The Quran

سورة یسٓ

Surah Yâ Sîn 36:47

O Perfect Man! · Verse 47 of 83

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ أَنْفِقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ قَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنُطْعِمُ مَنْ لَوْ يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ أَطْعَمَهُ إِنْ أَنْتُمْ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ

Abdul Mannan Omar

And when it is said to them, `Spend out of that which Allâh has provided for you,´ those who disbelieve say to those who believe, `Shall we feed those whom, if Allâh so will, He could feed? You are only steeped in obvious error.´

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And when they are told, "Spend ye of (the bounties) with which Allah has provided you," the Unbelievers say to those who believe: "Shall we then feed those whom, if Allah had so willed, He would have fed, (Himself)?- Ye are in nothing but manifest error.

Ahmed Ali

When they are told: "Spend of what God has given you," the unbelievers say to those who believe: "Why should we feed those whom God should have fed if He pleased?" You are only in palpable error.

12 more translations

Ali Unal

And when they are told: "Spend (for the needy) out of what God has provided for you," those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Shall we then feed those whom God would feed if He willed? You are but in obvious error."

Daryabadi

And when it is said Unto them: expend of that wherewith Allah hath provided you, those who disbelieve say Unto those who believe: shall we feed those whom God Himself would have fed, if He listed? Ye are in naught else than error manifest.

Faridul Haque

And when it is said to them, “Spend in Allah’s cause, from what Allah has provided you”, the disbelievers say regarding the believers, “Shall we feed these, whom if Allah willed, would have fed? You are not but in open error!”

Maulana Muhammad Ali

And when it is said to them: Spend out of that which Allah has given you, those who disbelieve say to those who believe: Shall we feed him whom, if Allah please, He could feed? You are in naught but clear error.

Maulvi Sher Ali

And when it is said to them, `Spend out of that which ALLAH has given you,' those who disbelieve say to those who believe, `Shall we feed him whom ALLAH would have fed, if HE had so willed? You are but in manifest error.'

Muhammad Asad

Thus, when they are told, "Spend on others out of what God has provided for you as sustenance," those who are bent on denying the truth say unto those who believe, "Shall we feed anyone whom, if [your] God had so willed, He could have fed [Himself]? Clearly, you are but lost in error!"

Muhammad Musin Khan

And when it is said to them: "Spend of that with which Allah has provided you," those who disbelieve say to those who believe: "Shall we feed those whom, if Allah willed, He (Himself) would have fed? You are only in a plain error."

Muhammad Pickthall

And when it is said unto them: Spend of that wherewith Allah hath provided you, those who disbelieve say unto those who believe: Shall we feed those whom Allah, if He willed, would feed? Ye are in naught else than error manifest.

Muhammad Sarwar

When they are told to spend for the cause of God out of what He has provided for them for their sustenance, the disbelievers say to the believers, "Should we feed those whom God has decided to feed? You are in plain error."

Muhammed ali Shakir

And when it is said to them: Spend out of what Allah has given you, those who disbelieve say to those who believe: Shall we feed him whom, if Allah please, He could feed? You are in naught but clear error.

Rashad Khalifa

When they are told, "Give from GOD's provisions to you," those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Why should we give to those whom GOD could feed, if He so willed? You are really far astray."

Shabbir Ahmed

And when it is said to them, “Spend on others of the provision that God has provided you”, the deniers say to the believers, “Shall we feed and fulfill the needs of anyone whom God could have fed if He so willed? You (believers) are obviously lost in error.”

Commentary 36:47 T‘amaطعمَ means to feed. Here it is also used in the sense of spiritual food. Allâh expects from us that we feed those who are in need to sustain life,…

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ أَنفِقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ قَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنُطْعِمُ مَن لَّوْ يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ أَطْعَمَهُ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ

36:47 T‘amaطعمَ means to feed. Here it is also used in the sense of spiritual food. Allâh expects from us that we feed those who are in need to sustain life, but also feed spiritually by propagating morality and virtue. Only the disbelievers would say that feeding and helping others is not their jobs, but is only the responsibility of Allâh.