فَعَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يُؤْتِيَنِ خَيْرًا مِّن جَنَّتِكَ وَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهَا حُسْبَانًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَتُصْبِحَ صَعِيدًا زَلَقًا 40
Translations
It may be that my Lord will give me [something] better than your garden and will send upon it a [disastrous] penalty from the sky, and it will become a smooth, dusty ground,
Transliteration
Fa-'asaa rabbee an yu'teenee khayran min jannatika wa-yursil 'alayha husbanan min al-sama'i fatusbiha sa'eedan zalaqaa
Tafsir (Explanation)
This verse contains the response of the believing servant in the parable of the two gardens, expressing his trust in Allah's divine wisdom and his hope that Allah will grant him something better than his companion's garden while destroying it through a calamity from heaven. Ibn Kathir explains that this reflects the believer's reliance upon Allah (tawakkul) and his certainty that worldly possessions are transient, while Al-Qurtubi emphasizes how this statement demonstrates the correct attitude toward wealth—recognizing that all good ultimately comes from Allah alone.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the parable of the two gardens (18:32-44) in Surah Al-Kahf, a Meccan chapter revealed to strengthen the believers' faith during early Islamic persecution. The parable teaches the danger of pride in wealth and worldly possessions, contrasting the arrogance of the wealthy disbeliever with the humble reliance of the believer on Allah's providence.
Related Hadiths
Related to themes in this ayah: Tirmidhi reports the Prophet ﷺ saying, 'Wealth and children are adornments of this worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are better.' Also relevant: Sahih Bukhari contains hadith on tawakkul (trust in Allah) as foundational Islamic practice.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to place their ultimate hope and reliance in Allah rather than in material possessions, understanding that true blessing comes from Allah's providence, not from accumulated wealth or status. It reminds us that pride in worldly gains is spiritually dangerous, and that genuine wealth lies in righteous deeds and a sincere relationship with the Almighty.
Related Ayahs
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ رَضُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَقَالُوا۟ حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ سَيُؤْتِينَا ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ رَٰغِبُونَ
If only they had been satisfied with what Allāh and His Messenger gave them and said, "Sufficient for us is Allāh; Allāh will give us of His bounty, and [so will] His Messenger; indeed, we are desirous toward Allāh," [it would have been better for them].
لَهُۥ مَقَالِيدُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth. He extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. Indeed He is, of all things, Knowing.
قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَـٰمٌ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِىَ ٱلْكِبَرُ وَٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرٌ ۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ
He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when I have reached old age and my wife is barren?" He [the angel] said, "Such is Allāh; He does what He wills."
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن جَآءَ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ مِنْ عِندِهِۦ وَمَن تَكُونُ لَهُۥ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلدَّارِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
And Moses said, "My Lord is more knowing [than we or you] of who has come with guidance from Him and to whom will be succession in the home. Indeed, wrongdoers do not succeed."