قُلْ بِفَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِۦ فَبِذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا۟ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ 58
Translations
Say, "In the bounty of Allāh and in His mercy - in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate."
Transliteration
Qul bifadlillahi wa birrahmatih, fa bithalika falyafrahu, huwa khayrun mimma yajmaun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him) to proclaim that joy and happiness should be found in Allah's favor and mercy rather than in material accumulation. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir explain that this ayah teaches believers to recognize that divine grace and compassion are infinitely superior to worldly possessions, encouraging contentment and gratitude. The ayah redirects human desires from materialism toward spiritual fulfillment and reliance on Allah's bounties.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Mecca during a period when the Prophet and early Muslims faced material hardship and social opposition. This ayah addresses the broader Meccan context of emphasizing spiritual wealth over material concerns, reinforcing the theme that true joy comes from faith and divine favor rather than earthly accumulation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Richness is not in abundance of possessions, but richness is contentment of the soul' (Sahih Bukhari 6446). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'Look at those below you and do not look at those above you, for it is more fitting that you should not disdain the favors of Allah' (Sahih Muslim 2963), which aligns with this ayah's message about recognizing divine blessings.
Themes
Key Lesson
True happiness and fulfillment arise from recognizing and being grateful for Allah's blessings rather than from accumulating material wealth. Believers are encouraged to shift their perspective on success from external possessions to internal spiritual satisfaction and reliance on divine mercy.
Related Ayahs
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يُؤْمِنُ بِهِۦ وَمِنْهُم مَّن لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِهِۦ ۚ وَرَبُّكَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ
And of them are those who believe in it, and of them are those who do not believe in it. And your Lord is most knowing of the corrupters.
لَهُمُ ٱلْبُشْرَىٰ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِكَلِمَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
For them are good tidings in the worldly life and in the Hereafter. No change is there in the words [i.e., decrees] of Allāh. That is what is the great attainment.
إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا ۖ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقًّا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ لِيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَهُمْ شَرَابٌ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ وَعَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْفُرُونَ
To Him is your return all together. [It is] the promise of Allāh [which is] truth. Indeed, He begins the [process of] creation and then repeats it that He may reward those who have believed and done righteous deeds, in justice. But those who disbelieved will have a drink of scalding water and a painful punishment for what they used to deny.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Indeed, those upon whom the word [i.e., decree] of your Lord has come into effect will not believe,