يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ هَلْ مِنْ خَـٰلِقٍ غَيْرُ ٱللَّهِ يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ 3
Translations
O mankind, remember the favor of Allāh upon you. Is there any creator other than Allāh who provides for you from the heaven and earth? There is no deity except Him, so how are you deluded?
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha an-nasu udhkuru ni'mata allahi alaikum. Hal min khalikin ghayra allahi yarzuqukum mina as-sama'i wa al-ardi. La ilaha illa huwa. Fa-anna tu'fakun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah addresses all humanity, commanding them to remember His blessings and favors upon them, then poses a rhetorical question challenging them to identify any creator besides Allah who provides sustenance from the heavens and earth. The ayah culminates in the affirmation of Divine Oneness (Tawhid) and rebukes those who turn away from this truth. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah serves as a rational argument for monotheism: since only Allah provides all sustenance and provision, only He deserves worship and obedience.
Revelation Context
Surah Fatir is a Meccan surah revealed during the early Islamic period when polytheism was prevalent in Arabia. This ayah appears within the surah's broader theme of highlighting Allah's creative power and the foolishness of associating partners with Him. The context addresses the Meccan disbelievers who denied Allah's oneness despite witnessing His blessings in creation and provision.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (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). Related thematically, 'Gratitude for blessings increases them' (Tirmidhi), emphasizing remembrance of Allah's favors as taught in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should cultivate constant awareness and gratitude for Allah's blessings, as recognition of His sole role as Provider naturally leads to exclusive worship of Him. This ayah teaches that logical reflection on creation and sustenance serves as evidence for monotheism, encouraging both intellectual engagement and spiritual commitment to Islam.