لِيَكْفُرُوا۟ بِمَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمْ ۚ فَتَمَتَّعُوا۟ ۖ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ 55
Translations
So they will deny what We have given them. Then enjoy yourselves, for you are going to know.
Transliteration
Liyakfuroo bimaa aataynāhum fatamattaʿoo fasawfa taʿlamoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to those who use the blessings Allah has granted them as a means to disbelieve and turn away from Him, enjoying worldly pleasures in heedlessness. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this describes the arrogant disbelievers who, despite receiving abundant provision, attribute their blessings to false gods or their own efforts rather than to Allah, and will ultimately face the consequence of their ingratitude on the Day of Judgment when they will come to know the truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nahl, which was revealed in Mecca during a period when the Quraysh were rejecting the message of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) despite living in abundance. The broader context of the surah emphasizes the signs of Allah's creation and the ingratitude of those who deny Him despite His countless blessings. This specific ayah is part of a passage (16:53-56) condemning those who attribute their sustenance to idols rather than Allah.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3397) narrated by Abu Huraira records the Prophet saying: 'The most hated person to Allah is the most quarrelsome person,' which relates thematically to the arrogance and ingratitude described. Additionally, the hadith in Tirmidhi about ingratitude leading to loss of blessings aligns with the warning in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that all blessings come from Allah alone and should use them to strengthen faith and obedience rather than as tools for rebellion against Him. The ayah serves as a powerful reminder that temporary enjoyment of worldly pleasures without gratitude to Allah will ultimately result in severe consequences, encouraging constant mindfulness and gratitude in all circumstances.
Related Ayahs
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.
أَوْ يَأْخُذَهُمْ فِى تَقَلُّبِهِمْ فَمَا هُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ
Or that He would not seize them during their [usual] activity, and they could not cause failure [i.e., escape from Him]?
قَدْ مَكَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَأَتَى ٱللَّهُ بُنْيَـٰنَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّقْفُ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَأَتَىٰهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Those before them had already plotted, but Allāh came at [i.e., uprooted] their building from the foundations, so the roof fell upon them from above them, and the punishment came to them from where they did not perceive.
وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِم مَّا تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ
And if Allāh were to impose blame on the people for their wrongdoing, He would not have left upon it [i.e., the earth] any creature, but He defers them for a specified term. And when their term has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it].