ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ 4
Translations
That is the bounty of Allāh, which He gives to whom He wills, and Allāh is the possessor of great bounty.
Transliteration
Dhālika faḍlu -llāhi yu'tīhi man yashā'u wa-allāhu dhū al-faḍli al-'aẓīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the discussion about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his message, affirming that his prophethood and the guidance he brings are purely from Allah's grace and mercy, bestowed upon whom He wills. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this emphasizes Allah's absolute sovereignty in choosing His messengers and granting wisdom and knowledge—no one deserves it by right, but it is entirely contingent upon Allah's divine will and infinite grace. The statement underscores that prophethood cannot be demanded or earned through human effort alone; it is a divine bestowal.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Jumu'ah is a Medinan surah revealed during the period when the Muslim community was established in Medina. This ayah appears in the context of describing the Prophet's excellence and the blessing of his mission. It serves as a reminder to the believers that the Prophet's status and the religion he brought are manifestations of Allah's supreme favor, which He grants according to His wisdom.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'I have been sent as a mercy to all the worlds' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, Quranic context reinforces this with Surah 33:40 which states the Prophet is the Seal of the Prophets, emphasizing his unique station granted by Allah's grace.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that all blessings, knowledge, and spiritual guidance come exclusively from Allah's grace, not from personal merit or effort alone; this cultivates humility and gratitude. The ayah teaches that we must never assume our accomplishments are solely our own achievement, but rather acknowledge Allah as the ultimate source of all good.