Tafseer of The Repentance · At-Tawba · 9:121
Nor do they spend an expenditure, small or large, or cross a valley but that it is registered for them that Allah may reward them for the best of what they were doing.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The Statement on the Interpretation of His Saying: وَلا يُنْفِقُونَ نَفَقَةً صَغِيرَةً وَلا كَبِيرَةً وَلا يَقْطَعُونَ وَادِيًا إِلا كُتِبَ لَهُمْ لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ (121) (And they spend no expenditure, small nor great, and they cross no valley but it is recorded for them, that Allah may give them the best recompense for what they used to do) (121).
Abū Jaʿfar said: The Exalted, whose praise is mentioned, says: ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ لا يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌ (That is because no thirst afflicts them), and the rest of what was mentioned = وَلا يَنَالُونَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ نَيْلا (nor do they inflict any blow upon an enemy) = (and they spend no expenditure, small nor great), in the way of Allah = (and they do not cross), with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on his campaign = (a valley) but the reward for that deed of theirs is recorded for them, as recompense for them for it, like the best recompense that He would give them for the best of their deeds that they used to perform while they remained in their dwellings, as:
17465 - Bishr related to us, he said: Yazīd related to us, he said: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His saying: (and they spend no expenditure, small nor great), the āya, he said: No people removed themselves farther from their families in the way of Allah, but they thereby increased in nearness to Allah.
