يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِلَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ 172
Translations
O you who have believed, eat from the good [i.e., lawful] things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allāh if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu kulu min tayyibati ma razaqnakum washshkuru lillahi in kuntum iyyahu ta'budun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the believers to consume from the good and lawful provisions He has granted them, and to express gratitude to Him as a sign of true worship. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this ayah encourages the consumption of halal sustenance while maintaining consciousness of Allah's favor, establishing that gratitude is an integral part of servitude. Al-Qurtubi notes that the command to eat from good things refutes the ascetic notion that abstinence from lawful pleasures is superior, teaching that enjoying halal provisions with thankfulness is itself an act of worship.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan section of Surah Al-Baqarah and relates to the broader Islamic teachings on lawful sustenance and gratitude. It provides guidance for the Muslim community on balanced living—neither excessive indulgence nor unnecessary deprivation—establishing the principle that halal enjoyment paired with gratitude fulfills religious obligations.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi), reflecting the principle of enjoying halal provisions with one's family. Additionally, 'Whoever is not grateful for the little, will not be grateful for the much' (Tirmidhi) emphasizes the gratitude component of this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that enjoying lawful provisions while maintaining gratitude to Allah is not indulgence but rather worship itself, encouraging a balanced spiritual life that neither denies the blessings of creation nor loses sight of the Creator. Modern Muslims can apply this by consuming consciously—choosing halal, thanking Allah for sustenance, and recognizing that contentment with halal blessings strengthens faith and obedience.