مَآ أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ 57
Translations
I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me.
Transliteration
Maa ureed minhum mir rizqin wa maa ureed an yut'imun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah declares that He requires no sustenance from His creation, nor does He desire that they feed Him. This ayah emphasizes Allah's absolute self-sufficiency (ghina) and complete independence from all creation. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this refutes the false beliefs of pagan Arabs who thought their offerings and sacrifices were necessary for Allah, establishing that worship is for the benefit of humans, not Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Adh-Dhariyat, which addresses fundamental Islamic beliefs about Allah's oneness and attributes. The surrounding verses (51:56-58) establish that Allah created humanity solely to worship Him, and this particular verse clarifies that such worship is not for Allah's need or benefit, but for the spiritual benefit of humanity itself.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best charity is when you are in need yet you give,' which reflects the principle that our actions benefit us, not Allah. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet states that Allah says: 'O My servants, you cannot please Me nor harm Me.'
Themes
Key Lesson
Understanding Allah's complete independence from our actions liberates us from performing worship for transactional purposes or seeking Allah's approval through material offerings. Instead, we should recognize that all worship and obedience ultimately benefit our own souls and bring us closer to our Creator.