At-Talaq · Madani · ayah 7 of 12

At-Talaq 65:7

لِيُنفِقْ ذُو سَعَةٍ مِّن سَعَتِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن قُدِرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقُهُۥ فَلْيُنفِقْ مِمَّآ ءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا مَآ ءَاتَىٰهَا ۚ سَيَجْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ بَعْدَ عُسْرٍ يُسْرًا

“Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and he whose provision is restricted - let him spend from what Allāh has given him. Allāh does not charge a soul except [according to] what He has given it. Allāh will bring about, after hardship, ease [i.e., relief].”

Saheeh International

Essence

Rich or poor, each gives from what Allah gave him; He asks no soul for more than He supplied, and promises ease after hardship.

A reflection

He asks only from what He gave

Five times the Quran says that no soul is burdened beyond its capacity, illā wusʿahā. Twice in Al-Baqarah, once each in Al-Anʿam, Al-Aʿraf and Al-Muʾminun. Here, and only here, the wording changes. Allah does not burden a soul except with mā ātāhā, what He has given it.

The difference is quiet and immense. Capacity sounds like something you own: your strength, your budget, your stamina. What He has given it reminds you where the capacity came from. Every coin you could spend, every hour you could give, every ounce of strength, was His gift first.

So the measure of what He asks is set by what He supplied. He does not demand from you what He withheld. A classical commentary hears consolation for the poor in this wording. The phrase is framed by hardship on both sides, the restricted provision before it and the promised ease after.

This cuts the ego from two directions. The wealthy man cannot boast that he gave more, because he only gave from what was given. Pride in generosity forgets the Giver. The poor man need not be ashamed that he gave less, because he was only asked for what he was given. Shame at a small gift forgets the same thing.

Only one Being can set a demand by His own supply. He is the source of the means and the judge of the giving. Every act of spending, large or small, is the returning of a portion of His gift, under His eye, at the measure He chose.

The full entry has 6 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.