Surah 17. Al-Israa, Ayah 29

A metaphor signifying miserliness and, in particular, unwillingness to help others (cf. a similar expression in 5:64 ).

Cf. the phrase for niggardliness in v. 64. We are not to be so lavish as to make ourselves destitute and incur the just censure of wise men, nor is it becoming to keep back our resources from the just needs of those who have a right to our help. Even strangers have such a right, as we saw in xvii. 26 above. But we must keep a just measure between our capacity and other people's needs.