Shaytanic Doubts Concerning Spending in Charity

Shaytan threatens you with poverty and orders you to commit Fahsha’ (evil deeds) whereas Allah promises you forgiveness from Himself and bounty, and Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower. (2: 268)

Tafsir (Ibn Kathir)

Shaytanic Doubts Concerning Spending in Charity

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah said, “Shaytan has an effect on the son of Adam, and the angel also has an effect. As for the effect of Shaytan, it is by his threatening with evil repercussions and rejecting the truth. As for the effect of the angel, it is by his promise of a good end and believing in the truth. Whoever finds the latter, let him know that it is coming from Allah and let him thank Allah for it. Whoever finds the former, let him seek refuge – with Allah – from Shaytan.”

The Prophet then recited,

(Shaytan threatens you with poverty and orders you to commit Fahsha’; whereas Allah promises you forgiveness from Himself and bounty)

This is the narration that At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i collected in the book of Tafsir in their Sunan collections. Allah said,

(Shaytan threatens you with poverty), so that you hold on to whatever you have and refrain from spending it in Allah’s pleasure.

(And orders you to commit Fahsha’), meaning, “Shaytan forbids you from spending in charity because of the false fear of becoming poor, and he encourages evil deeds, sins, indulging in what is prohibited, and immoral conduct.” Allah said,

(Whereas Allah promises you forgiveness from Himself) instead of the evil that Shaytan enjoins on you,

(And Bounty) as opposed to the poverty that Shaytan frightens you with,

(And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.)