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
وَءَامِنُوا۟ بِمَآ أَنزَلْتُ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ وَلَا تَكُونُوٓا۟ أَوَّلَ كَافِرٍۭ بِهِۦ ۖ وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِى ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا وَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱتَّقُونِ
And believe in what I have sent down confirming that which is [already] with you, and be not the first to disbelieve in it. And do not exchange My signs for a small price, and fear [only] Me.
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ رَبِّ أَرِنِى كَيْفَ تُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ ۖ قَالَ أَوَلَمْ تُؤْمِن ۖ قَالَ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَطْمَئِنَّ قَلْبِى ۖ قَالَ فَخُذْ أَرْبَعَةً مِّنَ ٱلطَّيْرِ فَصُرْهُنَّ إِلَيْكَ ثُمَّ ٱجْعَلْ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ جَبَلٍ مِّنْهُنَّ جُزْءًا ثُمَّ ٱدْعُهُنَّ يَأْتِينَكَ سَعْيًا ۚ وَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
And [mention] when Abraham said, "My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead." [Allāh] said, "Have you not believed?" He said, "Yes, but [I ask] only that my heart may be satisfied." [Allāh] said, "Take four birds and commit them to yourself. Then [after slaughtering them] put on each hill a portion of them; then call them - they will come [flying] to you in haste. And know that Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise."
فَهَزَمُوهُم بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتَلَ دَاوُۥدُ جَالُوتَ وَءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُلْكَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهُۥ مِمَّا يَشَآءُ ۗ وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ لَّفَسَدَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
So they defeated them by permission of Allāh, and David killed Goliath, and Allāh gave him the kingship and wisdom [i.e., prophethood] and taught him from that which He willed. And if it were not for Allāh checking [some] people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted, but Allāh is the possessor of bounty for the worlds.
أَمْ تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَسْـَٔلُوا۟ رَسُولَكُمْ كَمَا سُئِلَ مُوسَىٰ مِن قَبْلُ ۗ وَمَن يَتَبَدَّلِ ٱلْكُفْرَ بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ
Or do you intend to ask your Messenger as Moses was asked before? And whoever exchanges faith for disbelief has certainly strayed from the soundness of the way.