مَّا يَوَدُّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَلَا ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ 105
Translations
Neither those who disbelieve from the People of the Scripture [i.e., the Jews and Christians] nor the polytheists wish that any good should be sent down to you from your Lord. But Allāh selects for His mercy whom He wills, and Allāh is the possessor of great bounty.
Transliteration
Mā yawaddu alladhīna kafarū min ahli al-kitābi wa-lā al-mushrikīna an yunazzala alaykum min khayrin min rabbikum wa-Allāhu yakhtattu bi-rahmatih man yashāu wa-Allāhu dhū al-fadli al-aẓīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah conveys that neither the disbelieving People of the Book (Jews and Christians) nor the polytheists wish any good to be revealed upon the Muslims from their Lord. According to classical tafsir scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this reflects the envy and animosity these groups harbored toward the believers. The ayah concludes with a reassurance that Allah's mercy is exclusive to whom He wills, and He alone possesses ultimate grace and favor—affirming that divine bounty is not contingent upon the desires or acceptance of disbelievers.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina during the early Islamic period when the Muslim community faced opposition from both the Jewish tribes of Medina and the pagan Arabs. It addresses the context of rivalries and religious tensions between Muslims and other faith communities, reminding believers that envious opposition from disbelievers should not discourage them, as Allah's guidance and blessings flow according to His wisdom alone.
Related Hadiths
The theme of divine mercy and selection is reflected in the hadith: 'Allah has certain slaves whom He has chosen for His affairs, and if any of you is chosen for that, he should be pleased with what Allah has chosen for him' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi). Additionally, Sahih Muslim contains narrations about the protection Allah provides to the believers despite the enmity of disbelievers.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should not be discouraged by the opposition or ill-wishes of disbelievers, as Allah's blessings are determined by His infinite wisdom and mercy, not by human approval. This ayah teaches that true success comes from divine favor rather than acceptance by others, encouraging steadfastness in faith despite external hostility.
Related Ayahs
مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنۢبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِى كُلِّ سُنۢبُلَةٍ مِّا۟ئَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُضَـٰعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allāh is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allāh multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing.
وَقَـٰتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُعْتَدِينَ
Fight in the way of Allāh those who fight against you but do not transgress. Indeed, Allāh does not like transgressors.
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْىِۦٓ أَن يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًا مَّا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَـٰذَا مَثَلًا ۘ يُضِلُّ بِهِۦ كَثِيرًا وَيَهْدِى بِهِۦ كَثِيرًا ۚ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
Indeed, Allāh is not timid to present an example - that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did Allāh intend by this as an example?" He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby. And He misleads not except the defiantly disobedient,
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ وَٱلصَّـٰبِـِٔينَ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans [before Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] - those [among them] who believed in Allāh and the Last Day and did righteousness - will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.