17 . Sura al-Israa, Mecca 50

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَآتِ ذَا الْقُرْبَى حَقَّهُ وَالْمِسْكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ...   

17:26.  And render to the kindred their due rights, as (also) to those in want, and to the wayfarer:

C2208. ………..

With us, the worship of Allah is linked up with kindness;

-         to parents, kindred,

-         those in want,

-         those who are far from their homes though they may be total strangers to us.

It is not mere verbal kindness. They have certain rights which must be fulfilled.

...وَلاَ تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيرًا ﴿٢٦﴾

but squander not (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift.

C2209. All charity, kindness, and help are conditioned by our own resources. There is no merit if we merely spend out of bravado or for idle show.

How many families are ruined by extravagant expenses at weddings, funerals, etc., or (as they may call it) to "oblige friends or relatives", or to give to able-bodied beggars?

To no one was this command more necessary than it is to Muslims of the present day.

Asad’s Version:

17:26 And give his due to the near of kin, 30 as well as to the needy and the wayfarer, 31 but do not squander [thy substance] senselessly. 32

[[ Asad’s notes - 30 In this instance, "his due" evidently refers to the loving consideration due to one's relatives (Zamakhshari and Razi); those of them who are in a state of want are included in the subsequent mention of "the needy" (al-miskin).

31 Regarding this expression, see surah 2, note 145.

32 Lit., "with [utter] squandering" (tabdhiran), i.e., senselessly and to no good purpose. It is to be borne in mind that the term tabdhir does not relate to the quantity but, rather, to the purpose of one's spending. Thus, Ibn 'Abbas and Ibn Mas'ud (both of them quoted by Tabari) defined tabdhir as "spending without a righteous purpose" or "in a frivolous (batil) cause": and Mujahid is reported (ibid.) to have said, "If a man were to spend all that he possesses in a righteous cause, it could not be termed squandering; but if he spends even a small amount in a frivolous cause, it is squandering." ]]