وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَغْنَىٰ وَأَقْنَىٰ 48
Translations
And that it is He who enriches and suffices
Transliteration
Wa-annahu huwa aghnā wa-aqnā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah alone is the one who grants wealth (aghnā) and provides sustenance (aqnā), emphasizing His absolute control over provision and richness. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a declaration of Allah's sovereignty over all matters of livelihood and contentment, negating any independent power of created beings to enrich themselves. The dual emphasis on both enriching and providing contentment underscores that true wealth comes not merely from material abundance but from Allah's bestowal of satisfaction and sufficiency in the heart.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Najm, a Meccan surah that addresses fundamental Islamic beliefs about divine oneness, resurrection, and Allah's complete authority. It comes as part of a broader discussion about Allah's attributes and His ultimate control over creation, serving to counter the idolatry and false beliefs prevalent in Meccan society at the time of revelation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'Richness is not in the abundance of possessions, but richness is the richness of the soul' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever is content with what Allah has given him, Allah will make him rich, and whoever seeks to be independent (of Allah's provision), Allah will make him poor' relates thematically to this ayah's message about reliance on Allah's provision.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true wealth and contentment come exclusively from Allah's will and provision, encouraging reliance on Him rather than dependence on worldly means. It serves as a reminder to seek sufficiency from Allah through gratitude and trust, recognizing that material abundance without spiritual richness is hollow.