ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ۖ فَمِنْهُمْ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِۦ وَمِنْهُم مُّقْتَصِدٌ وَمِنْهُمْ سَابِقٌۢ بِٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَضْلُ ٱلْكَبِيرُ 32
Translations
Then We caused to inherit the Book those We have chosen of Our servants; and among them is he who wrongs himself [i.e., sins], and among them is he who is moderate, and among them is he who is foremost in good deeds by permission of Allāh. That [inheritance] is what is the great bounty.
Transliteration
Thumma awarthna al-kitaba alladhina istafayna min ibadina, famin-hum dhalimun li-nafsihi wa-min-hum muqtasidun wa-min-hum sabiqun bi-al-khayrati bi-idhni Allah. Dhalika huwa al-fadlu al-kabir.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Allah has inherited the Quran to those whom He has chosen from His servants, who are divided into three categories based on their obedience: those who wrong themselves (dhalimu li-nafsihi) through sins while remaining Muslim, the moderate (muqtasid) who perform obligatory duties, and those who excel in good deeds (sabiq bi-al-khayrat). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain this as illustrating the diversity of faith levels among the Muslim ummah, where each category remains within the fold of Islam but differs in their spiritual attainment, and this differentiation is itself a manifestation of Allah's great favor (fadl al-kabir).
Revelation Context
Surah Fatir is a Meccan chapter that emphasizes Allah's creative power and justice. This ayah fits within the broader context of explaining how Allah's message and guidance have been entrusted to the Muslim community, and how individuals respond to this trust according to their choices and capabilities.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of people are my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them' (Sahih Bukhari 3650), which relates to the theme of inheritance of knowledge and varying levels of righteousness. Additionally, the hadith on the seventy thousand who enter Paradise without reckoning (Sahih Muslim 220) relates to the categories of believers described in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that being Muslim exists on a spectrum of commitment and righteousness—even those who struggle with sins (while repenting) remain part of the faithful community, while it simultaneously encourages believers to aspire toward excellence in good deeds. The recognition of these different levels reminds us to balance between hope in Allah's mercy and striving for spiritual perfection.
Related Ayahs
إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ
If He wills, He can do away with you and bring forth a new creation.
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُمْسِكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ أَن تَزُولَا ۚ وَلَئِن زَالَتَآ إِنْ أَمْسَكَهُمَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا
Indeed, Allāh holds the heavens and the earth, lest they cease. And if they should cease, no one could hold them [in place] after Him. Indeed, He is Forbearing and Forgiving.
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِۦ ثَمَرَٰتٍ مُّخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهَا ۚ وَمِنَ ٱلْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌۢ بِيضٌ وَحُمْرٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَٰنُهَا وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودٌ
Do you not see that Allāh sends down rain from the sky, and We produce thereby fruits of varying colors? And in the mountains are tracts, white and red of varying shades and [some] extremely black.
وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا ۚ وَمَا تَحْمِلُ مِنْ أُنثَىٰ وَلَا تَضَعُ إِلَّا بِعِلْمِهِۦ ۚ وَمَا يُعَمَّرُ مِن مُّعَمَّرٍ وَلَا يُنقَصُ مِنْ عُمُرِهِۦٓ إِلَّا فِى كِتَـٰبٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ
And Allāh created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop; then He made you mates. And no female conceives nor does she give birth except with His knowledge. And no aged person is granted [additional] life nor is his lifespan lessened but that it is in a register. Indeed, that for Allāh is easy.