ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ خَلَـٰٓئِفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ لِنَنظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ 14
Translations
Then We made you successors in the land after them so that We may observe how you will do.
Transliteration
Thumma ja'alnakum khalā'ifa fil-ardi min ba'dihim linanzura kayfa ta'malūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah established the Children of Israel as successive generations and inheritors of the earth after previous nations, making them stewards of His creation to be tested by their actions and obedience. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah emphasizes that Allah grants authority and dominion to peoples as a divine trust, and He continually observes how they exercise this responsibility—whether with justice and righteousness or with transgression. The phrase 'how you work' (kayfa ta'malūn) indicates that deeds are the measure of human worth before Allah, and that succession in the earth is conditional upon righteous conduct.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Yunus, which recounts the historical pattern of nations and their responses to divine guidance. The ayah specifically references the succession of the Children of Israel after the destruction of Pharaoh's people, illustrating the recurring divine pattern: nations are given authority, tested through their actions, and held accountable for their stewardship. This thematic placement reinforces the Quranic lesson that every generation is responsible for its own deeds.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Each of you is a guardian and is responsible for his charges' (Sahih Bukhari 893), which directly complements this ayah's concept of human responsibility as stewards. Additionally, the hadith 'The best of you are those who are best to their families' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895) reflects the practical application of accountability in stewardship.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that every position of authority and influence we hold—whether familial, professional, or social—is a divine trust for which we will be held accountable based on our actions and intentions. Our true legacy is not measured by the positions we inherit or acquire, but by the righteousness and justice with which we fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to us.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدًا ۗ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ ۖ هُوَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ۖ لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِنْ عِندَكُم مِّن سُلْطَـٰنٍۭ بِهَـٰذَآ ۚ أَتَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
They have said, "Allāh has taken a son." Exalted is He; He is the [one] Free of need. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. You have no authority for this [claim]. Do you say about Allāh that which you do not know?
۞ وَلَوْ يُعَجِّلُ ٱللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ ٱلشَّرَّ ٱسْتِعْجَالَهُم بِٱلْخَيْرِ لَقُضِىَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَجَلُهُمْ ۖ فَنَذَرُ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا فِى طُغْيَـٰنِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
And if Allāh was to hasten for the people the evil [they invoke] as He hastens for them the good, their term would have been ended for them. But We leave the ones who do not expect the meeting with Us, in their transgression, wandering blindly.
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِم مُّوسَىٰ وَهَـٰرُونَ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَإِي۟هِۦ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا فَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا مُّجْرِمِينَ
Then We sent after them Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and his establishment with Our signs, but they behaved arrogantly and were a criminal people.
فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَنَجَّيْنَـٰهُ وَمَن مَّعَهُۥ فِى ٱلْفُلْكِ وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ خَلَـٰٓئِفَ وَأَغْرَقْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا ۖ فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُنذَرِينَ
And they denied him, so We saved him and those with him in the ship and made them successors, and We drowned those who denied Our signs. Then see how was the end of those who were warned.