It is for this very reason, Allah has asked His servants to help others from what they have been given, lest death begets them and they leave behind their coffers stuffed with money that if had been given away in charity, would have come to their rescue on the Day of the Judgment.
Of the many verses from Qur'an on charity, we share the 10th verse of Surah Al-Munafiqun which emphasizes the importance of giving charity (sadaqah) and performing good deeds before death, as once death comes, it is too late for repentance or righteous actions. The verse reads:
وَاَنۡفِقُوۡا مِنۡ مَّا رَزَقۡنٰكُمۡ مِّنۡ قَبۡلِ اَنۡ يَّاۡتِىَ اَحَدَكُمُ الۡمَوۡتُ فَيَقُوۡلَ رَبِّ لَوۡلَاۤ اَخَّرۡتَنِىۡۤ اِلٰٓى اَجَلٍ قَرِيۡبٍۙ فَاَصَّدَّقَ وَاَكُنۡ مِّنَ الصّٰلِحِيۡنَ
(63:10) And spend of what Allah has granted you by way of sustenance before death should come to any of you and he should say: “Lord, why did You not defer my return for a while so that I might give alms and be among the righteous?”
With respect to charitable donations, the surah here touches their hearts in several ways: "Give, then, out of what We have provided for you." This reminds us of the source of all that we have. It is all from God in whom we believe and who instructs us to be generous and charitable. Such giving should be done "before death comes to any ofyou.. ." It should be a result of the person's own action before death overtakes him and he leaves everything behind for others to enjoy. If he does not do so then he will look around only to discover that he has put nothing forward for his own salvation. This is the worst stupidity and the greatest loss. He will then feel pangs of regret and wish he could have more time to be charitable and join with those people who are righteous.
Let us expand this verse to have a detailed view of its revelation:
- Command to Spend in Charity: The verse instructs believers to give from what Allah has provided them. This refers to wealth, time, and abilities that Allah has granted as a means to support others and to earn His pleasure. Charity (sadaqah) is a major way to purify wealth and help those in need.
- Before Death Approaches: The warning is clear: believers should act while they are alive and capable. Once death comes, there will be no opportunity to return to life and rectify one's shortcomings, including giving charity or engaging in righteous deeds.
- Regret After Death: The verse portrays a scene where a person, upon realizing that death is imminent, regrets not having spent their wealth in charity or having performed more righteous deeds. They beg for a delay or extension of life so they can return to perform good deeds, especially charity. However, at that point, it is too late, and no delay will be granted.
Supporting Hadith and Teachings:
The theme of this verse is reflected in many hadiths that highlight the importance of giving charity and performing good deeds during one's lifetime, as these actions cannot be performed after death.
- Hadith on Giving Charity Before Death: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the urgency of giving charity before it is too late. He said:
“A man said: O Messenger of Allah, which charity is the most virtuous? He said: 'To give in charity when you are healthy and miserly, fearing poverty and hoping for a long life. Do not delay until the soul reaches the throat, and then say: ‘This is for so-and-so, and that is for so-and-so,’ when it has already become so-and-so's.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 2748)
This hadith reinforces the message of the verse by advising believers to give charity while they are still alive, in good health, and capable. The Prophet warns that delaying charity until the moment of death is futile because once death approaches, the opportunity to perform good deeds is lost.
- Hadith on Regret After Death: The Prophet (peace be upon him) also mentioned how the deceased will regret not having done more during their lifetime. He said:
"The servant says, 'My Lord, give me respite so that I may give charity and be among the righteous.' But Allah will not grant respite to a soul when its appointed time has come." (Sahih al-Bukhari, 4679)
This hadith directly mirrors the sentiment expressed in the verse: once the time of death arrives, no further chances will be given to perform acts of righteousness, including charity.
- The Value of Charity: The Prophet (peace be upon him) greatly emphasized the importance of charity and how it benefits both the giver and society. He said:
"Charity does not decrease wealth. No one forgives another except that Allah increases his honor, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah raises his status." (Sahih Muslim, 2588)
Charity is seen not as a loss of wealth, but as a means to gain blessings and honor in both this life and the Hereafter. This hadith encourages believers to give freely and frequently without fearing poverty.
Broader Lessons from the Verse and Hadith:
- The Urgency of Good Deeds: Both the verse and hadiths convey a sense of urgency in performing good deeds, particularly giving charity. Life is short and unpredictable, and death can come at any moment. Believers should make the most of their time and wealth by engaging in righteous actions.
- Regret of the Negligent: After death, the opportunity to rectify one’s shortcomings is gone. The verse captures the regret that many will feel at not having done more, particularly in helping others and supporting charitable causes.
- Giving While Alive and Healthy: The hadith encourages giving charity when one is healthy and able, rather than delaying until death approaches. Charity given in such a state demonstrates sincerity and a willingness to part with wealth for the sake of Allah, without waiting for the moment when it is too late.
- Charity as a Means of Salvation: Charity is one of the most virtuous deeds in Islam. It not only purifies one’s wealth but also serves as a shield from Allah's displeasure and punishment. Thus, giving generously in one’s lifetime is a way to secure success in the Hereafter.
Surah Al-Munafiqun, verse 10, along with the supporting hadiths, serves as a reminder for believers to give charity and engage in righteous actions while they are still able. The verse warns against procrastination in doing good deeds, as death could come at any moment, leaving no further opportunity for repentance or charity. The hadiths reinforce the urgency of acting before death and the regret that will come to those who delay, making it clear that charity is an essential part of a believer’s duty that must be fulfilled during their lifetime.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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