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
قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا مَن قَدَّمَ لَنَا هَـٰذَا فَزِدْهُ عَذَابًا ضِعْفًا فِى ٱلنَّارِ
They will say, "Our Lord, whoever brought this upon us - increase for him double punishment in the Fire."
إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ
Except, among them, Your chosen servants."
إِذْ دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ دَاوُۥدَ فَفَزِعَ مِنْهُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَا تَخَفْ ۖ خَصْمَانِ بَغَىٰ بَعْضُنَا عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا تُشْطِطْ وَٱهْدِنَآ إِلَىٰ سَوَآءِ ٱلصِّرَٰطِ
When they entered upon David and he was alarmed by them? They said, "Fear not. [We are] two adversaries, one of whom has wronged the other, so judge between us with truth and do not exceed [it] and guide us to the sound path.
فَغَفَرْنَا لَهُۥ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَإِنَّ لَهُۥ عِندَنَا لَزُلْفَىٰ وَحُسْنَ مَـَٔابٍ
So We forgave him that; and indeed, for him is nearness to Us and a good place of return.