وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 18
Translations
And if you should count the favors of Allāh, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Wa-in ta'uddū ni'mata Allāhi lā tuḥṣūhā, inna Allāha laghafūrun raḥīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes the countless and immeasurable blessings (ni'am) that Allah has bestowed upon humanity, which are beyond human capacity to enumerate or fully comprehend. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that this verse invokes gratitude and humility, reminding believers that divine blessings encompass physical sustenance, intellectual faculties, spiritual guidance, and protection—all of which surpass enumeration. The concluding phrase 'Indeed, Allah is Most Forgiving and Most Merciful' provides reassurance that despite human inability to adequately thank Allah for His blessings, His forgiveness and mercy remain boundless.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah An-Nahl (Meccan surah), which extensively discusses divine signs and blessings in creation. The broader context addresses the ingratitude of disbelievers and idolaters who fail to recognize Allah's favors, positioning this verse as a call to reflection on the obvious yet often overlooked blessings permeating human existence.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (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). Thematically related: 'Whoever is grateful, he is grateful for [the benefit of] himself; and whoever is ungrateful, then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous' (27:40)—emphasizing gratitude for blessings.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to cultivate mindfulness of Allah's boundless blessings in daily life, recognizing that complete gratitude is impossible yet sincere attempts at thankfulness are spiritually elevating. It offers comfort that divine mercy encompasses our inevitable shortcomings in acknowledging these blessings.
Related Ayahs
وَعَلَـٰمَـٰتٍ ۚ وَبِٱلنَّجْمِ هُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ
And landmarks. And by the stars they are [also] guided.
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةُ ۚ فَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allāh and avoid ṭāghūt." And among them were those whom Allāh guided, and among them were those upon whom error was [deservedly] decreed. So proceed [i.e., travel] through the earth and observe how was the end of the deniers.
ثُمَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يُخْزِيهِمْ وَيَقُولُ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآءِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تُشَـٰٓقُّونَ فِيهِمْ ۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ إِنَّ ٱلْخِزْىَ ٱلْيَوْمَ وَٱلسُّوٓءَ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Then on the Day of Resurrection He will disgrace them and say, "Where are My 'partners' for whom you used to oppose [the believers]?" Those who were given knowledge will say, "Indeed disgrace, this Day, and evil are upon the disbelievers" -
إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۚ فَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مُّنكِرَةٌ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ
Your god is one God. But those who do not believe in the Hereafter - their hearts are disapproving, and they are arrogant.