181 Preface لَقَد سَمِعَ اللَّهُ قَولَ الَّذينَ قالوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ فَقيرٌ وَنَحنُ أَغنِياءُ ۘ سَنَكتُبُ ما قالوا وَقَتلَهُمُ الأَنبِياءَ بِغَيرِ حَقٍّ وَنَقولُ ذوقوا عَذابَ الحَريقِYusuf AliGod hath heard the taunt of those who say: “Truly, God1 is indigent and we are rich!”- We shall certainly record their word and (their act) of slaying the prophets in defiance2 of right, and We shall say: “Taste ye the penalty of the Scorching Fire! In 2:245 we read: “Who is he that will loan to God a beautiful loan?” In other places charity or spending in the way of God is metaphorically described as giving to God. The Prophet often used that expression in appealing for funds to be spent in the way of God. The scoffers mocked and said: “So God is indigent and we are rich!” This blasphemy was of a piece with all their conduct in history, in slaying the Prophets and men of God.For the expression “slaying in defiance of right.” Cf. 3:21, and 3:112.