Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 219

Mufti Taqi Usmani

They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, “In both there is great sin, and some benefits for people. And their sin is greater than their benefit.” And they ask you as to what they should spend. Say, “The surplus”. This is how Allah makes His verses clear to you, so that you may ponder

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

They ask you ˹O Prophet˺ about intoxicants and gambling. Say, “There is great evil in both, as well as some benefit for people—but the evil outweighs the benefit.”[[ See footnote for {4:43}.]] They ˹also˺ ask you ˹O Prophet˺ what they should donate. Say, “Whatever you can spare.” This is how Allah makes His revelations clear to you ˹believers˺, so perhaps you may reflect

Ruwwad Translation Center

They ask you about intoxicants and gambling. Say, “In both there is a great sin, and some benefits for people, but their sin is far greater than their benefit.” They ask you as to what they should spend. Say, “The surplus”. This is how Allah makes His verses clear to you, so that you may contemplate –

A. J. Arberry

They will question thee concerning wine, and arrow-shuffling. Say: 'In both is heinous sin; and uses for men, but the sin in them is more heinous than the usefulness.' They will question thee concerning what they should expend. Say: 'The abundance.' So God makes clear His signs to you; haply you will reflect;

Abdul Haleem

They ask you [Prophet] about intoxicants and gambling: say, ‘There is great sin in both, and some benefit for people: the sin is greater than the benefit.’ They ask you what they should give: say, ‘Give what you can spare.’ In this way, God makes His messages clear to you, so that you may reflect

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

They ask thee of wine, and gambling. Say thou: in both is a great sin, and some benefits for men, but the sin of them is for greater than their benefit. And they ask thee, how much they should expend. Say thou: the redundant portion. In this wise Allah expoundeth unto you His commandments that haply ye may ponder.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say; "In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit." They ask thee how much they are to spend; Say; "What is beyond your needs." Thus doth Allah Make clear to you His Signs; In order that ye may consider-

Abul Ala Maududi

They ask you about drinking and gambling. Say, "There is great harm in both, though there is some benefit also for the people. But the harm of the sin thereof is far greater than their benefit. "

Ahmed Ali

They ask you of (intoxicants,) wine and gambling. Tell them: "There is great enervation though profit in them for men; but their enervation is greater than benefit. And they ask you what they should give. Tell them: "The utmost you can spare." So does God reveal His signs: You may haply reflect

Ahmed Raza Khan

They ask you the decree regarding wine (intoxicants) and gambling; say (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him), “In both is great sin, and some worldly benefit for men – but their sin is greater than their benefit”; and they ask you what they should spend; say, “That which remains spare (surplus)”; this is how Allah explains His verses to you, so that you may think.

Ali Quli Qarai

They ask you concerning wine and gambling. Say, ‘There is a great sin in both of them, and some profits for the people, but their sinfulness outweighs their profit.’ And they ask you as to what they should spend. Say, ‘All that is surplus.’ Thus does Allah clarify His signs for you so that you may reflect

Ali Ünal

They ask you about intoxicating drinks and games of chance. Say: "In both there is great evil, though some use for people, but their evil is greater than their usefulness." They also ask you what they should spend (in God’s cause and for the needy). Say: "What is left over (after you have spent on your dependents’ needs). Thus does God make clear to you His Revelations, that you may reflect

Amatul Rahman Omar

They ask you concerning intoxicants and games of chance. Say, `In both of them is a great sin and both are harmful too, and they have some uses for people, but the sin inherent in them is even more serious than their usefulness.´ They ask you how much they should spend. Say, `The surplus (- what you can spare after spending on your basic requirement).´ Thus does Allâh make clear His commandments so that you may reflect -

English Literal

They ask/question you about the intoxicants/substances affecting the brain and the gambling , say: "In them (B) (is a) great sin/crime and benefits/uses to the people and their (B`s) sin/crime (is) bigger/greater from (than) their (B`s) benefit/use, and they ask/question you what they (should) spend, say: "The excess over expense/goodness ." Like that God clarifies for you the signs/verses/evidences, maybe you think.

Faridul Haque

They ask you the decree regarding wine (intoxicants) and gambling; say (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him), "In both is great sin, and some worldly benefit for men - but their sin is greater than their benefit"; and they ask you what they should spend; say, "That which remains spare (surplus)"; this is how Allah explains His verses to you, so that you may think.

Hamid S. Aziz

They will ask you about wine and el maisar (getting something too easily, i.e. gambling, usury etc.), say, "In them both is great sin and some profit to men; but the sin of both is greater than the profit of the same." They will ask you what they shall expend in alms: Say: "The surplus (what is beyond need)." Thus does Allah manifest to you His signs; per chance (or possibly) you may reflect

Hilali & Khan

They ask you (O Muhammad SAW) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: "In them is a great sin, and (some) benefit for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they ought to spend. Say: "That which is beyond your needs." Thus Allah makes clear to you His Laws in order that you may give thought."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

They ask thee about intoxicants and games of chance. Say: In both of them is a great sin and (some) advantage for men, and their sin is greater than their advantage. And they ask thee as to what they should spend. Say: What you can spare. Thus does Allah make clear to you the messages that you may ponder,

Mohammad Habib Shakir

They ask you about intoxicants and games of chance. Say: In both of them there is a great sin and means of profit for men, and their sin is greater than their profit. And they ask you as to what they should spend. Say: What you can spare. Thus does Allah make clear to you the communications, that you may ponder,

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

They question thee about strong drink and games of chance. Say: In both is great sin, and (some) utility for men; but the sin of them is greater than their usefulness. And they ask thee what they ought to spend. Say: that which is superfluous. Thus Allah maketh plain to you (His) revelations, that haply ye may reflect.

Muhammad Sarwar

(Muhammad), they ask you about wine and gambling. Tell them that there is great sin in them. Although they have benefits for men, the sin therein is far greater than the benefit. They ask you about what they should give for the cause of God. Tell them, "Let it be what you can spare." This is how God explains for you His guidance so that perhaps you will think

Qaribullah & Darwish

They ask you about intoxicating drink and gambling. Say: 'There is great sin in both, although they have some benefit for people; but their sin is far greater than their benefit' They ask you what they should spend. Say: 'That which remains' So, Allah makes plain to you His verses, in order that you will reflect

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: "In them is a great sin, and (some) benefits for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they ought to spend. Say: "That which is (spare) beyond your needs." Thus Allah makes clear to you His Laws in order that you may give thought.

Wahiduddin Khan

They ask you [Prophet] about intoxicants and gambling. Say, "There is great sin in both, although they have some benefit for people: but their harm is greater than their benefit." They ask you what they should spend [in God's cause]. Say, "Whatever is surplus to your needs." Thus God makes His commandments clear to you so that you may reflect

Talal Itani

They ask you about intoxicants and gambling. Say, “There is gross sin in them, and some benefits for people, but their sinfulness outweighs their benefit.” And they ask you about what they should give: say, “The surplus.” Thus God explains the revelations to you, so that you may think.

Tafsir jalalayn

They ask you about wine, and divinatory arrows, gambling, and what the ruling is regarding them. Say, to them; `In both, that is, in the partaking of both, is great sin (a variant reading [for kabr, `great'] has kathr, `much') because of the fighting, cursing and swearing that ensue from it; and profit for men, by way of delight and enjoyment in wine, and acquiring money effortlessly from gambling; but the sin in them, that is, the degenerate behaviour in which they result, is greater, graver, than the usefulness'. When this verse was revealed, some gave up drinking, while others persisted, until the verse of srat al-M'ida [Q. 5;90-91] finally made it illicit. And they will ask you what, that is to say, how much, they should expend. Say, expend, `Comfortably' (al-`afwa [in the accusative] is also read in the nominative, al-`afwu, implying a preceding huwa), that is, the surplus of your need, and do not expend what you need, ruining yourselves. So, just as He explained to you what has been mentioned, God makes clear His signs to you that you might reflect,

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Gradual Prohibition of Khamr (Alcoholic Drink)

Allah says;

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَأ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا

They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling.

Say;"In them is a great sin, and (some) benefits for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit."

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Maysarah said that;

Umar once said, "O Allah! Give us a clear ruling regarding Al-Khamr!" Allah sent down the Ayah of Surah Al-Baqarah;
يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ
(They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say;"In them is a great sin...). Umar was then summoned and the Ayah was recited to him.

Yet, he still said, "O Allah! Give us a clear ruling regarding Al-Khamr."

Then, this Ayah that is in Surah An-Nisa' was revealed;
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ لَا تَقْرَبُواْ الصَّلَةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَارَى
(O you who believe! Approach not As-Salah (the prayer) when you are in a drunken state), (4;43).

Then, when the prayer was called for, a person used to herald on behalf of Allah's Messenger, "No drunk person should attend the prayer."

Umar was summoned again and the Ayah was recited to him. Yet, he still said, "O Allah! Give us a clear ruling regarding Al-Khamr."

Then, the Ayah (5;91) that is in Surah Al-Ma'idah was revealed, Umar was again summoned and the Ayah was recited to him. When he reached;
فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّنتَهُونَ
(So, will you not then abstain) (5;91) he said, "We did abstain, we did abstain."

This is also the narration that Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i collected in their books.

Ali bin Al-Madini and At-Tirmidhi said that the chain of narrators for this Hadith is sound and authentic. We will mention this Hadith again along with what Imam Ahmad collected by Abu Hurayrah Allah's saying in Surah Al-Ma'idah;

إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالَانصَابُ وَالَازْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ


Intoxicants and gambling, and Al-Ansab, and Al-Azlam are an abomination of Satan's handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful. (5;90)

Allah said;

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ

They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning alcoholic drinks and gambling.

As for Al-Khamr, Umar bin Khattab, the Leader of the faithful, used to say, "It includes all what intoxicates the mind."

We will also mention this statement in the explanation of Surah Al-Ma'idah, along with the topic of gambling.

Allah said;

قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ


Say;In them is a great sin, and (some) benefits for men.

As for the harm that the Khamr and gambling cause, it effects the religion.

As for their benefit, it is material, including benefit for the body, digesting the food, getting rid of the excrements, sharpening the mind, bringing about a joyous sensation and financially benefiting from their sale.

Also, (their benefit includes) earnings through gambling that one uses to spend on his family and on himself. Yet, these benefits are outweighed by the clear harm that they cause which affects the mind and the religion.

This is why Allah said;

وَإِثْمُهُمَأ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا
but the sin of them is greater than their benefit.

This Ayah was the beginning of the process of prohibiting Khamr, not explicitly, but it only implied this meaning. So when this Ayah was recited to Umar, he still said, "O Allah! Give us a clear ruling regarding Al-Khamr."

Soon after, Allah sent down a clear prohibition of Khamr in Surah Al-Ma'idah;

يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالاٌّنصَابُ وَالاٌّزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَـنِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَـنُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَأءَ فِى الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَعَنِ الصَّلَوةِ فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُّنتَهُونَ

O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), and gambling, and Al-Ansab, and Al-Azlam are an abomination of Shaytan's handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful.
Shaytan wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from As-Salah (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain! (5;90-91)

We will mention this subject, by the will of Allah, when we explain Surah Al-Ma'idah.

Ibn Umar, Ash-Sha`bi, Mujahid, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi bin Anas and Abdur-Rahman bin Aslam stated that the first Ayah revealed about Khamr was;

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ


They ask you about Khamr and gambling. Say;"In them there is great sin."

Then, the Ayah in Surah An-Nisa was revealed (on this subject) and then the Ayah in Surah Al-Ma'idah which prohibited Khamr.
Spending whatever One could spare of his Money on Charity

Allah said;

وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ الْعَفْوَ

And they ask you what they ought to spend.

Say;"That which is (spare) beyond your needs."

Al-Hakam said that Miqsam said that Ibn Abbas said that this Ayah means,

whatever you can spare above the needs of your family.

This is also the opinion of Ibn Umar, Mujahid, Ata, Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Muhammad bin Ka`b, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Al-Qasim, Salim, Ata Al-Khurasani and Ar-Rabi bin Anas.

Ibn Jarir related that Abu Hurayrah said that a man said,

"O Messenger of Allah! I have a Dinar (a currency)."

The Prophet said;

أَنْفِقْهُ عَلى نَفْسِك

Spend it you on yourself.

He said, "I have another Dinar."

He said;

أَنْفِقْهُ عَلى أَهْلِك

Spend it on your wife.

He said, "I have another Dinar."

He said;

أَنْفِقْهُ عَلى وَلَدِك

Spend it on your offspring.

He said, "I have another Dinar."

He said;

فَأَنْتَ أَبْصَر

You have better knowledge (meaning how and where to spend it in charity).

Muslim also recorded this Hadith in his Sahih.

Muslim recorded that Jabir said that Allah's Messenger said to a man;

ابْدَأْ بِنَفْسِكَ فَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْهَا فَإِنْ فَضَلَ شَيْءٌ فَلَِهْلِكَ فَإِنْ فَضَلَ شَيْءٌ عَنْ أَهْلِكَ فَلِذِي قَرَابَتِكَ فَإِنْ فَضَلَ عَنْ ذِي قَرَابَتِكَ شَيْءٌ فَهكَذَا وَهكَذَا

Start with yourself and grant it some charity. If anything remains, then spend it on your family. If anything remains, then spend it on your relatives. If anything remains, then spend it like this and like that (i.e., on various charitable purposes).

A Hadith states;

ابْنَ ادَمَ إِنَّكَ أَنْ تَبْذُلَ الْفَضْلَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ وَأَنْ تُمْسِكَهُ شَرٌّ لَكَ وَلَا تُلَمُ عَلى كَفَاف

O son of Adam! If you spend whatever you can spare, it would be better for you; but if you keep it, it would be worse for you. You shall not be blamed for whatever is barely sufficient.

Allah said;

كَذَلِكَ يُبيِّنُ اللّهُ لَكُمُ الايَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ