يُؤْتِى ٱلْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُؤْتَ ٱلْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِىَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّآ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ 269
Translations
He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good. And none will remember except those of understanding.
Transliteration
Yu'til-hikmatam man yasha'. Wa man yu'til-hikmata faqad utiya khayran kathiran. Wa ma yadhdhakkaru illa ulul-albab.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah grants wisdom to whom He wills, and this wisdom is described as an abundant good that encompasses knowledge, understanding, and righteous application of faith. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that true wisdom (hikmah) includes both knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah and the ability to act upon it correctly. The ayah concludes that only those of intellect and understanding (ulu al-albab) truly benefit from and reflect upon this divine gift.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of guidance and the characteristics of the God-conscious believers (Muttaqun). It follows verses about spending wealth and fasting, emphasizing that wisdom is a greater gift than material wealth. The thematic focus is on the superiority of spiritual and intellectual blessings over material ones.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, 'Whoever Allah wishes good for, He grants them understanding of the religion' (Sahih Bukhari 71), which directly relates to the concept of wisdom mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Wisdom is a precious gift from Allah that surpasses material blessings; believers should earnestly seek understanding of their faith and apply knowledge with discernment. Additionally, not everyone benefits equally from guidance—true benefit comes to those who exercise their intellect and reflect sincerely on divine truth.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ ٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
O Prophet, fear Allāh and do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites. Indeed, Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise.
۞ إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتُ لِلْفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱلْعَـٰمِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَٱلْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلْغَـٰرِمِينَ وَفِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۖ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
Zakāh expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed for it and for bringing hearts together [for Islām] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allāh and for the [stranded] traveler - an obligation [imposed] by Allāh. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَىٰهُ ءَاتِنَا غَدَآءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَـٰذَا نَصَبًا
So when they had passed beyond it, [Moses] said to his boy, "Bring us our morning meal. We have certainly suffered in this, our journey, [much] fatigue."
۞ قَالُوٓا۟ إِن يَسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ أَخٌ لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ فَأَسَرَّهَا يُوسُفُ فِى نَفْسِهِۦ وَلَمْ يُبْدِهَا لَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ أَنتُمْ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا ۖ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَصِفُونَ
They said, "If he steals - a brother of his has stolen before." But Joseph kept it within himself and did not reveal it to them. He said, "You are worse in position, and Allāh is most knowing of what you describe."