يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ 74
Translations
He selects for His mercy whom He wills. And Allāh is the possessor of great bounty.
Transliteration
Yakhtassu birrahmatih-i man yasha'u wallahu dhu al-fadl al-azim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah's mercy is exclusive to whom He wills, emphasizing His absolute sovereignty and divine prerogative in bestowing grace. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that this mercy encompasses both spiritual guidance (hidayah) and material blessings, and that while Allah's mercy is vast, its bestowal is according to His infinite wisdom and knowledge. The phrase 'Allah is the Possessor of Immense Favor' reinforces that all grace and goodness ultimately emanate from His boundless generosity, not from human deserving.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of divine guidance and prophethood (3:73-74), following references to the People of the Scripture. The broader context addresses how Allah guides whom He wills and that His favor is not limited by human expectations or claims of exclusive access to divine mercy.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Bukhari 13). This relates to understanding that Allah's mercy extends to all believers. Additionally, 'Verily, Allah is Merciful and loves mercy' (Sunan Ibn Majah 3679) reinforces the theme of divine mercy.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize that all blessings and guidance are gifts from Allah, not earned through our own merit, which should cultivate humility and gratitude. It also encourages trust in Allah's wisdom while motivating us to seek His guidance and mercy through righteous action, knowing that ultimately acceptance rests with the Most Merciful.
Related Ayahs
وَلَئِن شِئْنَا لَنَذْهَبَنَّ بِٱلَّذِىٓ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُ لَكَ بِهِۦ عَلَيْنَا وَكِيلًا
And if We willed, We could surely do away with that which We revealed to you. Then you would not find for yourself concerning it an advocate against Us.
وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ذُو ٱلرَّحْمَةِ ۚ إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَسْتَخْلِفْ مِنۢ بَعْدِكُم مَّا يَشَآءُ كَمَآ أَنشَأَكُم مِّن ذُرِّيَّةِ قَوْمٍ ءَاخَرِينَ
And your Lord is the Free of need, the possessor of mercy. If He wills, He can do away with you and give succession after you to whomever He wills, just as He produced you from the descendants of another people.
لَهُۥ مَقَالِيدُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth. He extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. Indeed He is, of all things, Knowing.
سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Whatever is in the heavens and earth exalts Allāh, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.