Surah Al-Isra 17:100

Holding back is Part of Man's Nature

Allah says to His Messenger : "Tell them, O Muhammad, even if you had authority over the treasures of Allah, you would refrain from spending for fear of exhausting it." Ibn `Abbas and Qatadah said, "This means for fear of poverty," lest it run out, despite the fact that it can never be exhausted or come to an end. This is because it is part of your nature. So Allah says:

(and man is ever miserly.) Ibn `Abbas and Qatadah said: "(This means) stingy and holding back." Allah says:

(Or have they a share in the dominion Then in that case they would not give mankind even a Naqira.) (4:53), meaning that even if they had a share in the authority of Allah, they would not have given anything to anyone, not even the amount of a Naqira (speck on the back of a date stone). Allah describes man as he really is, except for those whom Allah helps and guides. Miserliness, discontent and impatience are human characteristics, as Allah says:

(Verily, man was created very impatient; irritable when evil touches him; and stingy when good touches him. Except those who are devoted to Salah (prayers). ) (70:19-22). And there are many other such references in the Qur'an. This is an indication of the generosity and kindness of Allah. In the Two Sahihs it says:

(Allah's Hand is full and never decreases because of His giving night and day. Do you not see how much He has given since He created the heavens and the earth, yet that which is in His right hand never decreases.)

Pada ayat ini, Allah swt menerangkan sebab-sebab mengapa Dia tidak memperkenankan permintaan orang-orang zalim itu, yaitu walaupun diperkenankan, mereka tetap tidak akan beriman, berlaku kikir, dan tidak mau memberikan sebagian kecil hartanya kepada orang lain yang memerlukannya. Mereka takut kenikmatan-kenikmatan yang telah diperoleh akan lenyap dari mereka. Padahal nikmat Allah tidak akan pernah habis seberapa pun manusia mengambilnya. Allah juga telah menjanjikan orang-orang yang menginfakkan harta mereka dengan imbalan yang berlipat ganda dari apa yang mereka infakkan.

Sifat kikir adalah watak dan tabiat manusia dengan kadar yang berbeda. Watak dan tabiat yang tidak baik itulah yang menyebabkan manusia mendurhakai perintah Allah dan enggan memperhatikan larangan-larangan-Nya. Firman Allah:

Dan kamu mencintai harta dengan kecintaan yang berlebihan. (al-Fajr/89: 20)

Dan sesungguhnya cintanya kepada harta benar-benar berlebihan. (al-'adiyat/100: 8)