بَقِيَّتُ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ۚ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ عَلَيْكُم بِحَفِيظٍ 86
Translations
What remains [lawful] from Allāh is best for you, if you would be believers. But I am not a guardian over you."
Transliteration
Baqiyyatu Allah khayrun lakum in kuntum mu'minin. Wa ma ana alaykum bi hafiz.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah contains the counsel of Prophet Shu'ayb to his people, stating that 'the remnant of Allah is better for you, if you are believers.' The phrase 'baqiyyatu Allah' (what remains of Allah's blessings, or what is lawful) refers to honest dealings and righteous conduct, which surpass ill-gotten gains. Shu'ayb then clarifies he is not a guardian over them, emphasizing that the choice between righteousness and transgression rests with them—a merciful reminder that prophecy conveys the message but cannot compel belief, as Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain.
Revelation Context
This verse occurs within Shu'ayb's address to the people of Madyan, who were notorious for cheating in commerce and weights. The broader context of Surah Hud presents multiple prophets and their communities; Shu'ayb's message emphasizes business ethics and honest transaction as central to faith. This ayah comes near the conclusion of his warning, after he has repeatedly called them to abandon their fraudulent practices.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise' (Sahih Bukhari 3629), reflecting the principle that honest dealings are a manifestation of faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true blessing lies in righteous and honest conduct rather than material gain obtained through deception, and it reminds believers that while prophetic guidance is available, each person bears responsibility for their choices—calling us to embrace integrity in our dealings as an expression of genuine faith.
Related Ayahs
وَلَئِنْ أَخَّرْنَا عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابَ إِلَىٰٓ أُمَّةٍ مَّعْدُودَةٍ لَّيَقُولُنَّ مَا يَحْبِسُهُۥٓ ۗ أَلَا يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمْ لَيْسَ مَصْرُوفًا عَنْهُمْ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
And if We hold back from them the punishment for a limited time, they will surely say, "What detains it?" Unquestionably, on the Day it comes to them, it will not be averted from them, and they will be enveloped by what they used to ridicule.
فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ عَنْ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلرَّوْعُ وَجَآءَتْهُ ٱلْبُشْرَىٰ يُجَـٰدِلُنَا فِى قَوْمِ لُوطٍ
And when the fright had left Abraham and the good tidings had reached him, he began to argue [i.e., plead] with Us concerning the people of Lot.
وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًا ۚ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۖ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا مُفْتَرُونَ
And to ʿAad [We sent] their brother Hūd. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. You are not but inventors [of falsehood].
وَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا شُعَيْبًا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَأَخَذَتِ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ٱلصَّيْحَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ فِى دِيَـٰرِهِمْ جَـٰثِمِينَ
And when Our command came, We saved Shuʿayb and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us. And the shriek seized those who had wronged, and they became within their homes [corpses] fallen prone