Surah Al-Baqarah 2:268
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ · Medinan · Verse 268 of 286
ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ يَعِدُكُمُ ٱلْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُم بِٱلْفَحْشَآءِ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَعِدُكُم مَّغْفِرَةًۭ مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلًۭا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ
Translation
Satan threatens you with the prospect of poverty and commands you to do foul deeds; God promises you His forgiveness and His abundance: God is limitless and all knowing,
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
'Satan promises you poverty and commands you to immorality, while God promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And God is All-Encompassing, Knowing.' Ibn Ashur and al-Saadi note the two opposing whispers at the exact moment of giving, Satan's threat, 'if you give, you will be poor; hold back!', against God's promise of forgiveness and increase ('fadl'). Ask yourself: this names the precise voice that grips my hand shut when I am about to give, the sudden anxiety, 'you can't afford this, you'll need it, keep it'. The verse identifies that fear-of-lack as Satan's promise, a lie designed to make me stingy. Against it stands God's promise: give, and receive both forgiveness and more. So generosity becomes a moment of choosing which voice to believe, the whisper of scarcity or the promise of abundance. Next time my heart tightens at the point of giving, can I recognise the fear itself as the enemy's lever, and give anyway, trusting the One who promises bounty over the one who threatens poverty?
Grounded in classical tafsir: Ibn Ashur, al-Saadi, Ibn Kathir.
Qur'anic Worlds
This verse, Surah 2:268, speaks directly to our inner struggles as we consider giving in charity, particularly when we are called to give from what we cherish. It lays out a profound contrast between two competing voices that seek to influence our actions and our hearts.
The Inner Battle: Satan’s Threat
Allah addresses those contemplating charity, clarifying the source of the hesitations they might feel. The plain meaning tells us that miserliness and choosing the poor quality for charity come from Satan. `ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ يَعِدُكُمُ ٱلْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُم بِٱلْفَحْشَآءِ` (Satan promises you poverty and commands you to foulness). This verse was a powerful revelation for the early Muslim community, helping them understand their own fears and temptations. As al-Baghawi explains, Satan `يخوفكم بالفقر` (frightens you with poverty), whispering, "Hold onto your wealth; if you give in charity, you will become poor."
This fear of poverty isn't just about personal destitution; it can lead to deeper moral corruption, what the verse calls `الفحشاء` (fahsha). While this word often refers to specific immoral acts, scholars like Sayyid Qutb explain that it broadly means any transgression or going beyond limits. Sayyid Qutb draws a connection to the pre-Islamic era, where the fear of poverty led to practices like burying daughters alive or engaging in usury – highlighting how such fear could drive past nations to extreme moral depravity. The esteemed companion Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, as narrated by al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, taught that "Satan's touch" (`لمة الشيطان`) is a promise of evil and a denial of truth, a direct reflection of the inner experience of the first believers.
Allah’s Certain Promise
In stark contrast, Allah offers a divine assurance: `وَٱللَّهُ يَعِدُكُم مَّغْفِرَةًۭ مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلًۭا` (And Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty). This promise is a direct counter to Satan's threats. Allah promises `مغفرة` (maghfirah), meaning forgiveness for sins, and `فضلاً` (fadlan), which al-Tabari and al-Razi explain as a generous replacement for what is spent, and an increase in provision. This promise reassures the first audience and all believers that giving does not diminish, but rather enhances.
The verse concludes with `وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ` (And Allah is Vast, All-Knowing). This points to Allah's boundless capacity and knowledge as the Creator. `واسع` (Vast) underscores that His treasures are limitless and never decrease by His giving, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught, "Allah's Right Hand is full, not diminished by spending" (al-Baghawi). `عليم` (All-Knowing) reminds us that He is fully aware of our intentions and actions, even the whispers in our hearts, distinguishing between Satan's suggestions and sincere devotion.
A Timeless Struggle
This verse reveals a timeless struggle within the human heart. It illuminates the inner world of our thoughts and desires, contrasting the deceptive promises of scarcity from Shaytan with the certain promises of abundance and forgiveness from Allah, the Vast and All-Knowing Lord of all creation.
Sources: Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), al-Baghawi (Maalim al-Tanzil), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), al-Tabari (Jami al-Bayan), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Kathir
Wisdom
This powerful verse uncovers a timeless struggle within the human heart: the tension between fear and faith, scarcity and abundance. It clearly presents two opposing calls, each with a distinct promise, to guide our choices, especially concerning generosity.
Two Calls, Two Promises
Allah directly addresses believers, revealing the whisperings of two different callers. The verse states, "ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ يَعِدُكُمُ ٱلْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُم بِٱلْفَحْشَآءِ" which means "Satan frightens you with poverty and orders you to immorality or shameful deeds." The plain meaning, as al-Muyassar explains, connects this directly to reluctance in charity and choosing bad quality for donations. Satan's tactic, as al-Qurtubi points out, is to sow fear of financial loss if you give, deterring you from spending in Allah's way. This fear of poverty can lead to "al-fahsha'", which scholars like Ibn al-Jawzi define as stinginess or general disobedience. Al-Saadi notes that this is not advice but extreme deceit, pulling us away from good.
In direct contrast, the verse continues: "وَٱللَّهُ يَعِدُكُم مَّغْفِرَةًۭ مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلًۭا" (And Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty). Here, Allah promises "maghfirah," which is a covering and forgiveness for sins, and "fadl," which al-Qurtubi explains as provision in this life and blessings in the Hereafter. Mufti Shafi emphasizes that this divine promise assures us that our sins will be forgiven and our wealth will be blessed and increased. This promise from Allah is a direct counter to Satan's fear-mongering.
Trusting the All-Knowing Provider
The verse concludes by emphasizing Allah's perfect attributes: "وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ" (And Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing). Al-Saadi clarifies that "Wasi'" means Allah's generosity is immense, His treasures never diminish, and His blessings are boundless. "Alim" means He is All-Knowing, fully aware of every penny spent, every intention, and every deed, whether small or large, private or public. This reassures us that no act of generosity goes unnoticed or unrewarded by Allah, who gives from His immense abundance.
A Call to Action for the Heart
This ayah presents a profound general lesson: whenever we face a choice to do good, especially if it involves giving, there will be two voices. One is Satan, whispering fear of loss or tempting us to be selfish. The other is the gentle call of faith, reminding us of Allah's boundless promises. The Prophetic tradition, as narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud and cited by al-Qurtubi and al-Munir, confirms this internal struggle, where Satan promises evil and an angel promises good. This verse invites us to consciously discern these voices. When the thought of holding back due to fear of poverty arises, we are taught to recognize it as a satanic whisper and instead turn to Allah's promise of forgiveness and abundance. The practical application is clear: trust in Allah's promise, choose generosity, and seek His forgiveness and bounty, knowing that His knowledge encompasses all and His provision is limitless.
Sources: al-Qurtubi (al-Jami li-Ahkam), Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), Ibn al-Jawzi (Zad al-Masir), al-Saadi (Taysir al-Karim), al-Munir (Wahba al-Zuhayli)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:268 is discussed in 11 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 2:268 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.