يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مَا غَرَّكَ بِرَبِّكَ ٱلْكَرِيمِ 6
Translations
O mankind, what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous,
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha al-insan ma gharraka bi rabbika al-karim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah opens with a powerful rhetorical address to humanity, questioning what has deceived or deluded them regarding their Lord who is Al-Karim (The Generous, The Noble). Ibn Kathir explains that Allah is reproaching those who become heedless and disobedient despite witnessing His generosity and blessings in their lives. Al-Tabari notes that this ayah serves as an awakening call to human consciousness, questioning how one can be deceived about the nature of their Creator who bestows endless favors upon them.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears at the beginning of Surah Al-Infitar, a Meccan surah revealed during the early Islamic period. It serves as an opening statement for the entire surah's theme of accountability and the Day of Judgment. The surah continues to remind humanity of the angels recording their deeds and the inevitability of the final reckoning, making this ayah's rhetorical question foundational to the surah's message about avoiding deception regarding one's obligations to Allah.
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). This relates to recognizing Allah's generosity through maintaining family bonds. Additionally, 'Let none of you belittle good deeds' (Sahih Muslim 2626) connects to the theme of not being deceived into dismissing righteous actions.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a spiritual mirror for believers to reflect on how they may have become complacent or heedless despite witnessing Allah's continuous generosity in their lives. It encourages constant gratitude and awareness, reminding us that no worldly distraction or false sense of security should deceive us into forgetting our covenant with our Generous Lord and the Day of Judgment.