Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nisa Verse 39

Mufti Taqi Usmani

What harm was there for them if they had believed in Allah and the Last Day, and spent out of what Allah had given them. Allah knows all about them.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

What harm could have come to them if they had believed in Allah and the Last Day and donated from what Allah has provided for them? And Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of them.

Ruwwad Translation Center

What harm would it do to them to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and spend out of what Allah has provided for them? For Allah is All-Knowing of them.

A. J. Arberry

Why, what would it harm them, if they believed in God and the Last Day, and expended of that God has provided them? God knows them.

Abdul Haleem

What harm would it do them to believe in God and the Last Day, and give charitably from the sustenance God has given them? God knows them well.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And what would befall them were they to believe in Allah and the Last Day and expend out of that wherewith Allah hath provided them? And of them Allah is ever the Knower.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And what burden Were it on them if they had faith in Allah and in the Last Day, and they spent out of what Allah hath given them for sustenance? For Allah hath full knowledge of them.

Abul Ala Maududi

What harm would have befallen them if they had believed in Allah and the Last Day, and spent on charity what Allah had bestowed upon them as sustenance? For Allah indeed has full knowledge of them.

Ahmed Ali

Would something have befallen them if they had believed in God and the Last Day, and spent of what has been given them by God? God is fully aware of all they do.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And what would they lose, if they had believed in Allah and the Last Day and spent from what Allah has bestowed upon them? And Allah knows them very well.

Ali Quli Qarai

What harm would it have done them had they believed in Allah and the Last Day, and spent out of what Allah has provided them? Allah knows them well.

Ali Ünal

Why, what (harm) would fall upon them, if they believed in God and the Last Day, and spent out of what God has provided for them (purely for the pleasure of God), and God has full knowledge of them (of what they believe in and what they spend)?

Amatul Rahman Omar

Why, what (harm) could come to them if they believed in Allâh and in the Last Day and spent from that which Allâh had provided them? Indeed, Allâh knows them full well.

English Literal

And what (is) on them if they believed with God, and the Day the Last/Resurrection Day, and they spent from what God provided for them, and God was/is with them knowledgeable.

Faridul Haque

And what would they lose, if they had believed in Allah and the Last Day and spent from what Allah has bestowed upon them? And Allah knows them very well.

Hamid S. Aziz

What if We bring from every nation a witness, and bring you as a witness against these!

Hilali & Khan

And what loss have they if they had believed in Allah and in the Last Day, and they spend out of what Allah has given them for sustenance? And Allah is Ever All-Knower of them.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And those who spend their wealth to be seen of men and believe not in Allah nor in the Last Day. And as for him whose companion is the devil, an evil companion is he!

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And what (harm) would it have done them if they had believed in Allah and the last day and spent (benevolently) of what Allah had given them? And Allah knows them.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

What have they (to fear) if they believe in Allah and the Last Day and spend (aright) of that which Allah hath bestowed upon them, when Allah is ever Aware of them (and all they do)?

Muhammad Sarwar

How could it have harmed them if they had believed in God and the Last Day and spent their property for the cause of God? God knows them very well

Qaribullah & Darwish

What (harm) could befall them if they believed in Allah and the Last Day and spent of what Allah provided them with? Allah is Knowledgeable of them all.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And what loss have they if they had believed in Allah and in the Last Day, and they spend out of what Allah has given them for sustenamce And Allah is Ever All-Knower of them.

Wahiduddin Khan

What harm could befall them if they believed in God and the Last Day, and spent out of what God bestowed on them? God knows them well.

Talal Itani

What would they have lost, had they believed in God and the Last Day, and gave out of what God has provided for them? God knows them very well.

Tafsir jalalayn

And what burden is on them if they were to believe in God and the Last Day, and expend of what God has provided them?, that is to say, what harm would this cause them? In other words, there is no harm therein. Rather, harm lies in what they follow (the interrogative is meant as a disavowal; the law [of law man, `if they were to believe'] conveys the sense of the verbal noun [sc. mdh `alayhim mnuhum, `what burden would their belief be upon them?']). God is ever Aware of them, and will requite them for what they have done.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَمَاذَا عَلَيْهِمْ لَوْ امَنُواْ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاخِرِ وَأَنفَقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقَهُمُ اللّهُ

And what loss have they if they had believed in Allah and in the Last Day, and they spend out of what Allah has given them for sustenance!

This Ayah means, what harm would it cause them if they believe in Allah, go on the righteous path, replace showing off with sincerity, have faith in Allah, and await His promise in the Hereafter, for those who do good and spend what He has given them on what He likes and is pleased with.

Allah's statement;

وَكَانَ اللّهُ بِهِم عَلِيمًا



And Allah is Ever All-Knower of them.

means, He has perfect knowledge of their intentions, whether good or evil. Indeed, Allah knows those who deserve success, and He grants them success and guidance, directing them to perform righteous actions that will earn them His pleasure. He also knows those who deserve failure and expulsion from His great mercy, which amounts to utter failure in this life and the Hereafter for them, we seek refuge in Allah from this evil end