لَقَدْ كَانَ لِسَبَإٍ فِى مَسْكَنِهِمْ ءَايَةٌ ۖ جَنَّتَانِ عَن يَمِينٍ وَشِمَالٍ ۖ كُلُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِ رَبِّكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لَهُۥ ۚ بَلْدَةٌ طَيِّبَةٌ وَرَبٌّ غَفُورٌ 15
Translations
There was for [the tribe of] Saba’ in their dwelling place a sign: two [fields of] gardens on the right and on the left. [They were told], "Eat from the provisions of your Lord and be grateful to Him. A good land [have you], and a forgiving Lord."
Transliteration
Laqad kana li-Saba-in fee maskanihim ayah. Jannatani an yameenin wa shimaal. Kulu min rizqi Rabbikum wa-shkuru lahu. Baldatun tayyibatun wa Rabbun ghafur.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the people of Sheba (Saba) who possessed two gardens on their right and left as a sign (ayah) of Allah's bounty and grace in their dwelling place. The classical scholars Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this was a test of their gratitude—Allah provided them abundant provision and a blessed land, commanding them to eat from their Lord's sustenance and give thanks. However, as mentioned in subsequent verses, they were ungrateful and destructive, leading to the destruction of their gardens, illustrating the consequence of rejecting divine blessings.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative about the people of Saba in Surah Saba (Chapter 34), a Meccan surah. The passage serves as a historical reminder to the Meccan polytheists about how previous nations who rejected Allah's signs and were ungrateful for His blessings were punished. The context emphasizes the importance of gratitude and warns against arrogance and ingratitude.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly references this specific ayah, the theme relates to Hadith Qudsi: 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Whoever is not grateful to people is not grateful to Allah' (Sunan Abu Dawud), emphasizing the necessity of gratitude for divine blessings.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that abundance is a divine test requiring gratitude rather than ingratitude or complacency; true success lies in recognizing Allah's blessings and expressing thanks through obedience and righteous conduct. For believers today, it is a reminder that material prosperity should strengthen our faith and humility, not lead to arrogance or forgetfulness of Allah's favors.