāʿī, Naẓm al-Durar).
Tabdhīr comes from throwing seeds on the ground (cf. Ibn Fāris, Maqāyīs al-Lughah, al-Iṣfahānī, al-Mufradāt), however, here it acquires the added meaning of doing so carelessly and indiscriminately (as opposed to the careful act of seed sowing al-badhr, cf. Abū al-Suʿūd). Given the context, exegetes differ on what is meant by it here. Ibn Taymiyyah, al-ʿUqūd, pp. 18-19, opines that here it could mean giving the right-owners mentioned here lavishly and more than they need yet ignoring those who are more needing of it. On the other hand, many other exegetes see that the word tabdhīr here refers to generally spending money on no good causes, especially in sinning against God (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Abū al-Suʿūd, al-Alūsī). Because, no matter how generous the charity is, it is not considered a waste of money (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr).
[3553] As much as one’s relatives branch off from ones’ parents, they are to be given their “due right” of maintaining ties, empathy and sympathy (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Samarqandī). Anas Ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever wishes his provision expanded and his mark more enduring, let him maintain the ties of the womb!” (al-Bukhārī: 2067; Muslim: 2557).
[3554] This “due right” which springs from a Divine dictate and a sense of social bond is also to be given to the less advantaged segments of society, the financially straitened. Whereas dutifulness to the wayfarer (ibn al-sabīl, lit. the son of the road) comes out of nurturing empathy and building a society on a spirit of dutifulness shown even to those outside the family and close community (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr).
[3555] Giving charity is a great human trait, but squandering and wasting away money is an unhealthy one; mention of one calls for the other (cf. al-Biqāʿī, Naẓm al-Durar).
Tabdhīr comes from throwing seeds on the ground (cf. Ibn Fāris, Maqāyīs al-Lughah, al-Iṣfahānī, al-Mufradāt), however, here it acquires the added meaning of doing so carelessly and indiscriminately (as opposed to the careful act of seed sowing al-badhr, cf. Abū al-Suʿūd). Given the context, exegetes differ on what is meant by it here. Ibn Taymiyyah, al-ʿUqūd, pp. 18-19, opines that here it could mean giving the right-owners mentioned here lavishly and more than they need yet ignoring those who are more needing of it. On the other hand, many other exegetes see that the word tabdhīr here refers to generally spending money on no good causes, especially in sinning against God (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Abū al-Suʿūd, al-Alūsī). Because, no matter how generous the charity is, it is not considered a waste of money (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr).
Arabic explanations of the Qur’an:
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (26) Surah: Al-Isrā’
Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings of the Noble Qur’an into English - in progress - translated by Dr. Walid Bleihesh Al-Omari.