Al-Qur'an Surah At-Tawbah Verse 121

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Whatever they spend, be it less or more, and whenever they cross a valley, is all written down for them, so that Allah may give them the best reward for what they used to do.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And whenever they make a donation, small or large, or cross a valley ˹in Allah’s cause˺—it is written to their credit, so that Allah may grant them the best reward for what they used to do.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Nor do they spend anything [for Allah’s cause], small or large, or cross a valley, but it is recorded for them, so that Allah may give them the best reward for what they used to do.

A. J. Arberry

Nor do they expend any sum, small or great, nor do they traverse any valley, but it is written to their account, that God may recompense them the best of what they were doing.

Abdul Haleem

if they spend a little or a lot for God’s cause, if they traverse a mountain pass, all this is recorded to their credit so that God can reward them in accordance with the best of their deeds.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And they expend not an expending, small or great, or transverse a vale, but it is written down unto them, so that Allah may recompense them with the best for that which they have been working.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Nor could they spend anything (for the cause) - small or great- nor cut across a valley, but the deed is inscribed to their credit; that Allah may requite their deed with the best (possible reward).

Abul Ala Maududi

Likewise, each amount they spend, be it small or large, and each journey they undertake, shall be recorded in their favour so that Allah may bestow upon them reward for their good deeds.

Ahmed Ali

There is not a sum, large or small, that they spend, not a piece of land that they traverse (in the service of God) which is not put down in their favour, so that God could reward them for what they had done.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And whatever they spend, small or great, or any valley they cross – it is all recorded for them, so that Allah may reward them for their best deeds.

Ali Quli Qarai

And neither do they incur any expense, big or small, nor do they cross any valley, but it is written to their account, so that Allah may reward them by the best of what they used to do.

Ali Ünal

Nor do they spend any amount for God’s sake, small or great, nor do they cross a valley (while traveling in God’s cause), but it is recorded for them (to their account) so that God may repay them the best reward for what they used to do .

Amatul Rahman Omar

Nor do they spend any sum, little or much, nor do they traverse a valley (during their Jihâd expedition) but it is recorded to their account, that Allâh may award them the highest (reward) for their deeds.

English Literal

And they do not spend a small/little, and nor great/large expense/expenditure, and nor cross a valley, except it was written/decreed for them, (it is for) God to reward/compensate them (the) best (of) what they were making/doing .

Faridul Haque

And whatever they spend, small or great, or any valley they cross - it is all recorded for them, so that Allah may reward them for their best deeds.

Hamid S. Aziz

Nor do they spend in alms a small or great amount, nor do they cross a valley, but it is recorded for them, that Allah may repay them with better than that which they have done.

Hilali & Khan

Nor do they spend anything (in Allah's Cause) - small or great - nor cross a valley, but is written to their credit, that Allah may recompense them with the best of what they used to do (i.e. Allah will reward their good deeds according to the reward of their best deeds which they did in the most perfect manner).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

It was not proper for the people of Madinah and those round about them of the desert Arabs to remain behind the Messenger of Allah, nor to prefer their own lives to his life. That is because there afflicts them neither thirst nor fatigue nor hunger in Allah’s way, nor tread they a path which enrages the disbelievers, nor cause they any harm to an enemy, but a good work is written down for them on account of it. Surely Allah wastes not the reward of the doers of good.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Nor do they spend anything that may be spent, small or great, nor do they traverse a valley, but it is written down to their credit, that Allah may reward them with the best of what they have done.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Nor spend they any spending, small or great, nor do they cross a valley, but it is recorded for them, that Allah may repay them the best of what they used to do.

Muhammad Sarwar

Also, they would not have spent anything, great or small, for the cause of God or travel through a valley without God decreeing a reward for them far better than whatever they had done.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Each sum they spend, be it small or large, and each valley they cross is written to their account, so that Allah may recompense them for their best deeds.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Neither do they spend any contribution -- small or great -- nor cross a valley, but is written to their credit that Allah may recompense them with the best of what they used to do.

Wahiduddin Khan

and whenever they spend anything [for the sake of God], be it little or much, and whenever they traverse the land [in God's cause] -- it is recorded to their credit, and God will grant them the best reward for all that they have been doing.

Talal Itani

Nor do they spend any expenditure, small or large, nor do they cross any valley, but it is recorded to their credit. That God may reward them in accordance with the best of their deeds.

Tafsir jalalayn

Nor expend they, therein [in the way of God], any sum, small, even if it be a single date, or great, nor do they cross a valley, during a [campaign] march, but it is recorded for them, as a righteous deed, that God may reward them the best of what they used to do, that is, the [due] reward thereof.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah said next,

وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ

Neither do they spend,

in reference to the fighters in Allah's cause,

نَفَقَةً صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً

any contribution -- small or great --,

with regards to its amount,

وَلَا يَقْطَعُونَ وَادِيًا

nor cross a valley,

while marching towards the enemy,

إِلاَّ كُتِبَ لَهُمْ

but is written to their credit,

for these actions that they take (and which are under their control),

لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ



that Allah may recompense them with the best of what they used to do.

Certainly, the Leader of the faithful, Uthman bin Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, acquired a tremendous share of the virtues mentioned in this honorable Ayah. He spent large amounts and tremendous wealth on this battle (Tabuk).

Abdullah, the son of Imam Ahmad recorded that Abdur-Rahman bin Khabbab As-Sulami said;

"The Messenger of Allah gave a speech in which he encouraged spending on the army of distress (for Tabuk).

Uthman bin Affan, may Allah be pleased with him said; `I will give one hundred camels with their saddles and supplies.'

Then he exhorted them some more. So Uthman said; `I will give one hundred more camels with their saddles and supplies.'

Then he descended one step of the Minbar and exhorted them some more. So Uthman bin Affan said; `I will give one hundred more camels with their saddles and supplies.'

Then I saw Allah's Messenger with his hand moving like this - and Abdus-Samad's (one of the narrators) hand went out like one in amazement - he said,

مَا عَلَى عُثْمَانَ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ هَذَا

It does not matter what Uthman does after.

It is also recorded in the Musnad that Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah said,"

Uthman brought a thousand Dinars in his garment so that the Prophet could prepare supplies for the army of distress. Uthman poured the money on the Prophet's lap, and the Prophet started turning it around with his hand and declaring repeatedly,

مَا ضَرَّ ابْنَ عَفَّانٍ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ الْيَوْم

The son of Affan (i.e., Uthman) will never be harmed by anything he does after today."

Qatadah commented on Allah's statement,
وَلَا يَقْطَعُونَ وَادِيًا إِلاَّ كُتِبَ لَهُمْ
(nor cross a valley, but is written to their credit),

"The farther any people march forth away from their families in the cause of Allah, the nearer they will be to Allah.