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
قُلْ هَلْ مِن شُرَكَآئِكُم مَّن يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ ۚ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ
Say, "Are there of your 'partners' any who begins creation and then repeats it?" Say, "Allāh begins creation and then repeats it, so how are you deluded?"
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِم مُّوسَىٰ وَهَـٰرُونَ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَإِي۟هِۦ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا فَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا مُّجْرِمِينَ
Then We sent after them Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and his establishment with Our signs, but they behaved arrogantly and were a criminal people.
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمْ فِى شَكٍّ مِّن دِينِى فَلَآ أَعْبُدُ ٱلَّذِينَ تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِنْ أَعْبُدُ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى يَتَوَفَّىٰكُمْ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "O people, if you are in doubt as to my religion - then I do not worship those which you worship besides Allāh; but I worship Allāh, who causes your death. And I have been commanded to be of the believers
قُل لَّآ أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِى ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ ۚ إِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَلَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ
Say, "I possess not for myself any harm or benefit except what Allāh should will. For every nation is a [specified] term. When their time has come, then they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it]."