أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُم بِهِۦ مِن مَّالٍ وَبَنِينَ 55
Translations
Do they think that what We extend to them of wealth and children
Transliteration
Ayahsabun anamma numidduhum bihi min malin wa banin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah questions whether the disbelievers think that the worldly provisions (wealth and children) that Allah grants them are signs of His pleasure or favor towards them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this is a rhetorical rebuke, as the Quran clarifies in the following ayah (23:56) that Allah actually provides these blessings as a test and trial, not as indicators of divine approval. The ayah serves to correct the spiritual delusion of those who conflate material abundance with righteousness.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Mu'minun, which emphasizes the characteristics of true believers and the fate of disbelievers. Within the broader Meccan context, it addresses the prosperity of wealthy Meccan polytheists who mistakenly believed their riches demonstrated Allah's favor, when in reality they were being tested by these very blessings.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you in the pre-Islamic period are the best of you in Islam, if you understand the religion' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, 'Wealth and children are the adornment of worldly life, but the everlasting good deeds are better...' (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46) relates thematically to the prioritization of spiritual over material values.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should not equate material wealth and abundant offspring with divine approval or spiritual superiority; rather, worldly blessings are tests from Allah that require wise stewardship and should not distract from the remembrance of God and preparation for the afterlife.
Related Ayahs
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْوَٰرِثُونَ
Those are the inheritors
فَٱتَّخَذْتُمُوهُمْ سِخْرِيًّا حَتَّىٰٓ أَنسَوْكُمْ ذِكْرِى وَكُنتُم مِّنْهُمْ تَضْحَكُونَ
But you took them in mockery to the point that they made you forget My remembrance, and you used to laugh at them.
وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ لَعِبْرَةً ۖ نُّسْقِيكُم مِّمَّا فِى بُطُونِهَا وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَنَـٰفِعُ كَثِيرَةٌ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ
And indeed, for you in livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from that which is in their bellies, and for you in them are numerous benefits, and from them you eat.
وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ مِن قَوْمِهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِلِقَآءِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَأَتْرَفْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا مَا هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يَأْكُلُ مِمَّا تَأْكُلُونَ مِنْهُ وَيَشْرَبُ مِمَّا تَشْرَبُونَ
And the eminent among his people who disbelieved and denied the meeting of the Hereafter while We had given them luxury in the worldly life said, "This is not but a man like yourselves. He eats of that from which you eat and drinks of what you drink.