Other translations of verse 7
Whatever gains Allah has bestowed upon His Messenger from the people of the towns belongs to Allah and the Messenger, and to his close relatives8, orphans, the needy, and stranded wayfarers9, so that wealth should not circulate only among those of you who are rich. Whatever the Messenger gives you, accept it, and whatever he forbids you, refrain from it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in punishment.
Notes
[8] Those of Banū Hāshim and Banū Muttalib, the close relatives of the Prophet (ﷺ), as compensation for them being prohibited from accepting zakah.
[9] This ruling concerning properties abandoned by disbelievers without engaging in war varies from that in Surat al-Anfāl, verse 41, which refers to spoils of war in which four-fifths is distributed among those believers who participated in the war.
What Allâh gave as booty (Fai’) to His Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) from the people of the townships - it is for Allâh, His Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), the kindred (of Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), the orphans, Al-Masâkin (the poor), and the wayfarer, in order that it may not become a fortune used by the rich among you. And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it).1 And fear Allâh; verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment.
Notes
[1] (V.59:7) Narrated ‘Alqamah: ‘Abdullâh (bin Mas‘ûd) said. "Allâh curses those ladies who practise tatooing and those who get themselves tatooed, and those ladies who get their hair removed from their eyebrows and faces except the beard and moustache, and those who make artificial spaces between their teeth in order to look more beautiful whereby they change Allâh’s creation." His saying reached a lady from Banû Asad, called Umm Ya‘qûb, who came (to ‘Abdullâh) and said, "I have come to know that you have cursed such-and-such (ladies)?" He replied, "Why should I not curse these whom Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم has cursed and who are (cursed) in Allâh’s Book!" Umm Ya‘qûb said, "I have read the whole Qur’ân, but I did not find in it what you say." He said, "Verily, if you have read it (i.e. the Qur’ân), you have found it. Didn’t you read:
"And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)." (V.59:7).
She replied, "Yes, I did", He said, "Verily, Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم forbade such things." She said, "But I see your wife doing these things?" He said, "Go and watch her". She went and watched her but could not see anything in support of her statement. On that he said, "If my wife was as you thought, I would not keep her in my company" (i.e. I would divorce her). (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.6, Hadîth No.408).
Narrated ‘Abdullâh (bin Mas‘ûd) رضي الله عنه: Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم has cursed the lady who uses false hair. (See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.6, Hadîth No.409).
That which Allah giveth as spoil unto His messenger from the people of the townships, it is for Allah and His messenger and for the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, that it become not a commodity between the rich among you. And whatsoever the messenger giveth you, take it. And whatsoever he forbiddeth, abstain (from it). And keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is stern in reprisal.
What Allah has bestowed on His Messenger (and taken away) from the people of the townships,- belongs to Allah,- to His Messenger and to kindred and orphans, the needy and the wayfarer; In order that it may not (merely) make a circuit between the wealthy among you. So take what the Messenger assigns to you, and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you. And fear Allah; for Allah is strict in Punishment.
Whatever Allah has restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns, it is for Allah and for the Messenger, and for the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, so that it may not be a thing taken by turns among the rich of you, and whatever the Messenger gives you, accept it, and from whatever he forbids you, keep back, and be careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is severe in retributing (evil):
Whatever (spoils) Allah has conceded His Messenger from the population of the towns, then that is for Allah and for the Messenger, and for the near kinsman, and the orphans, and the indigent, and the wayfarer, so that it may not (make) a circuit between the rich among you. And whatever the Messenger brings you, then take it; and whatever he forbids you, then give over. And be pious to Allah; surely Allah is strict in punishment.
