وَمَن جَـٰهَدَ فَإِنَّمَا يُجَـٰهِدُ لِنَفْسِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَنِىٌّ عَنِ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 6
Translations
And whoever strives only strives for [the benefit of] himself. Indeed, Allāh is Free from need of the worlds.
Transliteration
Wa man jahada fa-innama yujahidu li-nafsihi. Inna Allaha la-ghanniyyun 'an al-'alamin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes that when a person strives (jihad) in obedience to Allah, they are ultimately striving for their own spiritual benefit and ultimate success, not for Allah's benefit, as Allah is self-sufficient and needs nothing from creation. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the ayah clarifies that Allah does not benefit from our actions; rather, we benefit ourselves through righteous deeds, while Allah's perfection and sovereignty remain unaffected by human obedience or disobedience.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Mecca during a period of intense persecution of Muslims, this surah addresses the trials faced by believers. This particular ayah appears in the context of encouraging believers to persevere in their faith despite hardships, reminding them that their struggle is ultimately for their own eternal benefit. It serves to reframe the concept of jihad (spiritual striving) as an act of self-interest in the highest sense.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever strives, strives for himself. Verily, Allah is not in need of the worlds.' (Related to the meaning in Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'The best jihad is the jihad of the soul' (Sunan Ibn Majah), emphasizing internal spiritual struggle.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to introspect on our intentions and efforts: any good we do ultimately benefits ourselves spiritually, and we should strive for righteousness not for worldly recognition but for our own soul's elevation and Allah's pleasure. It liberates us from the burden of thinking we need to earn Allah's favor through our deeds, instead motivating us to pursue virtue for our own eternal well-being.