Ibn Ishaq makes mention of a narration and this is in Tafsir Tabari, Ibn Abbas speaks at the time when Abu Bakr al Siddiq had entered into a discussion with a Jewish man by the name of Finhas.

When the verse was revealed:

Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And it is Allah who withholds and grants abundance, and to Him you will be returned. (2:245)

Obviously a warped mind starts thinking:

“Why does Allah need my money?”

When you say “spend for Allah”, a warped mind says:

“Why do I need to spend for Allah? Allah is the provider, He should be giving Himself.”

But people don’t understand.

Allah uses us in order to fulfill the needs of others. But He is the fulfiller of the needs. He gave you in the first place and then He’s saying don’t become too clingy. Don’t stick too much to this wealth. Don’t actually become miserly. Learn to spend it.

Learn to focus because your focus should be on the hereafter and not just material items of this world.

So this Jewish man by the name of Finhas said:

“We are actually not in need of Allah. Look, Allah is in need of us! And the evidence of it is that Allah is saying, “give for my cause,” so we are wealthy and give the one who is poor!”

May Allah protect us from such statements.

In fact, ibn abi Hatim has made mention of a narration and this is also in Tafsir At-Tabari, also by Abdullah ibn Abbas. He says:

“When the verse was revealed: Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over, a certain man made a statement: “Is your God poor that He is asking us? If He was wealthy, He would not be asking us.”

So Allah revealed verses obviously.

The story ends that Abu Bakr As-Siddiq could not tolerate the statement, so he slapped this man… And they went to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and this man said:

“Look at what your companion has done to me. He slapping me for nothing!”

Abu Bakr says:

“No, it wasn’t for nothing. This is what happened.”

The man says: “No nothing happened at all!”

Look at the lies and the falsehood! Not realizing they were living during the time of Revelation. It would come and expose such statements, you cannot lie to the messenger of Allah.