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Ayah
Word by Word
لَّيۡسَ
It is not
ٱلۡبِرَّ
[the] righteousness
أَن
that
تُوَلُّواْ
you turn
وُجُوهَكُمۡ
your faces
قِبَلَ
towards
ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ
the east
وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ
and the west
وَلَٰكِنَّ
[and] but
ٱلۡبِرَّ
the righteous[ness]
مَنۡ
(is he) who
ءَامَنَ
believes
بِٱللَّهِ
in Allah
وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ
and the Day
ٱلۡأٓخِرِ
[the] Last
وَٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ
and the Angels
وَٱلۡكِتَٰبِ
and the Book
وَٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ
and the Prophets
وَءَاتَى
and gives
ٱلۡمَالَ
the wealth
عَلَىٰ
in
حُبِّهِۦ
spite of his love (for it)
ذَوِي
(to) those
ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ
(of) the near relatives
وَٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ
and the orphans
وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينَ
and the needy
وَٱبۡنَ
and (of)
ٱلسَّبِيلِ
the wayfarer
وَٱلسَّآئِلِينَ
and those who ask
وَفِي
and in
ٱلرِّقَابِ
freeing the necks (slaves)
وَأَقَامَ
and (who) establish
ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ
the prayer
وَءَاتَى
and give
ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ
the zakah
وَٱلۡمُوفُونَ
and those who fulfill
بِعَهۡدِهِمۡ
their covenant
إِذَا
when
عَٰهَدُواْۖ
they make it
وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
and those who are patient
فِي
in
ٱلۡبَأۡسَآءِ
[the] suffering
وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ
and [the] hardship
وَحِينَ
at (the) time
ٱلۡبَأۡسِۗ
(of) [the] stress
أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ
Those
ٱلَّذِينَ
(are) the ones who
صَدَقُواْۖ
are true
وَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ
and those
هُمُ
[they]
ٱلۡمُتَّقُونَ
(are) the righteous
لَّيۡسَ
It is not
ٱلۡبِرَّ
[the] righteousness
أَن
that
تُوَلُّواْ
you turn
وُجُوهَكُمۡ
your faces
قِبَلَ
towards
ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ
the east
وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ
and the west
وَلَٰكِنَّ
[and] but
ٱلۡبِرَّ
the righteous[ness]
مَنۡ
(is he) who
ءَامَنَ
believes
بِٱللَّهِ
in Allah
وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ
and the Day
ٱلۡأٓخِرِ
[the] Last
وَٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ
and the Angels
وَٱلۡكِتَٰبِ
and the Book
وَٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ
and the Prophets
وَءَاتَى
and gives
ٱلۡمَالَ
the wealth
عَلَىٰ
in
حُبِّهِۦ
spite of his love (for it)
ذَوِي
(to) those
ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ
(of) the near relatives
وَٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ
and the orphans
وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينَ
and the needy
وَٱبۡنَ
and (of)
ٱلسَّبِيلِ
the wayfarer
وَٱلسَّآئِلِينَ
and those who ask
وَفِي
and in
ٱلرِّقَابِ
freeing the necks (slaves)
وَأَقَامَ
and (who) establish
ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ
the prayer
وَءَاتَى
and give
ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ
the zakah
وَٱلۡمُوفُونَ
and those who fulfill
بِعَهۡدِهِمۡ
their covenant
إِذَا
when
عَٰهَدُواْۖ
they make it
وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
and those who are patient
فِي
in
ٱلۡبَأۡسَآءِ
[the] suffering
وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ
and [the] hardship
وَحِينَ
at (the) time
ٱلۡبَأۡسِۗ
(of) [the] stress
أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ
Those
ٱلَّذِينَ
(are) the ones who
صَدَقُواْۖ
are true
وَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ
and those
هُمُ
[they]
ٱلۡمُتَّقُونَ
(are) the righteous
Translation
It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the Allah-fearing.
Tafsir
It is not piety, that you turn your faces, in prayer, to the East and to the West. This was revealed in response to the claim made by the Jews and the Christians to this effect. True piety, that is, the pious person (al-birr, is also read al-barr, in the sense of al-baarr ['the dutiful person']) is [that of] the one who believes in God and the Last Day and the angels and the Book, that is, the scriptures, and the prophets, and who gives of his substance, however, despite [it being], cherished, by him, to kinsmen and orphans and the needy and the traveller and beggars, and for, the setting free of, slaves, both the captive and the one to be manumitted by contract; and who observes prayer and pays the alms, that are obligatory, and what was [given] before [alms were made obligatory], in the way of charity; and those who fulfil their covenant when they have engaged in a covenant, with God or with others, those who endure with fortitude (al-saabireena is the accusative of laudation) misfortune (al-ba'saa' is abject poverty), hardship, illness, and peril, at the height of a battle in the way of God; these, described in the way mentioned, are the ones who are truthful, in their faith and in their claims to piety, and these are the ones who are fearful, of God.
"Al-Birr (Piety, Righteousness)
This Ayah contains many great wisdoms, encompassing rulings and correct beliefs. Allah says;
لَّيۡسَ الۡبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّواۡ وُجُوهَكُمۡ قِبَلَ الۡمَشۡرِقِ وَالۡمَغۡرِبِ وَلَـكِنَّ الۡبِرَّ مَنۡ امَنَ بِاللّهِ وَالۡيَوۡمِ الاخِرِ وَالۡمَليِكَةِ وَالۡكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ
It is not Birr that you turn your faces towards east and (or) west; but Birr is the one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets...,
As for the explanation of this Ayah, Allah first commanded the believers to faceBayt Al-Maqdis, and then to face the Ka`bah during the prayer. This change was difficult for some of the People of the Book, and even for some Muslims.
Then Allah sent revelation which clarified the wisdom behind this command, that is, obedience to Allah, adhering to His commands, facing wherever He commands facing, and implementing whatever He legislates, that is the objective. This is Birr, Taqwa and complete faith. Facing the east or the west does not necessitate righteousness or obedience, unless it is legislated by Allah. This is why Allah said:
لَّيۡسَ الۡبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّواۡ وُجُوهَكُمۡ قِبَلَ الۡمَشۡرِقِ وَالۡمَغۡرِبِ وَلَـكِنَّ الۡبِرَّ مَنۡ امَنَ بِاللّهِ وَالۡيَوۡمِ الاخِرِ
It is not Birr that you turn your faces towards east and (or) west (in prayers); but Birr is the one who believes in Allah and the Last Day,
Similarly, Allah said about the sacrifices:
لَن يَنَالَ اللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَأوُهَا وَلَـكِن يَنَالُهُ التَّقۡوَى مِنكُمۡ
It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is the piety from you that reaches Him. (22:37)
Abu Al-Aliyah said,
""The Jews used to face the west for their Qiblah, while the Christians used to face the east for their Qiblah. So Allah said:
لَّيۡسَ الۡبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّواۡ وُجُوهَكُمۡ قِبَلَ الۡمَشۡرِقِ وَالۡمَغۡرِبِ
(It is not Birr that you turn your faces towards east and (or) west (in prayers)),
meaning, ""this is faith, and its essence requires implementation.""
Similar was reported from Al-Hasan and Ar-Rabi bin Anas.
Ath-Thawri recited:
وَلَـكِنَّ الۡبِرَّ مَنۡ امَنَ بِاللّهِ
(but Birr is the one who believes in Allah), and said that;
what follows are the types of Birr.
He has said the truth. Certainly, those who acquire the qualities mentioned in the Ayah will have indeed embraced all aspects of Islam and implemented all types of righteousness; believing in Allah, that He is the only God worthy of worship, and believing in the angels the emissaries between Allah and His Messengers.
The `Books' are the Divinely revealed Books from Allah to the Prophets, which were finalized by the most honorable Book (the Qur'an). The Qur'an supercedes all previous Books, it mentions all types of righteousness, and the way to happiness in this life and the Hereafter. The Qur'an abrogates all previous Books and testifies to all of Allah's Prophets, from the first Prophet to the Final Prophet, Muhammad, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon them all.
Allah's statement:
وَاتَى الۡمَالَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ
and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it,
refers to those who give money away while desiring it and loving it.
It is recorded in the Sahihayn that Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said:
أَفۡضَلُ الصَّدَقةِ أَنۡ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنۡتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَأۡمُلُ الۡغِنَى وتَخۡشَى الۡفقۡر
The best charity is when you give it away while still healthy and thrifty, hoping to get rich and fearing poverty.
Allah said:
وَيُطۡعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ مِسۡكِيناً وَيَتِيماً وَأَسِيراً
إِنَّمَا نُطۡعِمُكُمۡ لِوَجۡهِ اللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمۡ جَزَاءً وَلَا شُكُوراً
And they give food, inspite of their love for it, to the Miskin (the poor), the orphan, and the captive (saying):""We feed you seeking Allah's Face only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you."" (76:8, 9)
and,
لَن تَنَالُواۡ الۡبِرَّ حَتَّى تُنفِقُواۡ مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ
By no means shall you attain Birr unless you spend of that which you love. (3:92)
Allah's statement:
وَيُوۡثِرُونَ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمۡ وَلَوۡ كَانَ بِهِمۡ خَصَاصَةٌ
and give them preference over themselves even though they were in need of that, (59:9),
refers to a higher category and status, as the people mentioned here give away what they need, while those mentioned in the previous Ayat give away what they covet (but not necessarily need).
Allah's statement:
ذَوِي الۡقُرۡبَى
the kinsfolk,
refers to man's relatives, who have more rights than anyone else to one's charity, as the Hadith supports:
الصَّدَقَةُ عَلَى الۡمَسَاكِينِ صَدَقَةٌ وعَلَى ذِي الرَّحِمِ اثۡنتَانِ صَدَقَةٌ وَصِلَـةٌ فَهُمۡ أَوۡلَى النَّاسِ بِكَ وَبِبِرِّكَ وَإِعۡطَايِك
Sadaqah (i.e., charity) given to the poor is a charity, while the Sadaqah given to the relatives is both Sadaqah and Silah (nurturing relations), for they are the most deserving of you and your kindness and charity.
Allah has commanded kindness to the relatives in many places in the Qur'an.
وَالۡيَتَامَى
to the orphans,
The orphans are children who have none to look after them, having lost their fathers while they are still young, weak and unable to find their own sustenance since they have not reached the age of work and adolescence.
Abdur-Razzaq reported that Ali said that the Prophet said:
وَالۡمَسَاكِينَ
and to Al-Masakin,
The Miskin is the person who does not have enough food, clothing, or he has no dwelling. So the Miskin should be granted the provisions to sustain him enough so that he can acquire his needs.
In the Sahihayn it is recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that Allah's Messenger said:
لَيۡسَ الۡمِسۡكِينُ بِهذَا الطَّوَّافِ الَّذِي تَرُدُّه التَّمۡرَةُ والتَّمۡرَتَانِ واللُّقۡمَةُ واللُّقۡمَتَانِ وَلكِنِ الۡمِسۡكِينُ الَّذِي لَا يَجِدُ غِنىً يُغۡنِيه وَلَا يُفۡطَنُ لَهُ فَيُتصَدَّقَ عَلَيۡه
The Miskin is not the person who roams around, and whose need is met by one or two dates or one or two bites. Rather, the Miskin is he who does not have what is sufficient, and to whom the people do not pay attention and, thus, do not give him from the charity.
وَابۡنَ السَّبِيلِ
and to the wayfarer,
is the needy traveler who runs out of money and should, thus, be granted whatever amount that helps him to go back to his land. Such is the case with whoever intends to go on a permissible journey, he is given what he needs for his journey and back.
The guests are included in this category.
Ali bin Abu Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas said,
""Ibn As-Sabil (wayfarer) is the guest who is hosted by Muslims.""
Furthermore, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu Jafar Al-Baqir, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, Az-Zuhri, Ar-Rabi bin Anas and Muqatil bin Hayyan said similarly.
وَالسَّأيِلِينَ
and to those who ask,
refers to those who beg people and are thus given a part of the Zakah and general charity.
وَفِي الرِّقَابِ
and to set servants free,
These are the servants who seek to free themselves, but cannot find enough money to buy their freedom.
We will mention several of these categories and types under the Tafsir of the Ayah on Sadaqah in Surah Bara'h, if Allah Willing.
Allah's statement:
وَأَقَامَ الصَّلةَ
performs As-Salah (Iqamat-As-Salah),
means, those who pray on time and give the prayer its due right; the bowing, prostration, and the necessary attention and humbleness required by Allah.
Allah's statement:
وَاتَى الزَّكَاةَ
and gives the Zakah,
Sa`id bin Jubayr and Muqatil bin Hayyan have stated,
means, the required charity (Zakah) due on one's money.
Allah's statement:
وَالۡمُوفُونَ بِعَهۡدِهِمۡ إِذَا عَاهَدُواۡ
and who fulfill their covenant when they make it,
is similar to:
الَّذِينَ يُوفُونَ بِعَهۡدِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يِنقُضُونَ الۡمِيثَـقَ
Those who fulfill the covenant of Allah and break not the Mithaq (bond, treaty, covenant). (13:20)
The opposite of this characteristic is hypocrisy. As found in a Hadith:
ايَةُ الۡمُنَافِقِ ثَلَثٌ
إِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ
وَإذَا وَعَدَ أَخۡلَفَ
وَإذَا ايۡتُمِنَ خَان
The signs of a hypocrite are three:
if he speaks, he lies;
if he promises, he breaks his promise;
and if he is entrusted, he breaches the trust.
In another version:
إِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ
وَإذَا عَاهَدَ غَدَرَ
وَإذَا خَاصَمَ فَجَر
If he speaks, he lies;
if he vows, he breaks his vow;
and if he disputes, he is lewd.
Allah's statement:
وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الۡبَأۡسَاء والضَّرَّاء وَحِينَ الۡبَأۡسِ
and who are patient in extreme poverty and ailment (disease) and at the time of fighting (during the battles).
means, during the time of meekness and ailment.
وَحِينَ الۡبَأۡسِ
(...and at the time of fighting (during the battles),
Ibn Mas`ud, Ibn Abbas, Abu Al-Aliyah, Murrah Al-Hamdani, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi bin Anas, As-Suddi, Muqatil bin Hayyan, Abu Malik, Ad-Dahhak and others have stated,
means on the battlefield while facing the enemy.
And calling them the patient here, is a form of praise, because of the importance of patience in these circumstances, and the suffering and difficulties that accompany them.
And Allah knows best, it is He Whom help is sought from, and upon Him we rely.
Allah's statement:
أُولَـيِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا
Such are the people of the truth,
means, whoever acquires these qualities, these are truthful in their faith. This is because they have achieved faith in the heart and realized it in deed and upon the tongue.
So they are the truthful,
وَأُولَـيِكَ هُمُ الۡمُتَّقُونَ
and they are Al-Muttaqun (the pious).
because they avoided the prohibitions and performed the acts of obedience."
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