Surah Al-Isra >> Currently viewing Surah Al-Isra Ayat 100 (17:100)

Surah Al-Isra Ayat 100 in Arabic Text

قُل لَّوۡ أَنتُمۡ تَمۡلِكُونَ خَزَآئِنَ رَحۡمَةِ رَبِّيٓ إِذٗا لَّأَمۡسَكۡتُمۡ خَشۡيَةَ ٱلۡإِنفَاقِۚ وَكَانَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ قَتُورٗا
Qul law antum tamlikoona khazaaa’ina rahmati Rabbeee izal la amsaktum khash yatal infaaq; wa kaanal insaanu qatooraa (section 11)

English Translation

Here you can read various translations of verse 100

Sahih International
Say [to them], “If you possessed the depositories of the mercy of my Lord, then you would withhold out of fear of spending.” And ever has man been stingy.

Yusuf Ali
Say: “If ye had control of the Treasures of the Mercy of my Lord, behold, ye would keep them back, for fear of spending them: for man is (every) niggardly!”

Abul Ala Maududi
Tell them, (O Prophet): “Even if you owned the treasures of my Lord’s Mercy you would have held them back for fear of spending them.” Man is indeed ever niggardly.

Muhsin Khan
Say (to the disbelievers): “If you possessed the treasure of the Mercy of my Lord (wealth, money, provision, etc.), then you would surely hold back (from spending) for fear of (being exhausted), and man is ever miserly!”

Pickthall
Say (unto them): If ye possessed the treasures of the mercy of my Lord, ye would surely hold them back for fear of spending, for man was ever grudging.

Dr. Ghali
Say, “If you possessed the treasuries of the mercy of my Lord, then lo, you would indeed hold back in apprehension of expending.” (i.e., You would be miserly) and man has been constantly grudging.

Abdel Haleem
Say, ‘If you possessed the very stores of my Lord’s bounty, you would hold them back in your fear of spending: man is ever grudging.’

Muhammad Junagarhi
کہہ دیجیئے کہ اگر بالفرض تم میرے رب کی رحمتوں کے خزانوں کے مالک بن جاتے تو تم اس وقت بھی اس کے خرچ ہوجانے کے خوف سے اس کو روکے رکھتے اور انسان ہے ہی تنگ دل

Quran 17 Verse 100 Explanation

For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Al-Isra ayat 100, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.

Ala-Maududi

(17:100) Tell them, (O Prophet): “Even if you owned the treasures of my Lord’s Mercy you would have held them back for fear of spending them.” Man is indeed ever niggardly.[112]


112. This verse also suggests the same thing that has already been mentioned in Ayat 55. This hints at the real psychological reason why the disbelievers of Makkah were not inclined to accept Muhammad (peace be upon him), their contemporary, as a Prophet. For thus they would have to acknowledge his superiority and one does not easily acknowledge the superiority of his contemporary. This verse may be expanded like this: Those people who are so narrow minded that they are unwilling even to acknowledge the real superiority of another, cannot be expected to be generous in spending on others, if they possessed the keys of the treasures of Allah’s blessings.

Ibn-Kathir

100. Say: “If you possessed the treasure of the mercy of my Lord, then you would surely hold back for fear of spending, and man is ever miserly!”


Holding back is Part of Man’s Nature

Allah says to His Messenger : “Tell them, O Muhammad, even if you had authority over the treasures of Allah, you would refrain from spending for fear of exhausting it.” Ibn `Abbas and Qatadah said, “This means for fear of poverty,” lest it run out, despite the fact that it can never be exhausted or come to an end. This is because it is part of your nature. So Allah says:

﴿وَكَانَ الإنْسَـنُ قَتُورًا﴾

(and man is ever miserly.) Ibn `Abbas and Qatadah said: “(This means) stingy and holding back.” Allah says:

﴿أَمْ لَهُمْ نَصِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُلْكِ فَإِذاً لاَّ يُؤْتُونَ النَّاسَ نَقِيراً ﴾

(Or have they a share in the dominion Then in that case they would not give mankind even a Naqira.) (4:53), meaning that even if they had a share in the authority of Allah, they would not have given anything to anyone, not even the amount of a Naqira (speck on the back of a date stone). Allah describes man as he really is, except for those whom Allah helps and guides. Miserliness, discontent and impatience are human characteristics, as Allah says:

﴿إِنَّ الإِنسَـنَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعاً – إِذَا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ جَزُوعاً – وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ الْخَيْرُ مَنُوعاً – إِلاَّ الْمُصَلِّينَ ﴾

(Verily, man was created very impatient; irritable when evil touches him; and stingy when good touches him. Except those who are devoted to Salah (prayers). ) (70:19-22). And there are many other such references in the Qur’an. This is an indication of the generosity and kindness of Allah. In the Two Sahihs it says:

«يَدُ اللهِ مَلْأَى لَا يَغِيضُهَا نَفَقَةٌ سَحَّاءُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ، أَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا أَنْفَقَ مُنْذُ خَلَقَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ، فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَغِضْ مَا فِي يَمِينِه»

(Allah’s Hand is full and never decreases because of His giving night and day. Do you not see how much He has given since He created the heavens and the earth, yet that which is in His right hand never decreases.)

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surah al-isra ayat 100
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