Tafseer: {The Spendthrifts are the brothers of the Shayaateen}

SURAH AL-ISRAA (17): 26-32

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{And give to the kinsman his due, and to the Miskeen (poor), and to the wayfarer. But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift. * Verily, the spendthrifts are brothers of the Shayaateen (devils), and the Shaytaan is ever ungrateful to his Lord. * And if you turn away from them and you are awaiting a mercy from your Lord for which you hope, then, speak unto them a soft, kind word. * And let not your hand be tied (like a miser) to your neck, nor overextend it (like a spendthrift), so that you become blameworthy and in severe poverty. * Truly, your Lord expands the provision for whom He wills and straitens (for whom He wills). Verily, He is Ever All-Knower, All-Seer of His servants. * And kill not your children for fear of poverty. We shall provide for them as well as for you. Surely, the killing of them is a great sin. * And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a Faahishah [i.e. anything that transgresses its limits (a great sin)], and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allaah forgives him). }

Introduction and Summary:

The following is the translation of Tafseer on the above quoted verses from Surah al-Israa from the following Tafaaseer: 1. Tafseer al-Muyassar. 2. Tafseer Ibn Katheer. 3. Tafseer al-Sa`dee. 4. Tafseer Adwaa al-Bayaan. 5. and Tafseer al-Baghawee.

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The points explained here are: a. To give the poor their rights. b. It is not a favor one is doing to the poor; rather it is their right which they are receiving through him. c. To be moderate in spending. d. Spendthrifts are the brothers of the Shayaateen. e. Definition of extravagance. f. When you have no means, speak to the poor with kind words with the promise that youll provide them once you have the means (in shaa-Allaah). g. Being stingy or a spendthrift are both extremes and blameworthy acts. h. Prohibition of killing children due to fear of poverty. i. Love of Dunyaa and stinginess, leads people towards sinful acts like killing their own children, immoral actions (adultery and fornication) etc. From Tafseer al-Muyassar:

{And give to the kinsman his due, and to the Miskeen (poor), and to the wayfarer. But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift.} Do good to everyone who is your relative and next of kin, and give them their rights with benevolence and righteousness. And give the poor - who does not own enough to meet his requirements and provide for his needs; as well as the wayfarer who has been cut off from his family and wealth. And do not spend your wealth in disobedience to Allaah or extravagance and wastefully.

{Verily, the spendthrifts are brothers of the Shayaateen (devils), and the Shaytaan is ever ungrateful to his Lord.} The spendthrift and those who spend their wealth in disobedience to Allaah , they are similar to the Shayaateen in their evil, corruption and disobedience. For Shaitaan is full of Kufr and extremely ungrateful for the blessings of his Lord.

{And if you turn away from them and you are awaiting a mercy from your Lord for which you hope, then, speak unto them a soft, kind word.} And if you turn away from them those to whom it was commanded for you to give because you do not have anything to give them, as you are waiting for the sustenance from your Lord. So speak to them in soft, kind words, like making Du`aa for them that Allaah makes them rich and increases their sustenance with the promise that if Allaah with His bounty makes it easy for you and provides you, then you will give them from it.

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{And let not your hand be tied (like a miser) to your neck, nor overextend it (like a spendthrift), so that you become blameworthy and in severe poverty.} And do not hold your hands from spending in good ways, being stingy with yourself, your family and those who depend on you for their needs. And do not spend too much, by giving away more than you can afford, so that you become blameworthy, while regretting for wasting your wealth.

{Truly, your Lord expands the provision for whom He wills and straitens (for whom He wills). Verily, He is Ever All-Knower, All-Seer of His servants.} Your Lord increases the sustenance for some of the people and He restricts it on some others based on His divine Knowledge and Wisdom. He is well aware of what His slaves are going through and nothing is hidden from His knowledge about their situation.

{And kill not your children for fear of poverty. We shall provide for them as well as for you. Surely, the killing of them is a great sin.} So when you know that the sustenance is in the Hands of Allaah , then do not O people kill your children out of the fear of poverty. For He is the Sustainer of His slaves, providing for the children the way He provides for the parents. Verily, killing the children is a major sin.

{And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a Faahishah [i.e. anything that transgresses its limits (a great sin)], and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allaah forgives him). } [Translators Note: In the Quraan, Allaah has twice mentioned immorality after mentioning poverty and killing children because of it. He first mentioned them together in Surah al-An`aam (6): 151:

{kill not your children because of poverty - We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not near to Al-Fawaahish (shameful sins, illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly}

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He then mentioned them together in this Surah when He said:

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{And kill not your children for fear of poverty. We shall provide for them as well as for you. Surely, the killing of them is a great sin. * And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a Faahishah [i.e. anything that transgresses its limits (a great sin)], and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allaah forgives him). } Allaah knows best how fear of poverty and immorality are related but this is confirmed from the Sunnah of the Prophet when he said: Beware of stinginess for it destroyed the people who came before you. It commanded them to be miserly, so they were miserly; and it commanded them to cut the ties of kinship, so they cut them; and it commanded them to commit immoral actions, so they did so. [Sunan Abu Dawood (1698) and graded as Saheeh by Shaikh al-Albaanee. It was also graded as Saheeh by al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak and alDhahabee agreed with him]] --end of quote from Tafseer al-Muyassar. ******* From Tafseer Ibn Katheer :

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{And give to the kinsman his due, and to the Miskeen (poor), and to the wayfarer. But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift. * Verily, the spendthrifts are brothers of the Shayaateen (devils), and the Shaytaan is ever ungrateful to his Lord. * And if you turn away from them and you are awaiting a mercy from your Lord for which you hope, then, speak unto them a soft, kind word.} When Allaah mentioned honoring ones parents, He follows this with the command to treat ones relatives well and to maintain the ties of kinship. According to the Hadeeth:

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Your mother and your father, then your closest relatives and the next closest. [Sunan al-Tirmidhee (1897); Sunan Abu Dawood (5139) and graded as Hasan by Shaikh al-Albaanee] According to another Hadeeth:

Whoever would like to see his provision expanded and his life extended, let him maintain his ties of kinship. [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (5986) and Saheeh Muslim (6203)] About spending on the poor and the wayfarer was already discussed earlier under Surah al-Tawbah.

{But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift.} When Allaah commanded about spending, He forbade extravagance. Spending should be moderate, as stated in another Aayah:

{And those who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor stingy} [Surah al-Furqaan (25): 67] Then He says, to discourage extravagance:

{Verily, the spendthrifts are brothers of the Shayateen,} i.e. they have this trait in common. Ibn Mas`ood said: This refers to spending extravagantly when it is not appropriate (i.e. spending unnecessarily). Ibn `Abbaas said likewise. Mujaahid said: If a man spends all his wealth on appropriate things, then he is not a spendthrift, but if he spends a little inappropriately, then he is a spendthrift. Qataadah said: Extravagance means spending money on sin, in disobeying Allaah, and on wrongful and corrupt things. http://foodiefahoodie.blogspot.com/

Imaam Ahmad recorded that Anas bin Maalik said: A man came from Banoo Tameem to the Messenger of Allaah and said: `O Messenger of Allaah, I have a lot of wealth, I have a family, children, and the refinements of city life, so tell me how I should spend and what I should do. The Messenger of Allaah said:

Pay the Zakaah on your wealth if any is due, for it is purification that will make you pure, maintain your ties of kinship, pay attention to the rights of beggars, neighbors and the poor. He said: O Messenger of Allaah, make it less for me. He recited:

{And give to the kinsman his due, and to the Miskeen (poor) and to the wayfarer. But spend not wastefully in the manner of a spendthrift.} The man said: `That is enough for me, O Messenger of Allaah. If I pay Zakaah to your messenger, will I be absolved of that duty before Allaah and His Messenger The Messenger of Allaah said:

Yes, if you give it to my messenger, you will have fulfilled it, and you will have the reward for it, and the sin is on the one who changes it. [Musnad of Imaam Ahmad (12394) and it is Mursal narration (weak due to break in the chain).] In the saying of Allaah :

{Verily, the spendthrifts are brothers of the Shayateen}, meaning, they are their brothers in extravagance, foolishness, failing to obey Allaah and committing sin. Allaah said:

{and the Shaytaan is ever ungrateful to his Lord.}, meaning, he is an ingrate, because he denied the blessings of Allaah and did not obey Him, turning instead to disobedience and rebellion. http://foodiefahoodie.blogspot.com/

And the saying of Allaah :

{And if you turn away from them and you are awaiting a mercy from your Lord} `If your relatives and those to whom We have commanded you to give, ask you for something, and you do not have anything, and you turn away from them because you have nothing to give,

{then, speak unto them a soft, kind word.}, meaning, making a promise that you will help them and informing them that when you get your sustenance from Allaah, you will provide them from it, in-shaa Allaah. This is how the Aayah was interpreted:

{then, speak unto them a soft, kind word.}, meaning, with a promise. This was the opinion of Mujaahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`eed bin Jubayr, al-Hasan, Qataadah and others.

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{And let not your hand be tied (like a miser) to your neck, nor overextend it (like a spendthrift), so that you become blameworthy and in severe poverty. * Truly, your Lord expands the provision for whom He wills and straitens (for whom He wills). Verily, He is Ever All-Knower, All-Seer of His servants.} Allaah enjoins moderation in living. He condemns miserliness and forbids extravagance.

{And let not your hand be tied (like a miser) to your neck}, this means, do not be miserly and stingy, never giving anything to anyone, as the Jews - the curses of Allaah be upon them said:

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{Allaahs Hand is tied up (i.e., He does not give and spend of His bounty)}. [Surah al-Maaidah (5): 64] They attributed miserliness to Him ( Exalted and Sanctified, the Most Generous, the Bestower)!

{nor overextend it (like a spendthrift)} means, nor be extravagant in spending and giving more than you can afford, or paying more than you earn, lest you become blameworthy and find yourself in severe poverty. If you are a miser, people will blame you and condemn you, and no longer rely on you. When you spend more than you can afford, you will find yourself without anything to spend, so you will be worn out, like an animal that cannot walk, so it becomes weak and incapable. It is described as worn out, which is similar in meaning to exhausted. As Allaah says:

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{Then look again: Can you see any rifts Then look again and yet again, your sight will return to you in a state of humiliation and worn out.} [Surah al-Mulk (67):3-4] meaning, unable to see any faults. Similarly, Ibn `Abbaas, al-Hasan, Qataadah, Ibn Jurayj, Ibn Zayd and others understood this Aayah as miserliness and extravagance. It was reported in the Two Saheehs from the Hadeeth of Abu al-Zinaad from al-A`raj that Abu Hurairah heard the Messenger of Allaah saying:

The parable of the miser and the almsgiver is that of two persons wearing iron cloaks from their chests to their collar-bones. When the almsgiver gives in charity, the cloak becomes spacious until it covers his whole body to such an extent that it hides his fingertips and covers his tracks (obliterates his tracks - or, his sins will be forgiven). And when the miser wants to spend, it (the iron cloak) sticks and (its) every ring gets stuck to its place, and he tries to widen it, but it does not become wide. [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (5299) and Saheeh Muslim (2227). This version was recorded by al-Bukhari in the Book of Zakaah.] In the Two Saheehs it is recorded that Mu`awiyah bin Abi Muzarrid narrated from Sa`eed bin Yaasar that Abu Hurairah said: The Messenger of Allaah said:

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 : :
There is no day when a person wakes up but two angels come down from heaven. One of them says, `O Allaah, compensate the one who gives (in charity), and the other one says, `O Allaah, destroy the one who withholds. [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1442) and Saheeh Muslim (2205)] Narrated Asmaa bint Abu Bakr : Allaahs Messenger said: Give (in charity) and do not give reluctantly lest Allaah should give you in a limited amount; and do not withhold your money lest Allaah should withhold it from you. [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (2590, 2591) and Saheeh Muslim (2244). In another narration it is reported from Asmaa bint Abu Bakr that she had gone to the Prophet and he said: Do not shut your money bag; otherwise Allaah too will withhold His blessings from you. Spend (in Allaah's Cause) as much as you can afford. [Saheeh Muslim (1434, 2246)]] Muslim recorded from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said:

Charity does not in any way decrease the wealth and the servant who forgives All aah adds to his respect, and the one who shows humility Allaah elevates him in the estimation (of the people). [Saheeh Muslim (6264)] According to a Hadeeth narrated by Abu Katheer from `Abdullaah bin `Amr , who attributed it to the Prophet :

Beware of stinginess for it destroyed the people who came before you. It commanded them to be miserly, so they were miserly; and it commanded them to cut the ties of kinship, so they cut them; and it commanded them to commit immoral actions, so they did so. [Sunan Abu Dawood (1698) and graded as Saheeh by Shaikh al-Albaanee. It was also graded as Saheeh by al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak and alDhahabee agreed with him] Allaah says:

{Truly, your Lord expands the provision for whom He wills and straitens (for whom He wills).} This Aayah is telling us that Allaah is the One Who provides or withholds, the Bestower Who is running the affairs of His

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creation as He wills. He makes rich whomever He wills, and He makes poor whomever He wills, by the wisdom that is His. He said:

{Verily, He is Ever All-Knower, All-Seer of His servants.}, meaning, He knows and sees who deserves to be rich and who deserves to be poor. In some cases, richness may be decreed so that a person gets carried away, leading to his own doom. In other cases, poverty may be a punishment. We seek refuge with Allaah from both.

{And kill not your children for fear of poverty. We shall provide for them as well as for you. Surely, the killing of them is a great sin.} This Ayah indicates that Allaah is more compassionate towards His servants than a father to his child, because He forbids killing children just as He enjoins parents to take care of their children in matters of inheritance. The people of Jahiliyyah would not allow their daughters to inherit from them, and some would even kill their daughters lest they make them more poor. Allaah forbade that and said:

{And kill not your children for fear of poverty.}, meaning, lest they may make you poor in the future. This is why Allaah mentions the childrens provision first:

{We shall provide for them as well as for you.} In Surah al-An`aam, Allaah says:

{kill not your children because of poverty.} [Surah (6):151]

{We provide sustenance for you and for them} [Surah (6):151]

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{Surely, the killing of them is a great sin.}, means, a major sin. In the Saheeh it is recorded that `Abdullaah bin Mas`ood said: I said: `O Messenger of Allaah, which sin is the worst? He said:

To appoint rivals of Allaah when He has created you. I asked: Then what? He said:

To kill your child lest he should eat with you. I asked: Then what? He said:

To commit adultery with your neighbors wife. [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (4761, 6861, 7520)] --end of quote from Tafseer Ibn Katheer. ******* From Tafseer al-Sa`dee :

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Allaah says: {And give to the kinsman his due} meaning, give them their dues with kindness and honor from that which has been legislated and prescribed; and those rights vary as per the varying situations, relatives, requirements, and times. {and the Miskeen (poor)}, give them their rights from the Zakaah money and other than it so that his poverty can be warded off. {and to the wayfarer}, and he is a stranger and has been cut off from his land. So he can be paid from every type of wealth (i.e. Zakah money or sadaqah) as long as it does not harm the giver and it is well within his capacity. Otherwise it is extravagance which Allaah has warned us against:

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{Verily, the spendthrifts are brothers of the Shayaateen}, because Shaitaan doesnt call except towards every vice and evil deed. So he calls the person towards stinginess and hoarding of wealth. So when a person disobeys him in this, he calls them words over spending and extravagance. Whereas Allaah commands a middle path between the matters, which is more just and praised by Him. As Allaah mentioned about the righteous slaves of the Most Merciful:

{And those, who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but hold a medium (way) between those (extremes).} [Surah al-Furqaan (25): 67] And here Allaah said: {And let not your hand be tied (like a miser) to your neck}, tantamount to hoarding and stinginess. {nor overextend it (like a spendthrift)}, meaning, spending on unnecessary things or spending more than what is required. {so}, if you do that, {you become blameworthy}, meaning, blaming your own actions, {and in severe poverty}, meaning, you end up having nothing in your hand, becoming penniless. And this issue of providing for the relatives and next of kin is for the one who has the ability and money. But as for the who has nothing or has some difficulties in providing to the poor at that particular time, then Allaah commanded them to reply back to them in a good way, by saying:

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{And if you turn away from them and you are awaiting a mercy from your Lord for which you hope, then, speak unto them a soft, kind word. * And let not your hand be tied (like a miser) to your neck, nor overextend it (like a spendthrift), so that you become blameworthy and in severe poverty. * Truly, your Lord expands the provision for whom He wills and straitens (for whom He wills). Verily, He is Ever AllKnower, All-Seer of His servants} {And if you turn away from them and you are awaiting a mercy from your Lord for which you hope}, meaning, turning them away till some other time (once you have the means) and while you are waiting for ease in the matter from Allaah .

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{then, speak unto them a soft, kind word}, meaning, speaking with them nicely and gently and with a promise of providing to them once you have the (means and) opportunity and apologizing for not being able to provide at that time; so that they go back with a reassurance from you as Allaah said:

{Kind words and forgiving of faults are better than Sadaqah (charity) followed by injury} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 263] This is also from the Kindness of Allaah for His slaves, commanding them to wait for His Mercy and sustenance from Him, because waiting for them is Worship. Similarly, (commanding them) to make a promise, that upon ease to give Sadaqah - to the poor slaves who are present as a reassurance doing good for good (as Allaah did good to you). Therefore it is necessary for a person to do good - that which is within his capacity, and if he is unable, then he should make an intention to do it (later when he has the means) so that he gets rewarded for that (intention) and that Allaah makes it easy for him (because of his determination to help the needy). Thereafter, Allaah informed that He who expands the sustenance on whomsoever He will and straitens and restricts to whomsoever He wills all based on His Wisdom. {Verily, He is Ever All-Knower, All-Seer of His servants}, He bestows on them what He knows will be beneficial for them.

{And kill not your children for fear of poverty. We shall provide for them as well as for you. Surely, the killing of them is a great sin.} This is from His Mercy for His slaves, for He is merciful to them than their parents. He prohibited the parents from killing their children out of fear of poverty and destitution, for He has ensured sustenance for everyone. He also informed us that {the killing of them is a great sin}, meaning, one of the major sins because of which the Mercy is taken away from the heart and which entails a huge punishment for daring to kill the children who had committed no sin nor guilty of committing any crime. --end of quote from Tafseer al-Sa`dee. ******* From Tafseer Adhwaa al-Bayaan of al-Shinqeetee :

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{And if you turn away from them and you are awaiting a mercy from your Lord for which you hope, then, speak unto them a soft, kind word.} The word {them} in His saying refers back to the people mentioned in the previous verse:

{And give to the kinsman his due, and to the Miskeen (poor), and to the wayfarer} and the meaning of the verse is: when you turn away from those who are mentioned (in the verse) and you do not give them anything because you dont have it. And your excuse for them is:

{while and you are awaiting a mercy from your Lord for which you hope} meaning: Halaal sustenance, like war booty* which Allaah would provide you, and you would give them from it. *[Translators Note: in present day, we can also take the example of monthly wages and salaries]

{then, speak unto them a soft, kind word}, meaning: soft, nice, kind words, like making Du`aa for them that Allaah makes them rich and increases their sustenance for them; and making a promise to them that if Allaah , out of his bounty, makes it easy for them, that they will provide them from it (in shaa-Allaah). And this is a great lesson taught by Allaah to His Prophet about good manners, that if he is unable to provide in a good way (to the poor), then he should beatify (his speech) due to his inability to provide. This is because speaking in a good, soft way is better providing in a bad way. And this is what is evident from this verse, and Allaah has stated this in a clear way in Surah al-Baqarah:

{Kind words and forgiving of faults are better than Sadaqah (charity) followed by injury} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 263] And this verse (of Surah al-Israa) also indicates that the Prophet would not turn away from giving to anyone unless he himself had nothing to provide; and the awaited provision when Allaah makes it easy for him he would provide it to them (the poor). This is (an example of) highest level of ethics and good manners. Al-Qurtobee said the word:

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{soft, kind word}, is derived from the word words). --end of quote from Tafseer Adhwaa al-Bayaan. ******* From Tafseer al-Baghawee :

(ease) with the meaning of

(auspicious/promising

{But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift.}, meaning: do not spend your wealth in disobedience to Allaah . Ibn Mas`ood said: This refers to spending wealth inappropriately. --end of quote from Tafseer al-Baghawee.

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