أَمْ يَحْسُدُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ عَلَىٰ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ ۖ فَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَآ ءَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُم مُّلْكًا عَظِيمًا 54
Translations
Or do they envy people for what Allāh has given them of His bounty? But We had already given the family of Abraham the Scripture and wisdom and conferred upon them a great kingdom.
Transliteration
Am yaḥsudūn an-nāsa ʿalā mā ātāhum ul-Lāhu min faḍlihi, faqad ātaynā āla Ibrāhīm al-kitāb wa-l-ḥikmah wa-ātaynāhum mulkan ʿaẓīmā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rebukes those who harbor envy toward people whom Allah has blessed with His favors, whether wealth, knowledge, or status. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as addressing the Jews' jealousy toward the Muslims and their denial of the Prophet's message. The ayah then establishes that Allah's bestowal of blessing is His sovereign choice, exemplified by His granting the family of Ibrahim the Book, wisdom, and a great kingdom—demonstrating that such gifts came through divine selection, not human merit.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa (revealed in Madinah) and contextually addresses the disputes between the Muslims and the People of the Book, particularly regarding prophethood and divine favor. The specific reference to the family of Ibrahim relates to the broader Quranic discussion of prophetic lineage and the transmission of divine knowledge, which was a point of contention between communities in Madinah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said: 'Do not envy one another; do not inflate prices against one another; do not hate one another; do not turn away from one another; and do not undercut one another in trade. Rather be servants of Allah as brothers.' (Sahih Muslim 2563). Additionally, the Prophet warned against envy, stating: 'Envy consumes good deeds as fire consumes wood.' (Sunan Ibn Majah 4206)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah's distribution of blessings is based on His infinite wisdom, not human expectations, and that harboring envy toward others' fortune is both spiritually destructive and a rejection of divine wisdom. Believers should focus on gratitude for their own provisions and trust in Allah's perfect justice rather than comparing themselves to others.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ ۖ وَإِن تَكُ حَسَنَةً يُضَـٰعِفْهَا وَيُؤْتِ مِن لَّدُنْهُ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Indeed, Allāh does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom's weight; while if there is a good deed, He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward.
وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِأَعْدَآئِكُمْ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ نَصِيرًا
And Allāh is most knowing of your enemies; and sufficient is Allāh as an ally, and sufficient is Allāh as a helper.
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِتَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِمَآ أَرَىٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَلَا تَكُن لِّلْخَآئِنِينَ خَصِيمًا
Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], the Book in truth so you may judge between the people by that which Allāh has shown you. And do not be for the deceitful an advocate.
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَنكَفُوا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فَيُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا
And as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards and grant them extra from His bounty. But as for those who disdained and were arrogant, He will punish them with a painful punishment, and they will not find for themselves besides Allāh any protector or helper.