وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَّـٰكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَـٰيِشَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ 10
Translations
And We have certainly established you upon the earth and made for you therein ways of livelihood. Little are you grateful.
Transliteration
Wa-laqad makkannākum fil-ardi wa-ja'alnā lakum fīhā ma'āyish; qalīlan mā tashkurūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah reminds the Children of Israel that He established them firmly in the land and provided them with abundant means of livelihood, yet they show little gratitude in return. Ibn Kathir notes this ayah emphasizes Allah's countless favors upon them—granting them dominion, security, and sustenance—while Al-Qurtubi highlights that ingratitude represents a fundamental human weakness despite receiving divine blessings. The ayah serves as both a reminder of divine favor and a subtle rebuke of human forgetfulness.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period within Surah Al-A'raf's discussion of the Children of Israel and their historical relationship with Allah. It comes as part of a broader narrative reminding them of Allah's favors and their repeated ingratitude, contextualizing their rejection of the prophets and divine signs. The surah addresses the patterns of human rebellion and divine mercy throughout history.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), relating to gratitude and proper use of blessings. Additionally, 'Whoever is not grateful for the small things will not be grateful for the big things' (Musnad Ahmad), directly addressing the theme of shukr (gratitude) in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to cultivate consistent gratitude (shukr) for Allah's blessings, no matter how routine or ordinary they may seem, recognizing that even basic provisions of food, shelter, and security are divine gifts worthy of praise. It challenges believers to examine their own hearts regarding ingratitude and to actively acknowledge and appreciate the countless favors—both obvious and subtle—that Allah has granted them daily.
Related Ayahs
فَلَمَّا عَتَوْا۟ عَن مَّا نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ قُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا۟ قِرَدَةً خَـٰسِـِٔينَ
So when they were insolent about that which they had been forbidden, We said to them, "Be apes, despised."
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ يَـٰفِرْعَوْنُ إِنِّى رَسُولٌ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And Moses said, "O Pharaoh, I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds
وَمِمَّنْ خَلَقْنَآ أُمَّةٌ يَهْدُونَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَبِهِۦ يَعْدِلُونَ
And among those We created is a community which guides by truth and thereby establishes justice.
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ يُغْشِى ٱلَّيْلَ ٱلنَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُۥ حَثِيثًا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ وَٱلنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَٰتٍۭ بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ ۗ أَلَا لَهُ ٱلْخَلْقُ وَٱلْأَمْرُ ۗ تَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
Indeed, your Lord is Allāh, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allāh, Lord of the worlds.