وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ 73
Translations
And indeed, your Lord is the possessor of bounty for the people, but most of them are not grateful."
Transliteration
Wa-inna rabbaka ladhu fadlin alaa an-naasi wa-laakin akthara-hum laa yashkuroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah possesses abundant grace and favor toward humanity, yet most people fail to recognize and appreciate these blessings. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that ingratitude (kufr) here refers not only to disbelief but also to the failure of believers to acknowledge Allah's countless mercies, which manifests as a spiritual blindness that prevents proper recognition of divine bounty. The ayah serves as both a rebuke to human negligence and a reminder of divine generosity that persists regardless of mankind's lack of gratitude.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Naml, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes Allah's signs and sovereignty throughout creation. Within the broader context of the surah (verses 60-93), this ayah concludes a series of discussions about Allah's signs in the heavens and earth, reminding the Meccan polytheists that despite witnessing these clear proofs of divine mercy and power, they remain heedless and ungrateful.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), exemplifying gratitude for Allah's blessing of family. Additionally, 'Whoever is not grateful for the small blessings will not be grateful for the great ones' (Sunan Ibn Majah), directly addressing the theme of shukr (gratitude).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must cultivate constant awareness and gratitude for Allah's innumerable blessings—both obvious and subtle—recognizing that ingratitude is a spiritual disease that obscures divine favor. Practical application involves regularly remembering Allah's mercy, expressing thanks verbally and through righteous action, and teaching others to appreciate the countless signs of divine care in daily life.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ يَقُصُّ عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ أَكْثَرَ ٱلَّذِى هُمْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
Indeed, this Qur’ān relates to the Children of Israel most of that over which they disagree.
قُلِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَسَلَـٰمٌ عَلَىٰ عِبَادِهِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱصْطَفَىٰٓ ۗ ءَآللَّهُ خَيْرٌ أَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Praise be to Allāh, and peace upon His servants whom He has chosen. Is Allāh better or what they associate with Him?"
وَمَآ أَنتَ بِهَـٰدِى ٱلْعُمْىِ عَن ضَلَـٰلَتِهِمْ ۖ إِن تُسْمِعُ إِلَّا مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا فَهُم مُّسْلِمُونَ
And you cannot guide the blind away from their error. You will only make hear those who believe in Our verses so they are Muslims [i.e., submitting to Allāh].
قَالَتْ إِنَّ ٱلْمُلُوكَ إِذَا دَخَلُوا۟ قَرْيَةً أَفْسَدُوهَا وَجَعَلُوٓا۟ أَعِزَّةَ أَهْلِهَآ أَذِلَّةً ۖ وَكَذَٰلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ
She said, "Indeed kings - when they enter a city, they ruin it and render the honored of its people humbled. And thus do they do.