Surah At-Taubah, Verse 53/54

*Surah At-Taubah, Verse 53:*

قُلْ أَنفِقُوا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا لَّن يُتَقَبَّلَ مِنكُمْ إِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ

Say: "Spend (in Allah's Cause) willingly or unwillingly, it will not be accepted from you. Verily, you are ever a people who are Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah)."

#COMMENTARY

The Hypocrites, who secretly plotted against Islam, might sometimes (and they did) make a show of making some contribution to the Cause in order to keep up their pretence. Their contributions were not acceptable, whether they seemed to give willingly or unwillingly, because rebellion and disobedience were in their hearts. Three reasons are specifically given for their rejection, in the next verse:

1. They did not believe;

2. Their prayers were not earnest, but for mere show:

3. In reality their hearts were not behind the contributions which they offered. Nothing is acceptable to ALLĀH which does not proceed from a pure and sincere heart.

*Surah At-Taubah, Verse 54:*

وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ أَن تُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَقَاتُهُمْ إِلَّا أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِ وَلَا يَأْتُونَ الصَّلَاةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَىٰ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كَارِهُونَ

And nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted from them except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger (Muhammad [Blessings and Peace of ALLĀH be upon him]); and that they came not to As-Salat (the prayer) except in a lazy state; and that they offer not contributions but unwillingly.