Quran Verses about Stinginess

وَلَا يَحۡسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَبۡخَلُونَ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦ هُوَ خَيۡرٗا لَّهُمۖ بَلۡ هُوَ شَرّٞ لَّهُمۡۖ سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُواْ بِهِۦ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِۗ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَٰثُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرٞ ١٨٠

Wa lā yaḥsabannal-ladhīna yabkhalūna bimā ātāhumullāhu min faḍlihī huwa khayral lahum, bal huwa sharrul lahum, sayuṭawwaqūna mā bakhilū bihī yawmal-qiyāmah, walillāhi mīrāthus-samāwāti wal-arḍ, wallāhu bimā taʿmalūna khabīr.

And let not those who [greedily] withhold what Allāh 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 Allāh belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. And Allāh, of what you do, is [fully] Aware.

ٱلَّذِينَ يَبۡخَلُونَ وَيَأۡمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلۡبُخۡلِ وَيَكۡتُمُونَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦۗ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لِلۡكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٗا مُّهِينٗا ٣٧

Al-ladhīna yabkhalūna wa yaʾmurūnan-nāsa bil-bukhli wa yaktumūna mā ātāhumullāhu min faḍlih, wa aʿtadnā lil-kāfirīna ʿadhābam muhīnā.

Who are stingy and enjoin upon [other] people stinginess and conceal what Allāh has given them of His bounty - and We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment -

وَٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمۡوَٰلَهُمۡ رِئَآءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَلَا بِٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِۗ وَمَن يَكُنِ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ لَهُۥ قَرِينٗا فَسَآءَ قَرِينٗا ٣٨

Wal-ladhīna yunfiqūna amwālahum riʾāʾan-nāsi wa lā yuʾminūna billāhi wa lā bil-yawmil-ākhir, wa may yakunish-shayṭānu lahū qarīnan fasāʾa qarīnā.

And [also] those who spend of their wealth to be seen by the people and believe not in Allāh nor in the Last Day. And he to whom Satan is a companion - then evil is he as a companion.

وَمَاذَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ لَوۡ ءَامَنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِ وَأَنفَقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقَهُمُ ٱللَّهُۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِمۡ عَلِيمًا ٣٩

Wa mādhā ʿalayhim law āmanū billāhi wal-yawmil-ākhiri wa anfaqū mimmā razaqahumullāh, wa kānallāhu bihim ʿalīmā.

And what [harm would come] upon them if they believed in Allāh and the Last Day and spent out of what Allāh provided for them? And Allāh is ever, about them, Knowing.

لِّكَيۡلَا تَأۡسَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ مَا فَاتَكُمۡ وَلَا تَفۡرَحُواْ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمۡۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخۡتَالٖ فَخُورٍ ٢٣

Likaylā taʾsaw ʿalā mā fātakum wa lā tafraḥū bimā ātākum, wallāhu lā yuḥibbu kulla mukhtālin fakhūr.

In order that you not despair over what has eluded you and not exult [in pride] over what He has given you. And Allāh does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful -

ٱلَّذِينَ يَبۡخَلُونَ وَيَأۡمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلۡبُخۡلِۗ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلۡغَنِيُّ ٱلۡحَمِيدُ ٢٤

Al-ladhīna yabkhalūna wa yaʾmurūnan-nāsa bil-bukhl, wa may yatawalla fa innallāha huwal-ghaniyyul-ḥamīd.

[Those] who are stingy and enjoin upon people stinginess. And whoever turns away¹ - then indeed, Allāh is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.

كـَلَّآۖ إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ ١٥

Kallā, innahā laẓā.

No!¹ Indeed, it is the Flame [of Hell],

نَزَّاعَةٗ لِّلشَّوَىٰ ١٦

Nazzāʿatal lish-shawā.

A remover of exteriors.¹

تَدۡعُواْ مَنۡ أَدۡبَرَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ ١٧

Tadʿū man adbara wa tawallā.

It invites he who turned his back [on truth] and went away [from obedience]

وَجَمَعَ فَأَوۡعَىٰٓ ١٨

Wa jamaʿa fa awʿā.

And collected [wealth] and hoarded.

كـَلَّاۖ بَل لَّا تُكۡرِمُونَ ٱلۡيَتِيمَ ١٧

Kallā, bal lā tukrimūnal-yatīm.

No!¹ But you do not honor the orphan

وَلَا تَحَٰٓضُّونَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ ٱلۡمِسۡكِينِ ١٨

Wa lā taḥāḍḍūna ʿalā ṭaʿāmil-miskīn.

And you do not encourage one another to feed the poor.

وَتَأۡكُلُونَ ٱلتُّرَاثَ أَكۡلٗا لَّمّٗا ١٩

Wa taʾkulūnat-turātha aklal lammā.

And you consume inheritance, devouring [it] altogether,¹

وَتُحِبُّونَ ٱلۡمَالَ حُبّٗا جَمّٗا ٢٠

Wa tuḥibbūnal-māla ḥubban jammā.

And you love wealth with immense love.

وَأَمَّا مَنۢ بَخِلَ وَٱسۡتَغۡنَىٰ ٨

Wa ammā mam bakhila wastaghnā.

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

وَكَذَّبَ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ ٩

Wa kadhdhaba bil-ḥusnā.

And denies the best [reward],

فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلۡعُسۡرَىٰ ١٠

Fasanuyassiruhū lil-ʿusrā.

We will ease him toward difficulty.

وَمَا يُغۡنِي عَنۡهُ مَالُهُۥٓ إِذَا تَرَدَّىٰٓ ١١

Wa mā yughnī ʿanhu māluhū idhā taraddā.

And what will his wealth avail him when he falls?¹

وَيَمۡنَعُونَ ٱلۡمَاعُونَ ٧

Wa yamnaʿūnal-māʿūn.

And withhold [simple] assistance.

ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ يَعِدُكُمُ ٱلۡفَقۡرَ وَيَأۡمُرُكُم بِٱلۡفَحۡشَآءِۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَعِدُكُم مَّغۡفِرَةٗ مِّنۡهُ وَفَضۡلٗاۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٞ ٢٦٨

Ash-shayṭānu yaʿidukumul-faqra wa yaʾmurukum bil-faḥshāʾ, wallāhu yaʿidukum maghfiratam minhu wa faḍlā, wallāhu wāsiʿun ʿalīm.

Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allāh promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing.

۞ وَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ عَٰهَدَ ٱللَّهَ لَئِنۡ ءَاتَىٰنَا مِن فَضۡلِهِۦ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ وَلَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ ٧٥

Wa minhum man ʿāhadallāha laʾin ātānā min faḍlihī lanaṣṣaddaqanna wa lanakūnanna minaṣ-ṣāliḥīn.

And among them are those who made a covenant with Allāh, [saying], "If He should give us from His bounty, we will surely spend in charity, and we will surely be among the righteous."

فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَىٰهُم مِّن فَضۡلِهِۦ بَخِلُواْ بِهِۦ وَتَوَلَّواْ وَّهُم مُّعۡرِضُونَ ٧٦

Falammā ātāhum min faḍlihī bakhilū bihī wa tawallaw wa hum muʿriḍūn.

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

فَأَعۡقَبَهُمۡ نِفَاقٗا فِي قُلُوبِهِمۡ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ يَلۡقَوۡنَهُۥ بِمَآ أَخۡلَفُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا وَعَدُوهُ وَبِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡذِبُونَ ٧٧

Fa aʿqabahum nifāqan fī qulūbihim ilā yawmi yalqawnahū bimā akhlafullāha mā waʿadūhu wabimā kānū yakdhibūn.

So He penalized them with hypocrisy in their hearts until the Day they will meet Him - because they failed Allāh in what they promised Him and because they [habitually] used to lie.

قُل لَّوۡ أَنتُمۡ تَمۡلِكُونَ خَزَآئِنَ رَحۡمَةِ رَبِّيٓ إِذٗا لَّأَمۡسَكۡتُمۡ خَشۡيَةَ ٱلۡإِنفَاقِۚ وَكَانَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ قَتُورٗا ١٠٠

Qul law antum tamlikūna khazāʾina raḥmati rabbī idhal laʾamsaktum khashyatal-infāq, wa kānal-insānu qatūrā.

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.

إِنَّمَا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا لَعِبٞ وَلَهۡوٞۚ وَإِن تُؤۡمِنُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ يُؤۡتِكُمۡ أُجُورَكُمۡ وَلَا يَسۡـَٔلۡكُمۡ أَمۡوَٰلَكُمۡ ٣٦

Innamal-ḥayātud-dunyā laʿibuw wa lahw, wa in tuʾminū watattaqū yuʾtikum ujūrakum wa lā yasʾalkum amwālakum.

[This] worldly life is only amusement and diversion. And if you believe and fear Allāh, He will give you your rewards and not ask you for your properties.

إِن يَسۡـَٔلۡكُمُوهَا فَيُحۡفِكُمۡ تَبۡخَلُواْ وَيُخۡرِجۡ أَضۡغَٰنَكُمۡ ٣٧

Iy yasʾalkumūhā fayuḥfikum tabkhalū wa yukhrij aḍghānakum.

If He should ask you for them and press you, you would withhold, and He would expose your hatred [i.e., unwillingness].

هَٰٓأَنتُمۡ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ تُدۡعَوۡنَ لِتُنفِقُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَمِنكُم مَّن يَبۡخَلُۖ وَمَن يَبۡخَلۡ فَإِنَّمَا يَبۡخَلُ عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦۚ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلۡغَنِيُّ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلۡفُقَرَآءُۚ وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوۡاْ يَسۡتَبۡدِلۡ قَوۡمًا غَيۡرَكُمۡ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوٓاْ أَمۡثَٰلَكُم ٣٨

Hāʾantum hāʾulāʾi tudʿawna litunfiqū fī sabīlillāhi faminkum may yabkhal, wa may yabkhal fa innamā yabkhalu ʿan nafsih, wallāhul-ghaniyyu wa antumul-fuqarāʾ, wa in tatawallaw yastabdil qawman ghayrakum thumma lā yakūnū amthālakum.

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

وَلَا تَجۡعَلۡ يَدَكَ مَغۡلُولَةً إِلَىٰ عُنُقِكَ وَلَا تَبۡسُطۡهَا كُلَّ ٱلۡبَسۡطِ فَتَقۡعُدَ مَلُومٗا مَّحۡسُورًا ٢٩

Wa lā tajʿal yadaka maghlūlatan ilā ʿunuqika wa lā tabsuṭhā kullal-basṭi fataqʿuda malūmam maḥsūrā.

And do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck¹ or extend it completely² and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent.

وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَنفَقُواْ لَمۡ يُسۡرِفُواْ وَلَمۡ يَقۡتُرُواْ وَكَانَ بَيۡنَ ذَٰلِكَ قَوَامٗا ٦٧

Wal-ladhīna idhā anfaqū lam yusrifū wa lam yaqturū wa kāna bayna dhālika qawāmā.

And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate

وَٱلَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُو ٱلدَّارَ وَٱلۡإِيمَٰنَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ يُحِبُّونَ مَنۡ هَاجَرَ إِلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ فِي صُدُورِهِمۡ حَاجَةٗ مِّمَّآ أُوتُواْ وَيُؤۡثِرُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ وَلَوۡ كَانَ بِهِمۡ خَصَاصَةٞۚ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفۡسِهِۦ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ ٩

Wal-ladhīna tabawwaʾud-dāra wal-īmāna min qablihim yuḥibbūna man hājara ilayhim wa lā yajidūna fī ṣudūrihim ḥājatam mimmā ūtū wa yuʾthirūna ʿalā anfusihim wa law kāna bihim khaṣāṣah, wa may yūqa shuḥḥa nafsihī fa ulāʾika humul-mufliḥūn.

And [also for] those who were settled in the Home [i.e.,al-Madīnah] and [adopted] the faith before them.¹ They love those who emigrated to them and find not any want in their breasts of what they [i.e., the emigrants] were given but give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful.

فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُمۡ وَٱسۡمَعُواْ وَأَطِيعُواْ وَأَنفِقُواْ خَيۡرٗا لِّأَنفُسِكُمۡۗ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفۡسِهِۦ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ ١٦

Fattaqullāha mastaṭaʿtum wasmaʿū wa aṭīʿū wa anfiqū khayral liʾanfusikum, wa may yūqa shuḥḥa nafsihī fa ulāʾika humul-mufliḥūn.

So fear Allāh as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend [in the way of Allāh]; it is better for your selves. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful.

إِنَّا بَلَوۡنَٰهُمۡ كَمَا بَلَوۡنَآ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ إِذۡ أَقۡسَمُواْ لَيَصۡرِمُنَّهَا مُصۡبِحِينَ ١٧

Innā balawnāhum kamā balawnā aṣḥābal-jannati idh aqsamū layaṣrimunnahā muṣbiḥīn.

Indeed, We have tried them as We tried the companions of the garden, when they swore to cut its fruit in the [early] morning

وَلَا يَسۡتَثۡنُونَ ١٨

Wa lā yastathnūn.

Without making exception.¹

فَطَافَ عَلَيۡهَا طَآئِفٞ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمۡ نَآئِمُونَ ١٩

Faṭāfa ʿalayhā ṭāʾifum mir rabbika wa hum nāʾimūn.

So there came upon it [i.e., the garden] an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep.

فَأَصۡبَحَتۡ كَٱلصَّرِيمِ ٢٠

Fa aṣbaḥat kaṣ-ṣarīm.

And it became as though reaped.

فَتَنَادَوۡاْ مُصۡبِحِينَ ٢١

Fatanādaw muṣbiḥīn.

And they called one another at morning,

أَنِ ٱغۡدُواْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡثِكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰرِمِينَ ٢٢

Anighdū ʿalā ḥarthikum in kuntum ṣārimīn.

[Saying], "Go early to your crop if you would cut the fruit."

فَٱنطَلَقُواْ وَهُمۡ يَتَخَٰفَتُونَ ٢٣

Fanṭalaqū wa hum yatakhāfatūn.

So they set out, while lowering their voices,

أَن لَّا يَدۡخُلَنَّهَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ عَلَيۡكُم مِّسۡكِينٞ ٢٤

Al lā yadkhulannahal-yawma ʿalaykum miskīn.

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

وَغَدَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ حَرۡدٖ قَٰدِرِينَ ٢٥

Wa ghadaw ʿalā ḥardin qādirīn.

And they went early in determination, [assuming themselves] able.¹

فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهَا قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ ٢٦

Falammā raʾawhā qālū innā laḍāllūn.

But when they saw it, they said, "Indeed, we are lost;

بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ ٢٧

Bal naḥnu maḥrūmūn.

Rather, we have been deprived."

قَالَ أَوۡسَطُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ لَوۡلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ ٢٨

Qāla awsaṭuhum alam aqul lakum lawlā tusabbiḥūn.

The most moderate of them said, "Did I not say to you, 'Why do you not exalt [Allāh]?'"¹

قَالُواْ سُبۡحَٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَٰلِمِينَ ٢٩

Qālū subḥāna rabbinā innā kunnā ẓālimīn.

They said, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."

فَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖ يَتَلَٰوَمُونَ ٣٠

Fa aqbala baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍiy yatalāwamūn.

Then they approached one another, blaming each other.

قَالُواْ يَٰوَيۡلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَٰغِينَ ٣١

Qālū yāwaylanā innā kunnā ṭāghīn.

They said, "O woe to us; indeed we were transgressors.

عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبۡدِلَنَا خَيۡرٗا مِّنۡهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَٰغِبُونَ ٣٢

ʿAsā rabbunā ay yubdilanā khayram minhā innā ilā rabbinā rāghibūn.

Perhaps our Lord will substitute for us [one] better than it. Indeed, we are toward our Lord desirous."¹

كَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡعَذَابُۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ أَكۡبَرُۚ لَوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ ٣٣

Kadhālikal-ʿadhāb, wa laʿadhābul-ākhirati akbar, law kānū yaʿlamūn.

Such is the punishment [of this world]. And the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew.