مَّا يَفْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ بِعَذَابِكُمْ إِن شَكَرْتُمْ وَءَامَنتُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ شَاكِرًا عَلِيمًا 147
Translations
What would Allāh do with [i.e., gain from] your punishment if you are grateful and believe? And ever is Allāh Appreciative and Knowing.
Transliteration
Mā yaf'alu Allāhu bi-'adhābikum in shakartum wa-āmantum, wa-kāna Allāhu shākiraN 'alīmā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes that Allah has no need to punish those who are grateful and believe in Him, as punishment serves no purpose for the Divine. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that gratitude (shukr) and faith (īmān) are the conditions that avert divine punishment, and Allah's attribute as 'the Appreciative' (ash-Shākir) means He recognizes and rewards even the smallest acts of obedience. The ayah underscores that Allah's wisdom and knowledge are absolute—He does not punish arbitrarily but only those who persist in ingratitude and disbelief.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan surah An-Nisa, which addresses community laws and social ethics. It comes in a passage discussing divine mercy and justice, reminding the Muslim community that Allah's punishment is not inevitable but conditional upon one's response to faith and gratitude. The broader context encourages believers to maintain their covenant with Allah through belief and thankfulness.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa-sallam) said, 'Whoever is grateful, I will increase him [in goodness]' (Quran 14:7, thematically related). Also relevant: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jāmi' at-Tirmidhī) emphasizing gratitude in relationships as part of faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
Gratitude and sincere faith are protective shields against divine punishment; believers should recognize that thankfulness to Allah for His blessings and steadfastness in belief are not burdensome obligations but pathways to mercy and divine recognition. This teaches us that our relationship with Allah is reciprocal—as we show gratitude and belief, Allah acknowledges and rewards us with His boundless grace.
Related Ayahs
لَّيْسَ عَلَى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْأَعْرَجِ حَرَجٌ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْمَرِيضِ حَرَجٌ ۗ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ يُعَذِّبْهُ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
There is not upon the blind any guilt or upon the lame any guilt or upon the ill any guilt [for remaining behind]. And whoever obeys Allāh and His Messenger - He will admit him to gardens beneath which rivers flow; but whoever turns away - He will punish him with a painful punishment.
أَفَنَضْرِبُ عَنكُمُ ٱلذِّكْرَ صَفْحًا أَن كُنتُمْ قَوْمًا مُّسْرِفِينَ
Then should We turn the message away, disregarding you, because you are a transgressing people?
يُدْخِلُ مَن يَشَآءُ فِى رَحْمَتِهِۦ ۚ وَٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ أَعَدَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًۢا
He admits whom He wills into His mercy; but the wrongdoers - He has prepared for them a painful punishment.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱفْتَرَىٰٓ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا
Indeed, Allāh does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allāh has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.