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Withholding / Stinginess

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Withholding / Stinginess

بُخْل

Bukh (بُخْل), or stinginess, is a profound spiritual ailment in Islam, representing the greedy reluctance to share the blessings Allah has bestowed. It’s more than just a lack of generosity; it's a deep-seated attachment to worldly possessions, mistakenly believing that holding onto them will somehow benefit oneself. The Quran warns that those who [greedily withhold what Allah has given them of His bounty ever think that it is better for them. Rather, it is worse for them. Their necks will be encircled by what they withheld on the Day of Resurrection]. This inclination is recognized as a human weakness, as Allah observes, [ever has man been stingy]. However, believers are urged to rise above this, understanding that true wealth lies in spending for Allah's sake, not hoarding. Islam teaches that withholding harms only the individual, not Allah, who is [the Free of need]. To overcome *bukhl* is to cultivate trust in Allah's provision and embrace the virtues of charity and open-handedness, finding inner peace and spiritual reward rather than the blame and insolvency that come from being [chained to your neck or extend it completely].

Quran 12 verses

وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ هُوَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمْ سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَٰثُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ

Wa laa yahsabannal lazeena yabkhaloon bimaa aataahumul lahu min fadilhee huwa khairal lahum bal huwa sharrul lahum sayutaw waqoona maa bakhiloo bihee Yawmal Qiyaamah; wa lillaahi meeraasus samaawaati wal ard; wallaahu bimaa ta'maloona Khabeer

And let not those who [greedily] withhold what Allah has given them of His bounty ever think that it is better for them. Rather, it is worse for them. Their necks will be encircled by what they withheld on the Day of Resurrection. And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. And Allah, with what you do, is [fully] Acquainted.

جو لوگ مال میں جو خدا نے اپنے فضل سے ان کو عطا فرمایا ہے بخل کرتے ہیں وہ اس بخل کو اپنے حق میں اچھا نہ سمجھیں۔ (وہ اچھا نہیں) بلکہ ان کے لئے برا ہے وہ جس مال میں بخل کرتے ہیں قیامت کے دن اس کا طوق بنا کر ان کی گردنوں میں ڈالا جائے گا۔ اور آسمانوں اور زمین کا وارث خدا ہی ہے۔ اور جو عمل تم کرتے ہوخدا کو معلوم ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Anomalies in the conduct of Jews were mentioned at the beginning of Surah 'Al-` Imran (21-25). The text now reverts back to the same subject. The verses cited above carry related topics. In between, there are words of comfort for the Holy Prophet ﷺ as well as those giving good counsel to Muslims. Co...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Let them not suppose read lā yahsabanna ‘let them not suppose’ or lā tahsabanna ‘do not suppose’ those who are niggardly with what God has given them of His bounty that is with His obligatory almsgiving that it their niggardliness is better for them khayrun lahum is the second direct object; the pro...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Comforting the Messenger of Allah ﷺ Allah said to His Prophet, وَلاَ يَحْزُنكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَـرِعُونَ فِى الْكُفْرِ (And let not those grieve you who rush with haste to disbelieve) 3:176. Because the Prophet was eager for people's benefit, he would become sad when the disbelievers would resort to de...

فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَىٰهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ بَخِلُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ

Falammaaa aataahum min fadlihee bakhiloo bihee wa tawallaw wa hum mu'ridoon

But when he gave them from His bounty, they were stingy with it and turned away while they refused.

لیکن جب خدا نے ان کو اپنے فضل سے (مال) دیا تو اس میں بخل کرنے لگے اور (اپنے عہد سے) روگردانی کرکے پھر بیٹھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The second verse: وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ عَاهَدَ اللَّـهَ (And among them there are those who made a pledge with Allah - 75) is also connected with a particular event which has been reported by Ibn Jarir, Ibn Abi Hatim, Ibn Marduwayh, Al-Tabarani and Al-Baihaqi on the authority of a narration from Sayyidna...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Yet when He gave them of His bounty they became niggardly with it and turned away from obedience to God in aversion.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Hypocrites seek Wealth but are Stingy with Alms Allah says, some hypocrites give Allah their strongest oaths that if He enriches them from His bounty, they will give away alms and be among the righteous. However, they did not fulfill their vows or say the truth with their words. The consequence of t...

وَلَا تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلَىٰ عُنُقِكَ وَلَا تَبْسُطْهَا كُلَّ ٱلْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُومًا مَّحْسُورًا

Wa laa taj'al yadaka maghloolatan il 'unuqika wa laa tabsut haa kullal basti fataq'uda maloomam mahsooraa

And do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck or extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent.

اور اپنے ہاتھ کو نہ تو گردن سے بندھا ہوا (یعنی بہت تنگ) کرلو (کہ کسی کچھ دو ہی نہیں) اور نہ بالکل کھول ہی دو (کہ سبھی دے ڈالو اور انجام یہ ہو) کہ ملامت زدہ اور درماندہ ہو کر بیٹھ جاؤ

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary The instruction for moderation in spending In this verse, the Holy Prophet ﷺ is the direct addressee while the entire Muslim ummah is being addressed through him. The purpose is to teach a just and moderate course in spending which does not prevent one from helping others nor does it end ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And do not keep your hand chained to your neck in other words do not withhold it completely from expending nor open it in order to expend completely or you will sit blameworthy — this refers to the first case — and denuded cut off having nothing — this refers to the latter case.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Moderation in Spending Allah enjoins moderation in living. He condemns miserliness and forbids extravagance. وَلاَ تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلَى عُنُقِكَ (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...

قُل لَّوْ أَنتُمْ تَمْلِكُونَ خَزَآئِنَ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّىٓ إِذًا لَّأَمْسَكْتُمْ خَشْيَةَ ٱلْإِنفَاقِ وَكَانَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ قَتُورًا

Qul law antum tamlikoona khazaaa'ina rahmati Rabbeee izal la amsaktum khash yatal infaaq; wa kaanal insaanu qatooraa

Say [to them], "If you possessed the depositories of the mercy of my Lord, then you would withhold out of fear of spending." And ever has man been stingy.

کہہ دو کہ اگر میرے پروردگار کی رحمت کے خزانے تمہارے ہاتھ میں ہوتے تو تم خرچ ہوجانے کے خوف سے (ان کو) بند رکھتے۔ اور انسان دل کا بہت تنگ ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary The truth of the matter about what has been said in the last verse (100) is that the treasures of the mercy of Allah are limit-less and end-less. They are never going to end, but man is by nature narrow-minded, short on courage. When it comes to giving, he is not motivated enough to share...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Say to them ‘If you possessed the treasuries of my Lord’s mercy those treasuries of provision and rain you would surely withhold them you would stint for fear of spending fearing that they would be depleted if one spent from them and that you would then become impoverished; and man is ever niggardly...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Holding back is Part of Man's Nature Allah says to His Messenger : "Tell them, O Muhammad, even if you had authority over the treasures of Allah, you would refrain from spending for fear of exhausting it." Ibn `Abbas and Qatadah said, "This means for fear of poverty," lest it run out, despite the fa...

هَٰٓأَنتُمْ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ تُدْعَوْنَ لِتُنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَمِنكُم مَّن يَبْخَلُ وَمَن يَبْخَلْ فَإِنَّمَا يَبْخَلُ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْغَنِىُّ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلْفُقَرَآءُ وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوٓا۟ أَمْثَٰلَكُم

haaa antum haaa'ulaaa'i tud'awna litunfiqoo fee sabeelillaahi faminkum many yabkhalu wa many yabkhal fa innamaa yabkhalu 'an nafsih; wallaahu Ghaniyyu wa antumul fuqaraaa'; wa in tatwal law yastabdil qawman ghairakum summa laa yakoonooo amsaalakum

Here you are - those invited to spend in the cause of Allah - but among you are those who withhold [out of greed]. And whoever withholds only withholds [benefit] from himself; and Allah is the Free of need, while you are the needy. And if you turn away, He will replace you with another people; then they will not be the likes of you.

دیکھو تم وہ لوگ ہو کہ خدا کی راہ میں خرچ کرنے کے لئے بلائے جاتے ہو۔ تو تم میں ایسے شخص بھی ہیں جو بخل کرنے لگتے ہیں۔ اور جو بخل کرتا ہے اپنے آپ سے بخل کرتا ہے۔ اور خدا بےنیاز ہے اور تم محتاج۔ اور اگر تم منہ پھیرو گے تو وہ تمہاری جگہ اور لوگوں کو لے آئے گا اور وہ تمہاری طرح کے نہیں ہوں گے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: تُدْعَوْنَ لِتُنفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ فَمِنكُم مَّن يَبْخَلُ "... you are called upon to spend in Allah's way, but some of you withhold in miserliness". Further the verse reads: وَمَن يَبْخَلْ فَإِنَّمَا يَبْخَلُ عَن نَّفْسِهِ (and he who withholds in miserliness withholds against himself - 47...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Lo! there you are O those who are being called to expend in the way of God that which has been prescribed for you; yet among you there are those who are niggardly; and whoever is niggardly is niggardly only to his own soul one may say bakhila ‘alayhi or bakhila ‘anhu to mean ‘he was niggardly to som...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Showing the Triviality of the Worldly Life and encouraging Spending Expressing the insignificance and worthlessness of the worldly life, Allah says, إِنَّمَا الْحَيَوةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ (This worldly life is only amusement and diversion.) which means that such is its outcome, except for th...

وَأَعْطَىٰ قَلِيلًا وَأَكْدَىٰٓ

Wa a'taa qaleelanw wa akdaa

And gave a little and [then] refrained?

اور تھوڑا سا دیا (پھر) ہاتھ روک لیا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: وَأَعْطَىٰ قَلِيلًا وَأَكْدَىٰ (and gave a little, and stopped? ...53:34) The word akda is derived from kudyah which refers to a hard or stony piece of ground or clod that appears in the course of digging a well or a trench. As a result, the digger cannot dig any further. Thus the meaning of the ver...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: and gave a little of the stated sum of money and was then grudging? refrained from giving the remainder akdā derives from al-kudya earth that is hard as rock and which prevents the well-digger from digging through when he hits it.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Chastising Those Who disobey Allah and stop giving Charity Allah the Exalted chastises those who turn away from His obedience, فَلاَ صَدَّقَ وَلاَ صَلَّى - وَلَـكِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّى (So he (the disbeliever) neither believed nor prayed! But on the contrary, he belied and turned away!)(75:31-32), وَ...

وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ

Wa laa yastasnoon

Without making exception.

اور انشاء الله نہ کہا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ (and did not make any exception (by saying 'insha'Allah' ). [ 68:18] '. The word isthisna' in the original Arabic means 'to make an exception by saying "insha'Allah"'. However, some scholars interpret this word, in this context, to mean that 'they would devour the entire harvest ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And they did not make any exception to their vow for God’s will the sentence is a new syntactically independent one in other words and that was their condition.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): قَالُواْ سُبْحَـنَ رَبّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـلِمِينَ- فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ يَتَلَـوَمُونَ- قَالُواْ يوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَـغِينَ- عَسَى رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْراً مّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَى رَبّنَا رغِبُونَ- كَذَلِكَ الْعَذَابُ وَلَعَذَابُ الاْخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ لَوْ كَانُواْ يَعْلَمُ...

أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ

Al laa yadkhulannahal yawma 'alaikum miskeen

[Saying], "There will surely not enter it today upon you [any] poor person."

آج یہاں تمہارے پاس کوئی فقیر نہ آنے پائے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: فَتَنَادَوْا مُصْبِحِينَ (So, they called out each other as the morning broke 68:21). This means that they starting waking up each other in the early morning that they should set out early if they wanted to harvest. وَهُمْ يَتَخَافَتُونَ (...while they were whispering to each other ... 68:23). They ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: ‘No needy person shall today come to you in it’ this constitutes the explication of the preceding verse; or else an relates to the verbal action to be understood to mean bi-an.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): قَالُواْ سُبْحَـنَ رَبّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـلِمِينَ- فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ يَتَلَـوَمُونَ- قَالُواْ يوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَـغِينَ- عَسَى رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْراً مّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَى رَبّنَا رغِبُونَ- كَذَلِكَ الْعَذَابُ وَلَعَذَابُ الاْخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ لَوْ كَانُواْ يَعْلَمُ...

وَجَمَعَ فَأَوْعَىٰٓ

W jama'a fa aw'aa

And collected [wealth] and hoarded.

اور (مال) جمع کیا اور بند کر رکھا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: تَدْعُو مَنْ أَدْبَرَ‌ وَتَوَلَّىٰ وَجَمَعَ فَأَوْعَىٰ (It will call him who had turned his back and fled away (from the truth.) and accumulated (wealth) and hoarded (it)....70:17, 18). The phrase 'accumulated wealth' signifies 'wealth accumulated by unlawful means' and the phrase 'hoarded it' signi...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: and amassed wealth then hoarded keeping it in containers and refraining from paying from it what is God’s due.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Terrors of the Day of Judgement Allah says that the torment will befall the disbelievers. يَوْمَ تَكُونُ السَّمَآءُ كَالْمُهْلِ (The Day that the sky will be like the Al-Muhl.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ata, Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Ikrimah, As-Suddi and others have all said, "Like the residue of oil." وَتَكُ...

وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلْخَيْرُ مَنُوعًا

Wa izaa massahul khairu manoo'aa

And when good touches him, withholding [of it],

اور جب آسائش حاصل ہوتی ہے تو بخیل بن جاتا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: إِذَا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ‌ جَزُوعًا وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ الْخَيْرُ‌ مَنُوعًا (very upset when touched by evil, and very niggard when visited by good (fortune)... 70:20-21). This verse describes the fickle nature of man. When bad things happen to him he becomes desperate and upset, and loses patience. When g...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: and when good befalls him he is grudging at the point of that good befalling him that is to say when wealth befalls him he is grudging to give of it what is due to God;
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Man is Impatient Allah informs about man and his inclination to corrupt his behavior. Allah says, إِنَّ الإِنسَـنَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعاً (Verily, man was created very impatient;) Then, Allah explains this statement by saying, إِذَا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ جَزُوعاً (Apprehensive when evil touches him;) meaning, w...

وَأَمَّا مَنۢ بَخِلَ وَٱسْتَغْنَىٰ

Wa ammaa mam bakhila wastaghnaa

But as for he who withholds and considers himself free of need

اور جس نے بخل کیا اور بےپروا بنا رہا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: فَسَنُيَسِّرُ‌هُ لِلْيُسْرَ‌ىٰ (We will facilitate for him the way to extreme ease [ i.e. the comforts of Paradise ]....92:7). The word yusra literally denotes 'ease and comfort' or a thing in which there is no difficulty, but here it refers to "Paradise". Likewise, referring to the second group it ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: But as for him who is niggardly with what is due to God and deems himself self-sufficient without need for His reward 929 and denies the best word
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Recitation of Surat Al-Layl in the `Isha' Prayer The statement of the Prophet to Mu`adh has already preceded, where he said, «فَهَلَّا صَلَّيْتَ ب سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الاّعْلَى وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَـهَا وَالَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى» (Why did you not pray with (the recitation of) (Glorify the Name of ...

وَيَمْنَعُونَ ٱلْمَاعُونَ

Wa yamna'oonal ma'oon

And withhold [simple] assistance.

اور برتنے کی چیزیں عاریتہً نہیں دیتے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The love of the world causes nations to lose faith and consign Allah to oblivion This Surah denounces some of the evil actions of the pagans and the hypocrites, and it holds out a threat of destruction to those who commit them. If these evil actions are committed by believers, who do not reject the ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: and deny aid as insignificant as a needle a hatchet a cooking pot or a bowl.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Which was revealed in Makkah بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Allah says, "O Muhammad! Have you seen the one who denies the Din" Here the word Din means the Hereafter, the Recompense and the Final Reward. فَذَلِكَ الَّذِى يَدُعُّ الْي...

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