Take what the messenger gives you (59:7)
Quran Talk Blog · Article · January 6, 2024
One of the sentences traditionalists often quote to justify the upholding of Hadith is the following from Sura 59 verse 7.
59:7…Take what the messenger gives you, and refrain from what he forbids you from it…
وَمَا نَهَىٰكُمْ عَنْهُ فَٱنتَهُوا۟
Traditionalists love to cite this portion of the verse but very conveniently neglect to present the verse in its entirety. If we read this verse from beginning to end, we see that the context here is regarding the spoils of war and has nothing to do with the Hadith.
59:6 Whatever GOD restored for His messenger was not the result of your war efforts, whether you fought on horses or on foot. GOD is the One who sends His messengers against whomever He wills. GOD is Omnipotent.
وَمَآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ مِنْهُمْ فَمَآ أَوْجَفْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ خَيْلٍ وَلَا رِكَابٍ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُسَلِّطُ رُسُلَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
59:7 Whatever GOD restored to His messenger from the (defeated) communities shall go to GOD and His messenger (in the form of a charity). You shall give it to the relatives, the orphans, the poor, and the traveling alien. Thus, it will not remain monopolized by the strong among you. You may keep the spoils given to you by the messenger, but do not take what he enjoins you from taking. You shall reverence GOD. GOD is strict in enforcing retribution.