قَالَ رَبِّ ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَهَبْ لِى مُلْكًا لَّا يَنۢبَغِى لِأَحَدٍ مِّنۢ بَعْدِىٓ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ 35
Translations
He said, "My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Bestower."
Transliteration
Qala Rabbi ighfir li wa hab li mulkan la yanbaghi li ahadin min ba'di innaka anta al-Wahhab
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Sulayman (Solomon) humbly asks Allah for forgiveness and supplicates for a kingdom that has never been given to anyone after him, acknowledging Allah as al-Wahhab (the Bestower of gifts). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this supplication reflects Sulayman's recognition that all blessings come from Allah alone, and his request was answered by Allah granting him an incomparable kingdom with control over the wind, jinn, and molten brass, as mentioned in subsequent verses.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the Meccan surah describing the story of Prophet Sulayman's reign and divine favors. The context shows Sulayman's piety and his prayer after reflecting on the military parade of his forces, demonstrating the connection between gratitude, humility, and receiving greater blessings from Allah. This narrative serves to illustrate the rewards of righteous supplication and reliance upon Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself (38:39) records Allah's response: 'So We subjected to him the wind blowing by his command, to wherever he directed.' Additionally, hadith literature emphasizes the importance of dua (supplication) as found in Jami' at-Tirmidhi where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that 'the most honorable act of worship is supplication.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true greatness comes through humble supplication to Allah rather than arrogance, and that believers should seek not only material provision but also seek forgiveness first, recognizing that all blessings are gifts from the All-Giving (al-Wahhab) whose generosity is limitless.
Related Ayahs
أَتَّخَذْنَـٰهُمْ سِخْرِيًّا أَمْ زَاغَتْ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ
Is it [because] we took them in ridicule, or has [our] vision turned away from them?"
أَمْ نَجْعَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ كَٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَمْ نَجْعَلُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ كَٱلْفُجَّارِ
Or should We treat those who believe and do righteous deeds like corrupters in the land? Or should We treat those who fear Allāh like the wicked?
فَقَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَحْبَبْتُ حُبَّ ٱلْخَيْرِ عَن ذِكْرِ رَبِّى حَتَّىٰ تَوَارَتْ بِٱلْحِجَابِ
And he said, "Indeed, I gave preference to the love of good [things] over the remembrance of my Lord until it [i.e., the sun] disappeared into the curtain [of darkness]."
يَـٰدَاوُۥدُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَـٰكَ خَلِيفَةً فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ ٱلْهَوَىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌۢ بِمَا نَسُوا۟ يَوْمَ ٱلْحِسَابِ
[We said], "O David, indeed We have made you a successor upon the earth, so judge between the people in truth and do not follow [your own] desire, as it will lead you astray from the way of Allāh." Indeed, those who go astray from the way of Allāh will have a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Account.