لِّكَيْلَا تَأْسَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا فَاتَكُمْ وَلَا تَفْرَحُوا۟ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ 23
Translations
In order that you not despair over what has eluded you and not exult [in pride] over what He has given you. And Allāh does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful -
Transliteration
Likay lā ta'saw 'alā mā fātakum wa lā tafrḥū bimā ātākum. Wa-Allāhu lā yuḥibbu kulla mukhtālin fakhūr.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah instructs believers not to grieve over what they have lost nor to exult excessively over what they have been given, as both attitudes reflect pride and self-admiration that Allah dislikes. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this teaches emotional equilibrium and gratitude without arrogance, recognizing that all blessings and trials come from Allah's wisdom. The ayah warns against both despair and boastfulness (ikhtiyāl and fakhūr), which stem from forgetting Allah's sovereignty over all affairs.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Hadid, a Medinan chapter focused on faith, the transient nature of worldly life, and proper conduct. It comes in the broader context of verses emphasizing that wealth and children are merely temporary adornments of this life, encouraging believers to maintain perspective and balance in their emotional responses to life's changes.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi) - relating to balanced character. Also relevant: 'Whoever is humble for Allah's sake, Allah will exalt him' (Sahih Muslim 2588), emphasizing the rejection of arrogance.
Themes
Key Lesson
True spiritual maturity lies in maintaining emotional balance through life's ups and downs, recognizing that both prosperity and hardship are tests from Allah. Believers should cultivate humility and gratitude rather than despair or arrogance, understanding that these negative traits distance us from Allah's mercy and love.
Related Ayahs
وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلَّا تُنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَٰثُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ لَا يَسْتَوِى مِنكُم مَّنْ أَنفَقَ مِن قَبْلِ ٱلْفَتْحِ وَقَـٰتَلَ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنفَقُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدُ وَقَـٰتَلُوا۟ ۚ وَكُلًّا وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
And why do you not spend in the cause of Allāh while to Allāh belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth? Not equal among you are those who spent before the conquest [of Makkah] and fought [and those who did so after it]. Those are greater in degree than they who spent afterwards and fought. But to all Allāh has promised the best [reward]. And Allāh, of what you do, is Aware.
هُوَ ٱلْأَوَّلُ وَٱلْـَٔاخِرُ وَٱلظَّـٰهِرُ وَٱلْبَاطِنُ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
He is the First and the Last, the Ascendant and the Intimate, and He is, of all things, Knowing.
لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
His is the dominion of the heavens and earth. He gives life and causes death, and He is over all things competent.
إِنَّ ٱلْمُصَّدِّقِينَ وَٱلْمُصَّدِّقَـٰتِ وَأَقْرَضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا يُضَـٰعَفُ لَهُمْ وَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ
Indeed, the men who practice charity and the women who practice charity and [they who] have loaned Allāh a goodly loan - it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward.