The Dangers of Selfishness: A Warning from Allah

The Consequences of Withholding Allah’s Bounties: A Tafsir of Surah Al-Imran

THE CENSURE OF SELFISHNESS, AND WARNING AGAINST IT

ALLĀH said:

وَلَا يَحۡسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَبۡخَلُونَ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦ هُوَ خَيۡرًا لَّهُمۖ بَلۡ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمۡۖ

And do not let those who ˹greedily˺ withhold ALLĀH’s bounties (wealth) think it is good for them—in fact, it is bad for them!

This refers to those who covetously withhold that which ALLĀH has given to them by HIS grace of wealth, status, knowledge and other blessings, and commanded them to give some of it to HIS slaves in a manner that does not harm them, but they withheld it and kept it for themselves, and were too miserly to give to the slaves of ALLĀH; they thought that it was better for them, when in fact it was bad for them in both spiritual and worldly terms, in this world and in the hereafter.

سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُواْ بِهِۦ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِۗ

Their necks will be encircled by what they withheld on the Day of Resurrection.

That is, what they withheld will be made like a collar on their necks, with which they will be punished, as it says in the saḥīḥ ḥadith: “The miser’s wealth will appear to him on the Day of Resurrection in the form of a bald-headed venomous snake with two fangs in its mouth which will hold him with its jaws, then it will say: ‘I am your wealth, I am your treasure.'” {Muslim}

Then the Messenger of ALLĀH (ﷺ) recited this verse in confirmation of that. These people who thought that their miserliness would benefit them and help them will find that it will turn out to be the opposite, and it will become one of the greatest causes of harm and punishment for them.

{Tafsi‌r As-Sa’di}