وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ رَضُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَقَالُوا۟ حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ سَيُؤْتِينَا ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ رَٰغِبُونَ 59
Translations
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].
Transliteration
Wa law annahum radū mā ātāhum Allāhu wa rasūluh wa qālū hasbunā Allāh sayuʾtīnā Allāhu min fadlih wa rasūluh inna ilā Allāh rāghbūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses those who complained about the distribution of war booty and charitable funds, instructing them that contentment with Allah's provision through His Messenger, coupled with trust in His future bounty, is the righteous path. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse teaches believers to find sufficiency in Allah (hasbunallah) and to maintain hope in His grace rather than harboring discontent or jealousy. The phrase 'Indeed, to Allah we turn in desire' (inna ilā Allāh rāghbūn) reinforces that ultimate reliance and aspiration should be directed solely toward the Divine.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of the distribution of the khums (one-fifth of war booty) after various expeditions, where some Companions expressed dissatisfaction with their shares. It is part of Surah At-Tawbah's broader treatment of obligations, sincerity in warfare, and proper conduct within the Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
The hadith 'Wealth and children are adornments of life, but the everlasting good deeds are better in reward' (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46) relates thematically to contentment. Additionally, the Prophet's (ﷺ) teaching 'Whoever wakes up secure in his property, healthy in his body, with food for the day has been given the entire world' (Jami' At-Tirmidhi) echoes the contentment encouraged in this verse.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true wealth lies in contentment with Allah's decree and unwavering trust in His provision, rather than in material abundance or comparison with others. In contemporary life, it encourages Muslims to cultivate gratitude for what they have while maintaining hopeful supplication to Allah, recognizing that sustainable peace comes from turning one's desires exclusively toward the Divine.
Related Ayahs
ٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَصَدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ سَآءَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
They have exchanged the signs of Allāh for a small price and averted [people] from His way. Indeed, it was evil that they were doing.
فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَىٰهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ بَخِلُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
But when He gave them from His bounty, they were stingy with it and turned away while they refused.
وَمِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَيَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنفِقُ قُرُبَـٰتٍ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَصَلَوَٰتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ ۚ أَلَآ إِنَّهَا قُرْبَةٌ لَّهُمْ ۚ سَيُدْخِلُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِى رَحْمَتِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
But among the bedouins are some who believe in Allāh and the Last Day and consider what they spend as means of nearness to Allāh and of [obtaining] invocations of the Messenger. Unquestionably, it is a means of nearness for them. Allāh will admit them to His mercy. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
وَعَلَى ٱلثَّلَـٰثَةِ ٱلَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا۟ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَن لَّا مَلْجَأَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّآ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
And [He also forgave] the three who were left alone [i.e., boycotted, regretting their error] to the point that the earth closed in on them in spite of its vastness and their souls confined [i.e., anguished] them and they were certain that there is no refuge from Allāh except in Him. Then He turned to them so they could repent. Indeed, Allāh is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful.