Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nur Verse 22

Mufti Taqi Usmani

The men of grace and wealth among you should not swear against giving (their charitable gifts) to the kinsmen and the poor and to those who have migrated in the way of Allah, and they should forgive and forego. Do you not like that Allah forgives you? Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Do not let the people of virtue and affluence among you swear to suspend donations to their relatives, the needy, and the emigrants in the cause of Allah. Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love to be forgiven by Allah? And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.[[ This verse was revealed when Abu Bakr Aṣ-Ṣiddîq, ’Ȃishah’s father, swore to end his financial assistance to his poor cousin, Misṭaḥ ibn Athathah, for taking part in the rumours against ’Ȃishah. Once the verse was revealed, Abu Bakr resumed his assistance to Misṭaḥ. ]] 

Ruwwad Translation Center

The people of virtue and affluence among you should not swear to withhold their aid from their relatives, the needy and the emigrants in the cause of Allah. Let them pardon and overlook. Do you not like to be forgiven by Allah? For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

A. J. Arberry

Let not those of you who possess bounty and plenty swear off giving kinsmen and the poor and those who emigrate in the way of God; but let them pardon and forgive. Do you not wish that God should forgive you? God is All-forgiving, All-compassionate.

Abdul Haleem

Those who have been graced with bounty and plenty should not swear that they will [no longer] give to kinsmen, the poor, those who emigrated in God’s way: let them pardon and forgive. Do you not wish that God should forgive you? God is most forgiving and merciful.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And let not the owners of affluence and amplitude among you swear off from giving unto the kindred and the needy and the emigrants in the way of Allah; let them pardon and overlook. Love ye not that Allah should forgive you And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Let not those among you who are endued with grace and amplitude of means resolve by oath against helping their kinsmen, those in want, and those who have left their homes in Allah's cause; let them forgive and overlook, do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Abul Ala Maududi

Those among you, who are bountiful and persons of means, should not swear on oath that they would withhold their help from their relatives, the indigent and those who have left their homes for the cause of Allah: they should forgive and forbear. Do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

Ahmed Ali

Let not those who are men of plenty and means among you swear that they will not give to their relatives and the poor and those who leave their homes in the service of God. They should forgive and overlook (their failings). Would you not like God to forgive you? And God is forgiving and kind.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And may not those who possess superiority (in wealth) among you and possess capacity, swear not to give to the relatives and to the needy, and to immigrants in Allah's cause; and they should forgive and forbear; do you not like that Allah may forgive you? And Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Ali Quli Qarai

The well-off and the opulent among you should not vow that they will not give [any longer] to the relatives and the needy, and to those who have migrated in the way of Allah, and let them excuse and forbear. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.

Ali Ünal

Let not those among you who are favored with resources swear that they will no longer give to the kindred, the needy, and those who have emigrated in God’s cause, (even though those wealthy ones suffer harm at the hands of the latter). Rather let them pardon and forbear. Do you not wish that God should forgive you? God is All-Forgiving, All-Compassionate.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And let not those of you who are possessed of grace (with moral virtue) and of plenty (of riches like Abû Bakr) swear that they will give nothing to the kindred, the needy and those who have left their homes for the cause of Allâh, but let them forgive and forbear (the offence). Do you not desire that Allâh should protect you (against your faults)? And Allâh is Great Protector, Ever Merciful.

English Literal

(Owners) of the grace/favour/blessing and the wealth/abundance from you do not slacken/relax , that they give/bring (those) of the relations/near, and the poorest of poor/poor oppressed, and the emigrants in God`s sake/path , and to forgive/pardon, and they should forgive/pardon, do you not love/like that God forgives for you? And God (is) forgiving, merciful.

Faridul Haque

And may not those who possess superiority (in wealth) among you and possess capacity, swear not to give to the relatives and to the needy, and to immigrants in Allah´s cause; and they should forgive and forbear; do you not like that Allah may forgive you? And Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Hamid S. Aziz

O you who believe! Follow not the footsteps of Satan, for he who follows the footsteps of Satan, verily, he bids you filth (the shameful) and wrong. Had it not been for the grace of Allah upon you and His mercy unto you, not one of you would have grown pure; but Allah causes whom He will to grow (or become purified), for Allah is Hearer, Knower.

Hilali & Khan

And let not those among you who are blessed with graces and wealth swear not to give (any sort of help) to their kinsmen, Al-Masakin (the poor), and those who left their homes for Allah's Cause. Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

O you who believe, follow not the footsteps of the devil. And whoever follows the footsteps of the devil, surely he commands indecency and evil. And were it not for Allah’s grace on you and His mercy, not one of you would ever have been purse, but Allah purifies whom He pleases. And Allah is Hearing, Knowing.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And let not those of you who possess grace and abundance swear against giving to the near of kin and the poor and those who have fled in Allah's way, and they should pardon and turn away. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And let not those who possess dignity and ease among you swear not to give to the near of kin and to the needy, and to fugitives for the cause of Allah. Let them forgive and show indulgence. Yearn ye not that Allah may forgive you? Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Muhammad Sarwar

The well-to-do and the rich among you should not fail to give to relatives, the destitute, and Emigrants for the cause of God. Be considerate and forgiving. Do you not want God to forgive you? God is All-forgiving and All-merciful.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Do not let those of you who possess bounty and plenty swear not to give kinsmen, and the poor, and those who emigrate in the way of Allah. Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not yearn that Allah forgives you? And Allah is the Forgiver, the Most Merciful.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And let not those among you who are blessed with graces and wealth swear not to give to their kinsmen, the poor, and those who left their homes for Allah's cause. Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Wahiduddin Khan

Let not those who are possessed of means and plenty among you resolve to withhold their bounty from their kindred and the needy and those who have migrated from their homes in the cause of God. Let them forgive and overlook. Do you not wish God to forgive you? God is forgiving and merciful.

Talal Itani

Those of you who have affluence and means should not refuse to give to the relatives, and the needy, and the emigrants for the sake of God. And let them pardon, and let them overlook. Do you not love for God to pardon you? God is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Tafsir jalalayn

And do not let those of you who possess bounty, the wealthy, and the affluent swear not to give to the near of kin and the poor and those who emigrate in the way of God -- this was revealed regarding Ab Bakr who swore to provide no more for Mistah, his maternal cousin, a destitute Emigrant who had fought at [the battle of] Badr, because of his involvement in the calumny, when thitherto he had provided for him. And [it was revealed also regarding] certain Companions who swore not to give voluntary alms to those who had participated in [spreading] the calumny in any way. Let them forgive and excuse, them in this matter. Do you not love that God should forgive you? And God is Forgiving, Merciful, to believers. Ab Bakr said; `Indeed. I would love that God forgive me', and he restored [thereafter] to Mistah what he used to expend on him.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Urging Those Who have been blessed with Wealth to give and to be tolerant

Allah says,

وَلَا يَأْتَلِ

And let not swear,

meaning, make an oath,

أُوْلُوا الْفَضْلِ مِنكُمْ

those among you who are blessed with graces,

means, those who have the means to give charity and do good,

وَالسَّعَةِ

and wealth,

means, good fortune,

أَن يُوْتُوا أُوْلِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ

to give to their kinsmen, the poor, and those who left their homes for Allah's cause.

means, do not swear that you will not uphold the ties of kinship with your relatives who are needy or who migrated for the sake of Allah, which is the ultimate act of kindness in the area of upholding kinship ties.

Allah says,

وَلْيَعْفُوا وَلْيَصْفَحُوا

Let them pardon and forgive.

past insults and bad treatment.

This is part of the patience, generosity and kindness of Allah towards His creation, despite the fact that they wrong themselves.

This Ayah was revealed concerning As-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, when he swore that he would not help Mistah bin Uthathah after he said what he said about A'ishah, as we have already seen in the Hadith.

When Allah revealed the innocence of the Mother of the believers, A'ishah, and the believers were happy and content with the outcome of this incident, and those believers who had talked about the matter repented, and the prescribed punishment had been carried out upon those on whom it was carried out, then Allah started to soften the heart of As-Siddiq towards his relative Mistah bin Uthathah.

Mistah was the cousin of As-Siddiq, the son of his maternal aunt, and he was a poor man with no wealth except whatever Abu Bakr spent on him. He was one of those who had migrated for the sake of Allah. He had invented the lies and the slander, but then Allah accepted his repentance from that and the prescribed punishment was carried out on him.

As-Siddiq was known for his generosity and he did favors to his relatives and strangers alike. When this Ayah was revealed;

أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ

Do you not love that Allah should forgive you,

which shows that the reward fits the action, and that `if you forgive others, you will be forgiven,' then As-Siddiq said,

"Of course, by Allah, we love -- O our Lord -- that You should forgive us."

Then he resumed his spending on Mistah and said, "By Allah I will never stop spending on him."

This was to counteract what he had said previously, "By Allah I will never spend on him."

This proves that he deserved to be called As-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him and his daughter.

وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ



And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful