فَكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ حَلَـٰلًا طَيِّبًا وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ 114
Translations
Then eat of what Allāh has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And be grateful for the favor of Allāh, if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.
Transliteration
Fakulu mimma razaqakumullahu halalan tayyiban washshkuru ni'mata allahi in kuntum iyyahu ta'budun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands believers to consume the lawful (halal) and pure (tayyib) sustenance that Allah has provided, while emphasizing gratitude to Allah as an essential aspect of true worship. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir note that 'tayyib' (pure/good) refers to both what is permissible in Islamic law and what is wholesome and beneficial, establishing that Islamic consumption is not merely about legality but also about quality and healthfulness. The ayah connects eating with worship, suggesting that even mundane acts like eating become acts of devotion when performed with gratitude and within Islamic boundaries.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nahl (a Meccan surah), which comprehensively discusses divine signs and blessings. The context within the surah emphasizes Allah's provision and bounties to mankind, and this particular ayah comes after a discussion of various sustenance Allah provides. There is no specific historical revelation occasion (asbab al-nuzul) recorded, but it fits the surah's broader theme of recognizing and being grateful for divine blessings.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi). More directly relevant: 'Whoever eats and thanks Allah, it is like fasting and patience for one who eats without thanks' - a principle reflected in various hadith collections emphasizing gratitude with sustenance.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should approach consumption mindfully—ensuring what they eat is both lawfully permissible and wholesome—while recognizing every meal as an opportunity to express gratitude to Allah, making even daily sustenance a form of worship. This ayah teaches that Islamic living extends to all aspects of life, and that true devotion includes mindfulness about what we consume and gratitude for what we receive.
Related Ayahs
أَفَمَن يَخْلُقُ كَمَن لَّا يَخْلُقُ ۗ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Then is He who creates like one who does not create? So will you not be reminded?
ٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ وَٱلْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَـٰدِلْهُم بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۖ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided.
إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۚ فَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مُّنكِرَةٌ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ
Your god is one God. But those who do not believe in the Hereafter - their hearts are disapproving, and they are arrogant.
وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
And We gave him good in this world, and indeed, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous.