Al-Qur'an Surah Ibrahim Verse 31

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Say to My believing servants that they should establish Salāh and spend, secretly and openly, out of what We have given to them before there comes a day in which there is neither a trade nor friendship.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Tell My believing servants to establish prayer and donate from what We have provided for them—openly and secretly—before the arrival of a Day in which there will be no ransom or friendly connections.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Tell My slaves who believe to establish prayer and spend from what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, before there comes a Day when there will be no bargaining or friendship.

A. J. Arberry

Say to My servants who believe, that they perform the prayer, and expend of that We have provided them, secretly and in public, before a day comes wherein shall be neither bargaining nor befriending.

Abdul Haleem

Tell My servants who have believed to keep up the prayer and give, secretly and in public, out of what We have provided them, before a Day comes when there will be no trading or friendship.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Say thou unto those of My bond- men who have believed, let them establish prayer and expend of that wherewith We have provided them secretly and openly, ere the Day cometh wherein there will be no bargain nor friendliness.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Speak to my servants who have believed, that they may establish regular prayers, and spend (in charity) out of the sustenance we have given them, secretly and openly, before the coming of a Day in which there will be neither mutual bargaining nor befriending.

Abul Ala Maududi

(O Prophet), tell those of My servants who believe that they should establish Prayer and spend out of what We have provided them with, both secretly and openly, before there arrives the Day when there will be no bargaining, nor any mutual befriending.

Ahmed Ali

Tell those of My creatures who believe: "Observe your devotional obligations and give of what We have given you in charity, secretly or openly, before the Day arrives when there will be no buying or selling or befriending."

Ahmed Raza Khan

Say to the bondmen of Mine who believe, that they must keep the prayer established and spend in Our way from what We have given them, secretly and publicly, before the advent of a day in which there will be no trade nor friendship.

Ali Quli Qarai

Tell My servants who have faith to maintain the prayer and to spend out of what We have provided them with, secretly and openly, before there comes a day on which there will be neither any bargaining nor friendship.

Ali Ünal

Tell those of My servants who believe that they must establish the Prayer in conformity with its conditions, and spend out of what We have provided for them (of wealth, power, and knowledge, etc.) secretly and openly, (and in God’s cause and to the benefit of the needy), before there comes a Day when there will be no trading nor friendship (that will bring any benefit).

Amatul Rahman Omar

Say to My servants who have believed, to observe Prayer and to spend secretly and openly out of that We have provided for them, before there comes the day (of reckoning) when neither bargaining, nor fast-friendship shall help them (to get salvation).

English Literal

Say to My worshippers/slaves those who believed: "They (should) keep up the prayers and spend from what We provided for them secretly and publicly from before that a day comes, (where there is) no selling/trading in it and nor differences in opinions/friendships .

Faridul Haque

Say to the bondmen of Mine who believe, that they must keep the prayer established and spend in Our way from what We have given them, secretly and publicly, before the advent of a day in which there will be no trade nor friendship.

Hamid S. Aziz

Say to my servants who believe, that they be steadfast in prayer and expend in charity of what We have bestowed upon them, in secret and in public, before there comes the Day when there shall be no bargaining (buying and selling, barter) and no befriending.

Hilali & Khan

Say (O Muhammad SAW) to 'Ibadi (My slaves) who have believed, that they should perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and spend in charity out of the sustenance We have given them, secretly and openly, before the coming of a Day on which there will be neither mutual bargaining nor befriending.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And they set up equals with Allah to lead astray from His path. Say: Enjoy yourselves, for surely your return is to the Fire.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Say to My servants who believe that they should keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them secretly and openly before the coming of the day in which there shall be no bartering nor mutual befriending.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Tell My bondmen who believe to establish worship and spend of that which We have given them, secretly and publicly, before a day cometh wherein there will be neither traffick nor befriending.

Muhammad Sarwar

Tell My believing servants to be steadfast in prayer and to spend for the cause of their Lord, both in private and in public, out of what We have given them. Let them do this before the coming of the day when there will be no merchandising or friendship.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Tell My worshippers, those who believe, who establish the prayer, and spend of what We have given them in private and in public, before the coming of that Day in which there is neither bargaining, nor the taking of friends,

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Say to My servants who have believed, that they should perform the Salah, and spend (in charity) out of the sustenance We have given them, secretly and openly, before the coming of a Day on which there will be neither mutual bargaining nor befriending.

Wahiduddin Khan

Tell My servants, those who are true believers, to keep up prayer and to give alms secretly and openly out of what We have given them, before the Day comes when there will be neither trading nor befriending.

Talal Itani

Tell My servants who have believed to perform the prayers, and to give from what We have given them, secretly and publicly, before a Day comes in which there is neither trading nor friendship.

Tafsir jalalayn

Tell My servants who believe that they establish prayers and expend of that which We have provided them, secretly and openly, before a day comes wherein there will be neither bargaining, ransoming, nor befriending, that is, [when there will not be] any friendship of any benefit; this is the Day of Resurrection.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Command for Prayer and Charity

Allah commands;

قُل لِّعِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ يُقِيمُواْ الصَّلَةَ وَيُنفِقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلنِيَةً

Say to My servants who have believed, that they should perform the Salah, and spend (in charity) out of the sustenance We have given them, secretly and openly,

Allah orders His servants to obey Him, fulfill His rights and be kind to His creatures. He ordained the prayer, which affirms the worship of Allah alone, without partners, and to spend from the provisions that He has granted them, by paying the due Zakah, spending on relatives and being kind to all others.

Establishing the prayer requires performing it on time, perfectly, preserving its act of bowing having humility during it, and preserving its prostrations.

Allah has ordained spending from what He granted, in secret and public, so that the people save themselves,

مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ

before the coming of a Day,

the Day of Resurrection,

لااَّ بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلَا خِلَالٌ



on which there will be neither mutual bargaining nor befriending.

on which no ransom will be accepted from anyone, if he seeks to buy himself.

Allah said in another Ayah,

فَالْيَوْمَ لَا يُوْخَذُ مِنكُمْ فِدْيَةٌ وَلَا مِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ

So this Day no ransom shall be taken from you, nor of those who disbelieved. (57;15)

Allah said here,
وَلَا خِلَلٌ
(nor befriending),

Ibn Jarir commented,

"Allah says that on that Day, there will be no friendship between friends that might save those deserving punishment from it. Rather, on that Day, there will be fairness and justice."

Qatadah said,

"Allah knows that in this life, there is mutual bargaining and there are friendships which people benefit from. A man chooses his friends and the reasons behind befriending them; if it was for Allah's sake, their friendship should be maintained, but if it was for other than Allah, their friendship is bound to be cutoff."

I say that the meaning of this, is that;

Allah the Exalted is declaring that on that Day, no mutual bargaining or ransom will avail anyone, even if he ransoms himself with the earth's fill of gold if he could find that amount! No friendship or intercession shall avail one if he meets Allah while a disbeliever.

Allah the Exalted said,

وَاتَّقُواْ يَوْمًا لاَّ تَجْزِى نَفْسٌ عَن نَّفْسٍ شَيْيًا وَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا عَدْلٌ وَلَا تَنفَعُهَا شَفَـعَةٌ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ

And fear the Day when no person shall avail another, nor shall compensation be accepted from him, nor shall intercession be of use to him, nor shall they be helped. (2;123)

and,

يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ أَنفِقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَـكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌ لاأَّ بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلاأَ خُلَّةٌ وَلاأَ شَفَـعَةٌ وَالْكَـفِرُونَ هُمُ الظَّـلِمُونَ

O you believe! Spend of that with which We have provided for you, before a Day comes when there will be no bargaining, nor friendship, nor intercession. And it is the disbelievers who are the wrongdoers. (2;254)