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.
Related Ayahs
وَلَمَّآ أَن جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطًا سِىٓءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًا وَقَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ وَلَا تَحْزَنْ ۖ إِنَّا مُنَجُّوكَ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَكَ كَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْغَـٰبِرِينَ
And when Our messengers [i.e., angels] came to Lot, he was distressed for them and felt for them great discomfort. They said, "Fear not, nor grieve. Indeed, we will save you and your family, except your wife; she is to be of those who remain behind.
وَقَالَ إِنَّمَا ٱتَّخَذْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْثَـٰنًا مَّوَدَّةَ بَيْنِكُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ ثُمَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يَكْفُرُ بَعْضُكُم بِبَعْضٍ وَيَلْعَنُ بَعْضُكُم بَعْضًا وَمَأْوَىٰكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن نَّـٰصِرِينَ
And [Abraham] said, "You have only taken, other than Allāh, idols as [a bond of] affection among you in worldly life. Then on the Day of Resurrection you will deny one another and curse one another, and your refuge will be the Fire, and you will not have any helpers."
قَالَ إِنَّ فِيهَا لُوطًا ۚ قَالُوا۟ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن فِيهَا ۖ لَنُنَجِّيَنَّهُۥ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ كَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْغَـٰبِرِينَ
[Abraham] said, "Indeed, within it is Lot." They said, "We are more knowing of who is within it. We will surely save him and his family, except his wife. She is to be of those who remain behind."
وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِٱلْعَذَابِ ۚ وَلَوْلَآ أَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى لَّجَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَيَأْتِيَنَّهُم بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
And they urge you to hasten the punishment. And if not for [the decree of] a specified term, punishment would have reached them. But it will surely come to them suddenly while they perceive not.