ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَضْلُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ عَلِيمًا 70
Translations
That is the bounty from Allāh, and sufficient is Allāh as Knower.
Transliteration
Dhālika al-faḍlu mina-llāh wa-kafā bi-llāhi 'alīmā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the passage about following the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and those to whom Allah has granted His favor from the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. The verse affirms that this distinction and guidance is purely a favor (fadl) from Allah, emphasizing that no one deserves or can claim such blessings by their own merit. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that Allah's knowledge encompasses all things, making Him the most worthy judge of who receives His grace and favor.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan Surah An-Nisa and concludes verses 4:69-70, which describe the spiritual hierarchy of those closest to Allah. The context addresses the Muslim community in Medina, establishing that proximity to Allah and His blessings are matters of divine wisdom and grace, not human achievement.
Related Hadiths
Related to the concept of divine favor: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'None of you will enter Paradise by his deeds alone.' He was asked, 'Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?' He replied, 'Not even me, unless Allah covers me with His favor and mercy' (Sahih Bukhari 5673). This hadith reinforces the ayah's emphasis on Allah's grace as the ultimate determinant of spiritual rank.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to recognize that all spiritual achievements and proximity to Allah are gifts from His mercy, not fruits of our own effort alone, encouraging humility and gratitude rather than pride in our deeds. It also reassures believers that Allah's comprehensive knowledge ensures justice in rewarding those who follow His path with sincerity.
Related Ayahs
إِلَّا طَرِيقَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرًا
Except the path of Hell; they will abide therein forever. And that, for Allāh, is [always] easy.
وَقَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا فَلَا تَقْعُدُوا۟ مَعَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا۟ فِى حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا مِّثْلُهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ جَامِعُ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ فِى جَهَنَّمَ جَمِيعًا
And it has already come down to you in the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] that when you hear the verses of Allāh [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed, Allāh will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together -
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱعْتَصَمُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَسَيُدْخِلُهُمْ فِى رَحْمَةٍ مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلٍ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَيْهِ صِرَٰطًا مُّسْتَقِيمًا
So those who believe in Allāh and hold fast to Him - He will admit them to mercy from Himself and bounty and guide them to Himself on a straight path.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ خُذُوا۟ حِذْرَكُمْ فَٱنفِرُوا۟ ثُبَاتٍ أَوِ ٱنفِرُوا۟ جَمِيعًا
O you who have believed, take your precaution and [either] go forth in companies or go forth all together.