2. Surah Al Baqarah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَأَنفِقُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَلاَ تُلْقُواْ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ ...

2: 195. And spend of your substance in the Cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to your destruction,

C211. Every fight requires the wherewithals for the fight, the "sinews of war".

- If the war is just and in the cause of Allah, all who have wealth must spend it freely. That may be their contribution to the Cause, in addition to their personal effort, or if for any reason they are unable to fight.

- If they hug their wealth, perhaps their own hands are helping in their own self destruction. Or

- if their wealth is being spent, not in the Cause of Allah, but in something which pleases their fancy, it may be that the advantage goes to the enemy, and they are by their action helping their own destruction.

In all things, their standard should be, not selfishness, but the good of their brethren, for such good is pleasing to Allah.

... وَأَحْسِنُوَاْ إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١٩٥﴾

but do good; for Allah loveth those who do good.

Other Versions:

2: 195

Asad And spend [freely] in God’s cause, and let not your own hands throw you into destruction [note 173]; and persevere in doing good: behold, God loves the doers of good.

Pickthall Spend your wealth for the cause of Allah, and be not cast by your own hands to ruin; and do good. Lo! Allah loveth the beneficent.

Transliteration Wa anfiqu_ fi sabililla_hi wa la_ tulqu_ bi aidikum ilat tahlukah(ti), wa ahsinu_ innalla_ha yuhibbul muhsinin(a).

[ Asad’s note 173 – I.e., “you might bring about your own destruction by withholding your personal and material contribution to this common effort”.

[ Ali’s note – 211 …………. In all things, their standard should be, not selfishness, but the good of their brethren, for such good is pleasing to God. (2.195