"Have You Seen the One Who Turned Away" — Who Gave Half His Wealth Then Withdrew
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Level: intermediate
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أَفَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِي تَوَلَّىٰ وَأَعۡطَىٰ قَلِيلٗا وَأَكۡدَىٰ
— النجم 33
Verse: "Have you seen the one who turned away, gave a little then withheld?" (53:33-34)
Occasion (Hasan): Narrated that a man promised a poor person charity then gave him half of what was promised and withheld the rest. Also said to be about Al-Walid ibn Al-Mughira who would follow the Prophet then leave when his companions taunted him. These verses were revealed.
Lesson: "Ikda" — withholding after beginning to give — corrupts the charity and reveals weak certainty in divine recompense.
Source: Al-Tabari (27/78); Tafsir Ibn Abi Hatim; Lubab Al-Nuqul
Question: What does "akda" mean in the verse?
Answer: Akda: withheld and stopped after giving — like one who began spending then stopped. Derived from "kadya" meaning the hard rock that stops digging.