Surah Al-Baqarah 2:267
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ · Medinan · Verse 267 of 286
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَنفِقُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَٰتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ وَمِمَّآ أَخْرَجْنَا لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَلَا تَيَمَّمُوا۟ ٱلْخَبِيثَ مِنْهُ تُنفِقُونَ وَلَسْتُم بِـَٔاخِذِيهِ إِلَّآ أَن تُغْمِضُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ
Translation
You who believe, give charitably from the good things you have acquired and that We have produced for you from the earth. Do not give away the bad things that you yourself would only accept with your eyes closed: remember that God is self-sufficient, worthy of all praise.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This beautiful verse calls out to the believers, guiding them in a profound aspect of their faith: giving charity. Allah, the Speaker, instructs us on how we should approach spending in His path, addressing our hearts as much as our hands.
Giving from the Best
The verse begins with a direct command: "O you who have believed, spend from the good things (طيبات) you have earned and from what We have brought forth for you from the earth." The Arabic word *tayyibat* (طيبات) here carries a dual meaning, as scholars like al-Razi and Ibn Ashur explain. It refers to both that which is lawful and pure (halal), free from injustice or deceit, and that which is excellent and of good quality (jīyād), not the leftover or inferior. So, Allah is instructing us to give from wealth that is both earned through permissible means and is also of high standard.
Notice the wording: "what *you* have earned" (ما كسبتم) and "what *We* have brought forth for you from the earth" (مما أخرجنا لكم من الأرض). This shift in pronouns is subtle yet powerful. While our earnings come through our effort, the produce of the earth is directly attributed to Allah's provision. It reminds us that all wealth, ultimately, originates from Him. Though *tayyibat* is explicitly mentioned only with "what you have earned," it is understood to apply to the produce of the earth as well, as al-Zamakhshari notes.
Do Not Choose the Bad
The verse then issues a clear prohibition: "And do not aim for (تيمّموا) the bad (الخبيث) from it to spend." The word *tayamamū* (تيمّموا) means to specifically intend or seek out. The term *khabīth* (الخبيث) is the direct opposite of *tayyib*, referring to what is unlawful, disliked, or of poor quality. Scholars emphasize the grammatical structure here: the phrase "منه تنفقون" (from it you spend) places emphasis on the "from it," implying an exclusive choice. It's as if Allah is saying, "Do not specifically pick out the bad *from which alone* you then give charity." This shows that the issue isn't merely having bad items, but deliberately selecting them for charity.
Would You Accept It?
To drive this point home, Allah uses a powerful rhetorical question: "And you would not take it yourselves except if you overlooked its defects (إلا أن تغمضوا فيه)." The word *tughmiḍū* (تغمضوا) literally means "to close your eyes" or "to overlook." Ibn Ashur and al-Razi explain this as tolerating something out of necessity, or shame, or compromising despite its poor quality. The verse challenges us: how can you offer to Allah what you yourself would only accept begrudgingly, by "closing your eyes" to its flaws? It highlights the hypocrisy of giving Allah the least when He is worthy of the best.
Allah is Self-Sufficient and Praiseworthy
The verse concludes with two of Allah's beautiful Names: "And know that Allah is Self-Sufficient (غنيّ), Praiseworthy (حميد)." The command "And know" (واعلموا) underscores the importance of this truth. *Ghaniyy* (غنيّ) means Allah is utterly independent and needs nothing from His creation, not even our charity. He doesn't need your donations; He commands them for your own good. This Name subtly warns against thinking that giving bad quality charity can somehow benefit Allah. *Hamīd* (حميد) means He is Praiseworthy in Himself, and also that He praises and appreciates those who do good deeds. So, He is worthy of the best, and He will reward those who give from the best, not out of need but out of His boundless grace.
Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:267 is discussed in 12 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Baqarah 2:267 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.