Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

On the poor who are straitened in the cause of God, unable to make a way in the earth: the ignorant considers them free from need due to their reticence. Thou wilt know them by their mark: they do not ask of men importunately. And what you spend of good, God knows it.

لِلْفُقَـرَٓاءِ الَّذ۪ينَ اُحْصِرُوا ف۪ي سَب۪يلِ اللّٰهِ لَا يَسْتَط۪يعُونَ ضَـرْباً فِي الْاَرْضِۘ يَحْسَبُهُمُ الْجَاهِلُ اَغْنِيَٓاءَ مِنَ التَّعَفُّفِۚ تَعْرِفُهُمْ بِس۪يمٰيهُمْۚ لَا يَسْـَٔلُونَ النَّاسَ اِلْحَافاًۜ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ بِه۪ عَل۪يمٌ۟
Lilfuqara-i allatheena ohsiroofee sabeeli Allahi la yastateeAAoona darbanfee al-ardi yahsabuhumu aljahilu aghniyaamina attaAAaffufi taAArifuhum biseemahum layas-aloona annasa ilhafan wamatunfiqoo min khayrin fa-inna Allaha bihi AAaleem
#wordmeaningroot
1lil'fuqarāiFor the poorفقر
2alladhīnathose who
3uḥ'ṣirūare wrapped upحصر
4in
5sabīli(the) wayسبل
6l-lahi(of) Allah
7not
8yastaṭīʿūnathey are ableطوع
9ḍarban(to) move aboutضرب
10in
11l-arḍithe earthارض
12yaḥsabuhumuThink (about) themحسب
13l-jāhiluthe ignorant oneجهل
14aghniyāa(that they are) self-sufficientغني
15mina(because) of
16l-taʿafufi(their) restraintعفف
17taʿrifuhumyou recognize themعرف
18bisīmāhumby their markسوم
19Not
20yasalūna(do) they askسال
21l-nāsathe peopleنوس
22il'ḥāfanwith importunityلحف
23wamāAnd whatever
24tunfiqūyou spendنفق
25minof
26khayringoodخير
27fa-innathen indeed
28l-lahaAllah
29bihiof it
30ʿalīmun(is) All-Knowerعلم
  • Aisha Bewley

    It is for the poor who are held back in the Way of Allah, unable to travel in the land. The ignorant consider them rich because of their reticence. You will know them by their mark. They do not ask from people insistently. Whatever good you give away, Allah knows it.

  • Progressive Muslims

    As for the poor who face hardship in the cause of God, and they cannot leave the land; the ignorant ones think they are rich from their modesty; you know them by their features, they do not ask the people repeatedly. And what you spend out of goodness, God is fully aware of it.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    And give to the needy who are suffering in the Cause of Allah and cannot emigrate and those who are unable to go about the earth in search of livelihood. One, who is unaware of their condition, might think they are free from want, because they abstain from begging. But you can recognize them by the marks on their faces because they do not ask people insistently. Whatever good thing you spend on them, Allah is Aware of it.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    On the poor who are straitened in the cause of God, unable to make a way in the earth: the ignorant considers them free from need due to their reticence. Thou wilt know them by their mark: they do not ask of men importunately. And what you spend of good, God knows it.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    For the poor who face hardship in the cause of God, they cannot go forth in the land; the ignorant ones think they are rich from their modesty; you know them by their features, they do not ask the people repeatedly. And what you spend out of goodness, God is fully aware of it.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    As for the poor who face hardship in the cause of God, and cannot leave the land; the ignorant ones think they are rich from their abstention; you know them by their marks, they do not ask the people repeatedly. What you spend out of goodness, God is fully aware of it.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Charity shall go to the poor who are suffering in the cause of GOD, and cannot emigrate. The unaware may think that they are rich, due to their dignity. But you can recognize them by certain signs; they never beg from the people persistently. Whatever charity you give, GOD is fully aware thereof.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    (Give to) the needy who are engaged in the service of God who are not able to move about in the land, whom the ignorant consider to be affluent as they refrain from asking. You can know them from their faces for they do not ask of men importunately. God is surely cognisant of good things that you spend.

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    for the poor who have been restricted for the cause of Allah, unable to move about in the land. An ignorant would think them self-sufficient because of their restraint, but you will know them by their sign. They do not ask people persistently . And whatever you spend of good - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.

  • Muhammad Asad

    unto the needy who, being wholly wrapped up in God's cause, are unable to go about the earth . He who is unaware might think that they are wealthy, because they abstain ; thou canst recognize them by their special mark: they do not beg of men with importunity. And whatever good you may spend , verily, God knows it all.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    (Alms are) for the poor who are straitened for the cause of Allah, who cannot travel in the land (for trade). The unthinking man accounteth them wealthy because of their restraint. Thou shalt know them by their mark: They do not beg of men with importunity. And whatsoever good thing ye spend, lo! Allah knoweth it.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Those needy ones who are wholly wrapped up in the cause of Allah, and who are hindered from moving about the earth in search of their livelihood, especially deserve help. He who is unaware of their circumstances supposes them to be wealthy because of their dignified bearing, but you will know them by their countenance, although they do not go about begging of people with importunity. Whatever wealth you spend on helping them, Allah will know of it.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Among you are those who truly deserve benefaction; they have been restrained from earning their livelihood because they participated in the war of belief against unbelief. They keep up appearances exhibiting to those unacquainted with them a happy expression and satisfaction because their modesty obstructs their tongues. You know them by their appearance speaking a different language; they do not solicit peoples’ ears for charity. And whatever you spend in divine service comes to Allah’s Knowledge.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Those who are persecuted are entitled to charity. They are dignified people who give an appearance of being in no need to the ignorant people. They rarely ask for help; however, you can recognize them through certain signs. Any charitable expenditure by you is well known and appreciated by God.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    (Charity is) for Fuqarâ (the poor), who in Allâh’s Cause are restricted (from travel), and cannot move about in the land (for trade or work). The one who knows them not, thinks that they are rich because of their modesty. You may know them by their mark, they do not beg of people at all. And whatever you spend in good, surely, Allâh knows it well.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    (Charity is) for those in need, who, in Allah's cause are restricted (from travel), and cannot move about in the land, seeking (For trade or work): the ignorant man thinks, because of their modesty, that they are free from want. Thou shalt know them by their (Unfailing) mark: They beg not importunately from all the sundry. And whatever of good ye give, be assured Allah knoweth it well.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    ˹Charity is˺ for the needy who are too engaged in the cause of Allah to move about in the land ˹for work˺. Those unfamiliar with their situation will think they are not in need ˹of charity˺ because they do not beg. You can recognize them by their appearance. They do not beg people persistently. Whatever you give in charity is certainly well known to Allah.

  • Taqi Usmani

    (Your charities should be preferably meant) for the needy who are confined in the way of Allah, unable to travel in the land.An ignorant person takes them as free of need because of their abstinence. You know them by their appearance (from begging). They do not beg people importunately, and whatever good thing you spend, Allah is All-Aware of it.

  • Abdul Haleem

    to those needy who are wholly occupied in God’s way and cannot travel in the land . The unknowing might think them rich because of their self-restraint, but you will recognize them by their characteristic of not begging persistently. God is well aware of any good you give.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    it being for the poor who are restrained in the way of God, and are unable to journey in the land; the ignorant man supposes them rich because of their abstinence, but thou shalt know them by their mark -- they do not beg of men importunately. And whatever good you expend, surely God has knowledge of it.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    unto the poor who are straitened in God's way, and cannot knock about in the earth. The ignorant think them to be rich because of their modesty; you will know them by their mark, they do not beg from men importunately; but what ye spend of good God knows.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    (Alms are for) the poor who are straitened in Allah's way, and cannot travel about in the earth. The ignorant think them to be rich because of their modesty; you will know them by their mark, they do not beg from men with importunity; but what you spend of good Allah knows.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    (It is) for the poor who are detained in the way of Allah, (and) are unable to strike (i. e. journey in the land) in the earth. The ignorant man reckons them rich because of (their) regular abstinence. You recognize them by their mark; they do not ask of mankind importunately, and whatever charity you expend, then surely Allah is Ever-Knowing of it.

  • George Sale

    unto the poor who are wholly employed in fighting for the religion of God, and cannot go to and fro in the earth; whom the ignorant man thinketh rich, because of their modesty: Thou shalt know them by this mark, they ask not men with importunity; and what good ye shall give in alms, verily God knoweth it.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    (Charity is) for those in need, those in Allah’s cause are restricted (from travel), and cannot move about in the land, searching (for work). The ones may without knowing think, Because of their modesty that they are free from want. You shall know them by their (constant) habit: They do not beg openly from all and everyone. And whatever good you give, be sure Allah knows it well.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    (These charities are meant) for those needy who are (so) confined in the way of Allâh that they are unable to move about in the land (for providing their sustenance). The person ignorant (of their condition) thinks them free from want, because of (their) abstaining (from begging). But you shall know them by their appearance (that they are in need). They do not beg of people with importunity. And whatever good thing you spend (for their help) Allâh knows it surely well.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    for the poor who are straitened in the way of Allah, not capable of moving about in the land . The unaware suppose them to be well-off because of their reserve. You recognize them by their mark; they do not ask the people importunately. And whatever wealth you may spend, Allah indeed knows it.