Meaning, they did not say “If Allah wills”. Thus, beware of saying that you are going to do something without relating it to Allah’s (swt) will because you cannot guarantee your life or the fulfillment of your promise. Thus, beware of giving any promise without referring to Allah’s will. In this regard, Allah (swt) says:
وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا (23) إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ
(And never say of anything, “Indeed, I will do that tomorrow,” (23) Except, “If Allah wills.”) (Al-Kahf: 23-24)
The human being cannot guarantee the time, the place and the cause of any action. All these factors are controlled by Allah’s will.
Some scholars said about this verse of study that they would leave nothing of the fruits of their garden’s trees to give to the poor and the needy as their father used to do.
However, Allah (swt) has prescribed a fixed portion of the rich money called (Zakat), for the needy and the poor, Allah (swt) says:
وَالَّذِينَ فِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَّعْلُومٌ (24) لِّلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ
(And those within whose wealth is a known right (24) For the petitioner and the deprived -) (Al-Ma’arij: 24-25)
Whereas, giving alms is not limited for the doer of good. The person should not make the benefit of his money confined to himself, rather the poor and the needy have a share in it. Allah (swt) does not specify the right in this verse as a known right but leaves it unspecified, because only (Zakat) is prescribed as a fix portion. The one who seeks the rank of Excellence in Faith (ihsan) gives away more that what is prescribed. As the Legislator (swt) ensures this right to protect the poor and the rich as well. He (swt) specified the prescribed portion in order that no one gives less than what is prescribed. The owners of the garden intended to do something evil so that they were overwhelmed by it, as Allah (swt) says:
وَلَا يَحِيقُ الْمَكْرُ السَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِ
(but the evil plot does not encompass except its own people.) (Al-Baqara: 285)
Thus, the punishment was: