Beware Satan’s threat of poverty
Verse: 2:268
Arabic Text
الشَّيْطَانُ يَعِدُكُمُ الْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُم بِالْفَحْشَاءِ ۖ وَاللَّهُ يَعِدُكُم مَّغْفِرَةً مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلًا
Translation
Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty.
Description
This verse teaches us to trust in Allah's promises and be wary of Satan's whispers that lead to fear and wrongdoing.
Detailed Explanation
In this verse, Allah warns us about how Satan tries to instill fear of poverty in our hearts and encourages us toward immoral actions. Satan whispers to us that giving charity or doing good might make us poor, and this fear often leads people to act selfishly or unhappily. On the other hand, Allah promises us not only forgiveness for our sins but also generous rewards and help in this life and the next. By trusting Allah's promises, we find peace and assurance.
Understanding the context of this verse helps us grasp the larger lesson about trust and fear. According to Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Satan's goal is to prevent you from spending in the cause of Allah, whether it be charity, helping others, or simply living a good and ethical life. By understanding this, you can guard yourself against greed and selfishness. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also taught us the importance of spending for the sake of Allah, saying in a hadith that charity does not decrease wealth; in fact, Allah replaces it with something better. This idea is supported by several authentic hadith found in Sahih Al-Bukhari.
It is crucial for you to recognize these tricks of Satan and instead keep faith in Allah's promises. Trust that there is greater generosity and contentment in being good to others and that Allah sees all acts of kindness. So, whenever you feel discouraged or afraid that doing the right thing might harm you, remind yourself of Allah's promise: true success lies in following His guidance and stepping away from Satan's misleading whispers.