أَمْ يَحْسُدُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ عَلَىٰ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ ۖ فَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَآ ءَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُم مُّلْكًا عَظِيمًا 54
Translations
Or do they envy people for what Allāh has given them of His bounty? But We had already given the family of Abraham the Scripture and wisdom and conferred upon them a great kingdom.
Transliteration
Am yaḥsudūn an-nāsa ʿalā mā ātāhum ul-Lāhu min faḍlihi, faqad ātaynā āla Ibrāhīm al-kitāb wa-l-ḥikmah wa-ātaynāhum mulkan ʿaẓīmā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rebukes those who harbor envy toward people whom Allah has blessed with His favors, whether wealth, knowledge, or status. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as addressing the Jews' jealousy toward the Muslims and their denial of the Prophet's message. The ayah then establishes that Allah's bestowal of blessing is His sovereign choice, exemplified by His granting the family of Ibrahim the Book, wisdom, and a great kingdom—demonstrating that such gifts came through divine selection, not human merit.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa (revealed in Madinah) and contextually addresses the disputes between the Muslims and the People of the Book, particularly regarding prophethood and divine favor. The specific reference to the family of Ibrahim relates to the broader Quranic discussion of prophetic lineage and the transmission of divine knowledge, which was a point of contention between communities in Madinah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said: 'Do not envy one another; do not inflate prices against one another; do not hate one another; do not turn away from one another; and do not undercut one another in trade. Rather be servants of Allah as brothers.' (Sahih Muslim 2563). Additionally, the Prophet warned against envy, stating: 'Envy consumes good deeds as fire consumes wood.' (Sunan Ibn Majah 4206)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah's distribution of blessings is based on His infinite wisdom, not human expectations, and that harboring envy toward others' fortune is both spiritually destructive and a rejection of divine wisdom. Believers should focus on gratitude for their own provisions and trust in Allah's perfect justice rather than comparing themselves to others.
Related Ayahs
يَعِدُهُمْ وَيُمَنِّيهِمْ ۖ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا
He [i.e., Satan] promises them and arouses desire in them. But Satan does not promise them except delusion.
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّحِيطًا
And to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And ever is Allāh, of all things, encompassing.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِمَا نَزَّلْنَا مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا مَعَكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّطْمِسَ وُجُوهًا فَنَرُدَّهَا عَلَىٰٓ أَدْبَارِهَآ أَوْ نَلْعَنَهُمْ كَمَا لَعَنَّآ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلسَّبْتِ ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ مَفْعُولًا
O you who were given the Scripture, believe in what We have sent down [to Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)], confirming that which is with you, before We obliterate faces and turn them toward their backs or curse them as We cursed the sabbath-breakers. And ever is the matter [i.e., decree] of Allāh accomplished.
وَإِنِ ٱمْرَأَةٌ خَافَتْ مِنۢ بَعْلِهَا نُشُوزًا أَوْ إِعْرَاضًا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَآ أَن يُصْلِحَا بَيْنَهُمَا صُلْحًا ۚ وَٱلصُّلْحُ خَيْرٌ ۗ وَأُحْضِرَتِ ٱلْأَنفُسُ ٱلشُّحَّ ۚ وَإِن تُحْسِنُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا
And if a woman fears from her husband contempt or evasion, there is no sin upon them if they make terms of settlement between them - and settlement is best. And present in [human] souls is stinginess. But if you do good and fear Allāh - then indeed Allāh is ever, of what you do, Aware.