Surah al-Hadid (The Iron ) 57 : 10

Overview (Verse 10)

Classes of Actions

The surah then adds the incentive to spend in charity, putting this in an emphatic way: "Why should you not spend freely in the cause of God, seeing that God's alone is the heritage of the heavens and the earth?" (Verse 10) This reference takes us back to the fact already mentioned in the opening verses: "His is the dominion over the heavens and the earth. Everything goes back to God." (Verse 5) The heavens and the earth are His own property and they revert back to Him. What has been assigned to people on trust will also go back to Him as part of this inheritance. Why should they, then, not be charitable when He is asking them to spend in charity? When this is put into perspective, there can be no justification for stinginess.

The elite community of the early believers, the Muhajirin and the Ansar, came forward with what they could of sacrifice, in life and property, during a very hard time, before the great triumph was achieved. The victory mentioned here may refer to either the fall of Makkah to Islam, or to the signing of the peace treaty at al-Hudaybiyah. Both were events that greatly consolidated the position of Islam at a time when it was still besieged by enemies on all fronts. These people offered their sacrifices to God, entertaining no thought of worldly gain or currying favour with a powerful Muslim state, for there was none. Their sacrifice was the result of a choice they made for God's sake. It was in support of a faith they wholeheartedly accepted and loved, valuing it dearer than their lives and properties. Yet what they sacrificed was, in quantity, much less than what those who flocked to Islam after its victory were able to sacrifice. Some of these offered sacrifices, stopping at the amount they heard the early Muslims gave. Therefore, the Qur'an gives these offerings their true values, making it clear that it is not the quantity that determines the value; rather, it is the motive pointing to the truth of faith: "Those of you who gave and fought [for God's cause] before the victory are not like others: they are higher in rank than those who gave and fought afterwards." (Verse 10)

A person who makes financial sacrifices and fights when the faith he believes in is struggling against great odds, able to call on the support of only a few, and when there is little hope of personal gain is totally different from the one who makes such sacrifices and fights at the time of security, when supporters are plentiful and victory is assured. The first is totally dedicated to his faith, placing his complete trust in God, with no quick gains to be hoped for. Nothing but faith urges him to make such sacrifices. The other always finds those who encourage him to do good deeds, even when his intention is right and he is totally dedicated to faith. Anas reports: "Some verbal disagreement occurred between Khalid ibn al-Walid and (Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf. Khalid said to (Abd al-Rahman: 'You take pride against us because of the period you had ahead of us.'1 We heard that this was mentioned to the Prophet. He said: `Leave my Companions alone. By Him who holds my soul in His hand, should any of you spend the like of Mount Uhud, [or he might have said, 'the weight of mountains'] in gold, he would not achieve the like of their deeds'." [Related by Ahmad.] The Prophet is also authentically quoted as saying: "Do not curse my Companions. By Him who holds my soul in His hand, should any of you spend the like of Mount Uhud in gold, he would not achieve the measure of any one of them, not even half that measure."

Having established the true measure of both groups in God's sight, the surah now states that they will all reside in heaven: "Although God has promised the ultimate good to all of them." (Verse 10) Despite their difference in degree, they have all done well. This difference in rank and the promise of the great reward to all are due to God's knowledge of their respective situations, intentions, determination and actions: "God is well aware of all that you do." (Verse 10) This is a reference to real intentions beyond apparent actions. It is after all the intention that determines the value of any action.