أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَهُم ۚ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يُزَكِّى مَن يَشَآءُ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا 49
Translations
Have you not seen those who claim themselves to be pure? Rather, Allāh purifies whom He wills, and injustice is not done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside a date seed].
Transliteration
Alam tara ila alladhina yuzakkun anfusahum, bal Allahu yuzakki man yasha wa la yuzlamun fatilan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who claim spiritual purity and righteousness for themselves, asserting that true purification and elevation of the soul comes only from Allah's grace. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret this as a rebuke to the pre-Islamic Arabs who boasted of their lineage and deeds, and also to those who falsely claim spiritual superiority. The phrase 'nor will they be wronged even by the extent of a thread' emphasizes that Allah's judgment is perfectly just—those who seek purification from Him will be granted it fairly, while those who rely on self-aggrandizement will find no shortcoming in Allah's justice.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Madinah during the early Islamic period, this ayah addresses the attitude of certain groups—particularly some Christians, Jews, and pagan Arabs—who claimed inherent righteousness based on lineage, wealth, or supposed spiritual status. It falls within the broader context of Surah An-Nisa's discussion of proper conduct, social justice, and correct belief.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those with the best character' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Prophet warned against self-deception by stating: 'Do not consider yourselves pure; Allah knows best those who are righteous' (referencing Surah An-Najm 53:32).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to approach Allah with humility, recognizing that true spiritual growth comes through divine grace rather than self-proclamation or pride in one's deeds. It serves as a powerful reminder that sincere seeking of Allah's guidance and purification is far more valuable than outward claims of righteousness.
Related Ayahs
وَرُسُلًا قَدْ قَصَصْنَـٰهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَرُسُلًا لَّمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ عَلَيْكَ ۚ وَكَلَّمَ ٱللَّهُ مُوسَىٰ تَكْلِيمًا
And [We sent] messengers about whom We have related [their stories] to you before and messengers about whom We have not related to you. And Allāh spoke to Moses with [direct] speech.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلَّذِى نَزَّلَ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلًۢا بَعِيدًا
O you who have believed, believe in Allāh and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger and the Scripture which He sent down before. And whoever disbelieves in Allāh, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray.
أَيْنَمَا تَكُونُوا۟ يُدْرِككُّمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ وَلَوْ كُنتُمْ فِى بُرُوجٍ مُّشَيَّدَةٍ ۗ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ حَسَنَةٌ يَقُولُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِۦ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَقُولُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِۦ مِنْ عِندِكَ ۚ قُلْ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَمَالِ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلْقَوْمِ لَا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ حَدِيثًا
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you should be within towers of lofty construction. But if good comes to them, they say, "This is from Allāh"; and if evil befalls them, they say, "This is from you." Say, "All [things] are from Allāh." So what is [the matter] with those people that they can hardly understand any statement?
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَكُم بُرْهَـٰنٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَأَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ نُورًا مُّبِينًا
O mankind, there has come to you a conclusive proof from your Lord, and We have sent down to you a clear light.