قُلْ بِفَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِۦ فَبِذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا۟ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ 58
Translations
Say, "In the bounty of Allāh and in His mercy - in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate."
Transliteration
Qul bifadlillahi wa birrahmatih, fa bithalika falyafrahu, huwa khayrun mimma yajmaun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him) to proclaim that joy and happiness should be found in Allah's favor and mercy rather than in material accumulation. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir explain that this ayah teaches believers to recognize that divine grace and compassion are infinitely superior to worldly possessions, encouraging contentment and gratitude. The ayah redirects human desires from materialism toward spiritual fulfillment and reliance on Allah's bounties.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Mecca during a period when the Prophet and early Muslims faced material hardship and social opposition. This ayah addresses the broader Meccan context of emphasizing spiritual wealth over material concerns, reinforcing the theme that true joy comes from faith and divine favor rather than earthly accumulation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Richness is not in abundance of possessions, but richness is contentment of the soul' (Sahih Bukhari 6446). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'Look at those below you and do not look at those above you, for it is more fitting that you should not disdain the favors of Allah' (Sahih Muslim 2963), which aligns with this ayah's message about recognizing divine blessings.
Themes
Key Lesson
True happiness and fulfillment arise from recognizing and being grateful for Allah's blessings rather than from accumulating material wealth. Believers are encouraged to shift their perspective on success from external possessions to internal spiritual satisfaction and reliance on divine mercy.
Related Ayahs
وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا ٱلْقُرُونَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا۟ ۙ وَجَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ لِيُؤْمِنُوا۟ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
And We had already destroyed generations before you when they wronged, and their messengers had come to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe. Thus do We recompense the criminal people.
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَكُمُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِى لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا ۖ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ عَلَيْكُم بِوَكِيلٍ
Say, "O mankind, the truth has come to you from your Lord, so whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul, and whoever goes astray only goes astray [in violation] against it. And I am not over you a manager."
وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ نَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ مَكَانَكُمْ أَنتُمْ وَشُرَكَآؤُكُمْ ۚ فَزَيَّلْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ وَقَالَ شُرَكَآؤُهُم مَّا كُنتُمْ إِيَّانَا تَعْبُدُونَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], the Day We will gather them all together - then We will say to those who associated others with Allāh, "[Remain in] your place, you and your 'partners.'" Then We will separate them, and their "partners" will say, "You did not used to worship us,
قُل لَّوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا تَلَوْتُهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَآ أَدْرَىٰكُم بِهِۦ ۖ فَقَدْ لَبِثْتُ فِيكُمْ عُمُرًا مِّن قَبْلِهِۦٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
Say, "If Allāh had willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you, for I had remained among you a lifetime before it. Then will you not reason?"