قُلْ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَخْرَجَ لِعِبَادِهِۦ وَٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ مِنَ ٱلرِّزْقِ ۚ قُلْ هِىَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا خَالِصَةً يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ 32
Translations
Say, "Who has forbidden the adornment of [i.e., from] Allāh which He has produced for His servants and the good [lawful] things of provision?" Say, "They are for those who believed during the life of this world, exclusively [for them] on the Day of Resurrection." Thus do We detail the verses for a people who know.
Transliteration
Qul man harrama zeenatallahi allati akhrajat li'ibadihi wa'l-tayyibati min al-rizqi. Qul hiya li'l-ladhina amanu fi'l-hayati al-dunya khalisatan yawm al-qiyamah. Kadhaliка nufassil al-ayat li-qawmin ya'lamun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refutes the practice of ascetics and those who forbid permissible adornments and good provisions that Allah has provided for His servants. The verse clarifies that adornments and good sustenance are permissible in this life for the believers, though their truest and most complete form will be in the Hereafter. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note this ayah addresses the misguided notion that piety requires rejecting worldly goods, emphasizing instead that moderation and gratitude in enjoying Allah's blessings is the Islamic path.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Mecca as part of Surah Al-A'raf's broader guidance on distinguishing lawful from unlawful. The context addresses those who excessively forbade permissible things (such as certain foods and clothing), which some ascetics or religious extremists of that time practiced, establishing the Islamic principle of balance (wasatiyyah) in worship and worldly life.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you in the sight of Allah are the best among you in character' and encouraged believers to take care of themselves. Related to provision and adornment, there is also the hadith: 'Indeed, Allah is beautiful and loves beauty,' (Sahih Muslim) - emphasizing that enjoying lawful adornments is not sinful but rather reflects appreciation for Allah's blessings.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims should enjoy the permissible blessings Allah has provided without guilt or excessive restriction, while maintaining consciousness that true, eternal bliss belongs to the believers in the Hereafter. The ayah teaches that piety is not measured by rejecting lawful comforts, but by maintaining justice, gratitude, and obedience to Allah in both enjoyment and restraint.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ فَبِمَآ أَغْوَيْتَنِى لَأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَٰطَكَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ
[Satan] said, "Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them [i.e., mankind] on Your straight path.
قَالَ أَلْقُوا۟ ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَلْقَوْا۟ سَحَرُوٓا۟ أَعْيُنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱسْتَرْهَبُوهُمْ وَجَآءُو بِسِحْرٍ عَظِيمٍ
He said, "Throw," and when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, and they presented a great [feat of] magic.
قُلْ أَمَرَ رَبِّى بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَٱدْعُوهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ ۚ كَمَا بَدَأَكُمْ تَعُودُونَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "My Lord has ordered justice and that you direct yourselves [to the Qiblah] at every place [or time] of prostration, and invoke Him, sincere to Him in religion." Just as He originated you, you will return [to life] -
قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَمَكْرٌ مَّكَرْتُمُوهُ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ لِتُخْرِجُوا۟ مِنْهَآ أَهْلَهَا ۖ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ
Said Pharaoh, "You believed in him before I gave you permission. Indeed, this is a conspiracy which you conspired in the city to expel therefrom its people. But you are going to know.