Al-Qur'an Surah Ar-Rum Verse 39

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Whatever Ribā (increased amount) you give, so that it may increase in the wealth of the people, it does not increase with Allah; and whatever Zakāh you give, seeking Allah’s pleasure with it, (it is multiplied by Allah, and) it is such people who multiply (their wealth in real terms.)

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Whatever loans you give, ˹only˺ seeking interest at the expense of people’s wealth[[ Another meaning is the gift given to someone with the intention of getting a more expensive gift in return—a common ancient practice. ]] will not increase with Allah. But whatever charity you give, ˹only˺ seeking the pleasure of Allah—it is they whose reward will be multiplied.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Whatever you lend in usury in order to gain more at the expense of people’s wealth, it will not increase [in reward] with Allah. But whatever you give as charity, seeking Allah’s pleasure – it is they who will have multiple reward.

A. J. Arberry

And what you give in usury, that it may increase upon the people's wealth, increases not with God; but what you give in alms, desiring God's Face, those -- they receive recompense manifold.

Abdul Haleem

Whatever you lend out in usury to gain value through other people’s wealth will not increase in God’s eyes, but whatever you give in charity, in your desire for God’s approval, will earn multiple rewards.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And whatsoever ye give in gift in order that it may increase among the substance of men increaseth not with Allah; and whatsoever ye give in poor-rate seeking the countenance of Allah-then those: they shall, have increase manifold.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

That which ye lay out for increase through the property of (other) people, will have no increase with Allah; but that which ye lay out for charity, seeking the Countenance of Allah, (will increase); it is these who will get a recompense multiplied.

Abul Ala Maududi

Whatever you pay as interest so that it may increase the wealth of people does not increase in the sight of Allah. As for the Zakah that you give, seeking with it Allah's good pleasure, that is multiplied manifold.

Ahmed Ali

What you give on interest to increase (your capital) through others' wealth, does not find increase with God; yet what you give (in alms and charity) with a pure heart, seeking the way of God, will be doubled.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And that which you give upon usury, in order that it may increase the creditors’ property, will not increase before Allah; and the charity you give seeking the pleasure of Allah – only that will increase manifold.

Ali Quli Qarai

What you give in usury in order that it may increase people’s wealth does not increase with Allah. But what you pay as zakat seeking Allah’s pleasure—it is they who will be given a manifold increase.

Ali Ünal

Whatever you give to people in usurious hope that it may return to you increased by through the goods of (other) people, will bring no increase in God’s sight. Whereas whatever you give in charity seeking God’s "Face" (His approval and good pleasure) – for those there is increase (of recompense) multiplied.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And that which you lay out as interest and usuary with a view to increase the wealth of the people does not help increase it in the sight of Allâh. But that which you present as Zakât (purifying dues) with a view to seek (thereby) the pleasure of Allâh, it is they (- the regular payers of Zakât) then who will increase (their wealth) many times over.

English Literal

And what you gave/brought from a growth/increase/any interest (mortgages etc.) to grow/increase in the people`s properties/wealths , so (it) does not grow/increase at God, and what you gave/brought from charity/purification , you want/intend God`s face/front/direction, so those, they are the doublers/multipliers.

Faridul Haque

And that which you give upon usury, in order that it may increase the creditors’ property, will not increase before Allah; and the charity you give seeking the pleasure of Allah – only that will increase manifold.

Hamid S. Aziz

Then give to the near of kin his due, and to the needy and the wayfarer; this is best for those who desire Allah´s countenance (presence, pleasure), and these it is who are successful.

Hilali & Khan

And that which you give in gift (to others), in order that it may increase (your wealth by expecting to get a better one in return) from other people's property, has no increase with Allah, but that which you give in Zakat seeking Allah's Countenance then those, they shall have manifold increase.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

See they not that Allah enlarges provision and straitens (it) for whom He pleases? Certainly there are signs in this for a people who believe.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And whatever you lay out as usury, so that it may increase in the property of men, it shall not increase with Allah; and whatever you give in charity, desiring Allah's pleasure-- it is these (persons) that shall get manifold.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

That which ye give in usury in order that it may increase on (other) people's property hath no increase with Allah; but that which ye give in charity, seeking Allah's Countenance, hath increase manifold.

Muhammad Sarwar

God will not allow to increase whatever illegal interest you try to receive in order to increase your wealth at the expense of people's property. Whatever amount of zakat you give to please God will be doubled (for you).

Qaribullah & Darwish

That which you give in usury so that it increases in other people's wealth, will not increase with Allah; but the charity you give desiring the Face of Allah, to those, they shall be recompensed many times over.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And that which you give in Riba in order that it may increase from other people's property, has no increase with Allah; but that which you give in Zakah seeking Allah's Face, then those they shall have manifold increase.

Wahiduddin Khan

Whatever you lend out in usury to gain in value through other people's wealth will not increase in God's eyes, but whatever you give in alms in your desire for God's pleasure will be multiplied.

Talal Itani

The usury you practice, seeking thereby to multiply people’s wealth, will not multiply with God. But what you give in charity, desiring God’s approval—these are the multipliers.

Tafsir jalalayn

And what you give in usury -- such as when something is given as a gift or a present for the purpose of demanding more in return; it [the practice of usury] (rib) is referred to by the same noun denoting that [illicit] `extra' (ziyda) requested in the [financial] transaction -- that it may increase the wealth of the people, giving it, does not increase with God -- there is no reward in it for those who give it. But what you give as alms (zakt), as voluntary alms (sadaqa), seeking, thereby, God's Countenance, such [of you who do so] -- they are the receivers of manifold increase, in their reward for what they sought (there is here a shift of address away from the second person).

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَمَا اتَيْتُم مِّن رِّبًا لِّيَرْبُوَ فِي أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ فَلَ يَرْبُو عِندَ اللَّهِ

And that which you give in Riba, in order that it may increase from other people's property, has no increase with Allah;

This means, that which is given as a gift to others in the hope that they will give back more than they were given. There is no reward for this with Allah.

This is how this Ayah was interpreted by Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah, Ikrimah, Muhammad bin Ka`b and Ash-Sha`bi.

Allah says;

وَمَا اتَيْتُم مِّن زَكَاةٍ تُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ فَأُوْلَيِكَ هُمُ الْمُضْعِفُونَ



but that which you give in Zakah seeking Allah's Face, then those they shall have manifold increase.

Those are the ones for whom Allah will multiply the reward.

It was reported in the Sahih;

وَمَا تَصَدَّقَ أَحَدٌ بِعَدْلِ تَمْرَةٍ مِنْ كَسْبٍ طَيِّبٍ إِلاَّ أَخَذَهَا الرَّحْمَنُ بِيَمِينِهِ فَيُرَبِّيهَا لِصَاحِبِهَا كَمَا يُرَبِّي أَحَدُكُمْ فَلُوَّهُ أَوْ فَصِيلَهُ حَتَّى تَصِيرَ التَّمْرَةُ أَعْظَمَ مِنْ أُحُد

No person gives in charity the equivalent of a date which was earned in a lawful manner, but the Most Merciful takes it in His Right Hand and takes care of it for its owner, just as any one of you takes care of his foal or young camel, until the date becomes the size of Mount Uhud.
Creation, Provision, Life and Death are all in the Hand of Allah

Allah says