وَقَالُوا۟ نَحْنُ أَكْثَرُ أَمْوَٰلًا وَأَوْلَـٰدًا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ 35
Translations
And they said, "We are more [than the believers] in wealth and children, and we are not to be punished."
Transliteration
Wa qāloo naḥnu aktharu amwālan wa-awlādan wa mā naḥnu bi-muʿadhdhābīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records the arrogant statement of the disbelievers of Quraysh who boasted that their wealth and children were signs of divine favor and protection from punishment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this reflects the pre-Islamic Arabian mindset that equated material prosperity with righteousness and divine approval, a false assumption that the Quran consistently refutes throughout Surah Saba.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Saba's Meccan context, addressing the Meccan polytheists' rejection of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The broader surah discusses their denial of resurrection and accountability, with this specific verse illustrating their delusional confidence based solely on worldly possessions rather than spiritual consciousness or obedience to Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Wealth and children are adornments of life, but the everlasting good deeds are better' (Surah Al-Kahf 18:46). Additionally, Tirmidhi records that the Prophet warned against being deceived by worldly abundance, stating that abundance does not indicate divine pleasure.
Themes
Key Lesson
Material wealth and numerous children are trials (fitna) rather than guarantees of divine favor or immunity from accountability; true security lies in piety and obedience to Allah, not in accumulated possessions or social status.
Related Ayahs
وَلِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهْرٌ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَهْرٌ ۖ وَأَسَلْنَا لَهُۥ عَيْنَ ٱلْقِطْرِ ۖ وَمِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ مَن يَعْمَلُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِۦ ۖ وَمَن يَزِغْ مِنْهُمْ عَنْ أَمْرِنَا نُذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind - its morning [journey was that of] a month - and its afternoon [journey was that of] a month, and We made flow for him a spring of [liquid] copper. And among the jinn were those who worked for him by the permission of his Lord. And whoever deviated among them from Our command - We will make him taste of the punishment of the Blaze.
قُلْ أَرُونِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَلْحَقْتُم بِهِۦ شُرَكَآءَ ۖ كَلَّا ۚ بَلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Say, "Show me those whom you have attached to Him as partners. No! Rather, He [alone] is Allāh, the Exalted in Might, the Wise."
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَهُ ٱلْحَمْدُ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ
[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and to Him belongs [all] praise in the Hereafter. And He is the Wise, the Aware.
قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوٓا۟ أَنَحْنُ صَدَدْنَـٰكُمْ عَنِ ٱلْهُدَىٰ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَآءَكُم ۖ بَلْ كُنتُم مُّجْرِمِينَ
Those who were arrogant will say to those who were oppressed, "Did we avert you from guidance after it had come to you? Rather, you were criminals."