ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ۖ فَمِنْهُمْ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِۦ وَمِنْهُم مُّقْتَصِدٌ وَمِنْهُمْ سَابِقٌۢ بِٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَضْلُ ٱلْكَبِيرُ 32
Translations
Then We caused to inherit the Book those We have chosen of Our servants; and among them is he who wrongs himself [i.e., sins], and among them is he who is moderate, and among them is he who is foremost in good deeds by permission of Allāh. That [inheritance] is what is the great bounty.
Transliteration
Thumma awarthna al-kitaba alladhina istafayna min ibadina, famin-hum dhalimun li-nafsihi wa-min-hum muqtasidun wa-min-hum sabiqun bi-al-khayrati bi-idhni Allah. Dhalika huwa al-fadlu al-kabir.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Allah has inherited the Quran to those whom He has chosen from His servants, who are divided into three categories based on their obedience: those who wrong themselves (dhalimu li-nafsihi) through sins while remaining Muslim, the moderate (muqtasid) who perform obligatory duties, and those who excel in good deeds (sabiq bi-al-khayrat). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain this as illustrating the diversity of faith levels among the Muslim ummah, where each category remains within the fold of Islam but differs in their spiritual attainment, and this differentiation is itself a manifestation of Allah's great favor (fadl al-kabir).
Revelation Context
Surah Fatir is a Meccan chapter that emphasizes Allah's creative power and justice. This ayah fits within the broader context of explaining how Allah's message and guidance have been entrusted to the Muslim community, and how individuals respond to this trust according to their choices and capabilities.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of people are my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them' (Sahih Bukhari 3650), which relates to the theme of inheritance of knowledge and varying levels of righteousness. Additionally, the hadith on the seventy thousand who enter Paradise without reckoning (Sahih Muslim 220) relates to the categories of believers described in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that being Muslim exists on a spectrum of commitment and righteousness—even those who struggle with sins (while repenting) remain part of the faithful community, while it simultaneously encourages believers to aspire toward excellence in good deeds. The recognition of these different levels reminds us to balance between hope in Allah's mercy and striving for spiritual perfection.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَـٰلِمُ غَيْبِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
Indeed, Allāh is Knower of the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and earth. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَكَانُوٓا۟ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً ۚ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعْجِزَهُۥ مِن شَىْءٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَلِيمًا قَدِيرًا
Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them? And they were greater than them in power. But Allāh is not to be caused failure [i.e., prevented] by anything in the heavens or on the earth. Indeed, He is ever Knowing and Competent.
وَمَا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْبَحْرَانِ هَـٰذَا عَذْبٌ فُرَاتٌ سَآئِغٌ شَرَابُهُۥ وَهَـٰذَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌ ۖ وَمِن كُلٍّ تَأْكُلُونَ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُونَ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا ۖ وَتَرَى ٱلْفُلْكَ فِيهِ مَوَاخِرَ لِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And not alike are the two seas [i.e., bodies of water]. One is fresh and sweet, palatable for drinking, and one is salty and bitter. And from each you eat tender meat and extract ornaments which you wear, and you see the ships plowing through [them] that you might seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful.
يُولِجُ ٱلَّيْلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلَّيْلِ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِى لِأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِن قِطْمِيرٍ
He causes the night to enter the day, and He causes the day to enter the night and has subjected the sun and the moon - each running [its course] for a specified term. That is Allāh, your Lord; to Him belongs sovereignty. And those whom you invoke other than Him do not possess [as much as] the membrane of a date seed.