The Misguided Confidence of the Affluent and the True Path to Divine Favor

Saba — Verses 34–39 | Explore this Quran theme on Muallim

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَا إِنَّا بِمَا أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِ كَافِرُونَ ٣٤

And We did not send a warner to a township, but those who were given the worldly wealth and luxuries among them said: "We believe not in the (Message) with which you have been sent."

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ
And We did not send a warner to a township,
إِلَّا قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَا
but those who were given the worldly wealth and luxuries among them said:
إِنَّا بِمَا أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِ كَافِرُونَ
"We believe not in the (Message) with which you have been sent."

وَقَالُوا نَحْنُ أَكْثَرُ أَمْوَالًا وَأَوْلَادًا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ ٣٥

And they say: "We are more in wealth and in children, and we are not going to be punished."

وَقَالُوا
And they say:
نَحْنُ أَكْثَرُ أَمْوَالًا وَأَوْلَادًا
We are more in wealth and in children,
وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ
and we are not going to be punished.

قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ٣٦

Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Verily, my Lord enlarges and restricts the provision to whom He pleases, but most men know not."

قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّي
Say (O Muhammad SAW): Verily, my Lord
يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ
enlarges and restricts the provision to whom He pleases
وَيَقْدِرُ
but most men know not.

وَمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُكُم بِالَّتِي تُقَرِّبُكُمْ عِندَنَا زُلْفَىٰ إِلَّا مَنْ آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَأُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ جَزَاءُ الضِّعْفِ بِمَا عَمِلُوا وَهُمْ فِي الْغُرُفَاتِ آمِنُونَ ٣٧

And it is not your wealth, nor your children that bring you nearer to Us (i.e. pleases Allah), but only he (will please Us) who believes (in the Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds; as for such, there will be twofold reward for what they did, and they will reside in the high dwellings (Paradise) in peace and security.

وَمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ
And it is not your wealth,
وَلَا أَوْلَادُكُم
nor your children
بِالَّتِي تُقَرِّبُكُمْ عِندَنَا زُلْفَىٰ
that bring you nearer to Us (i.e. pleases Allah),
إِلَّا مَنْ آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا
but only he (will please Us) who believes (in the Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds;
فَأُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ جَزَاءُ الضِّعْفِ بِمَا عَمِلُوا
as for such, there will be twofold reward for what they did,
وَهُمْ فِي الْغُرُفَاتِ آمِنُونَ
and they will reside in the high dwellings (Paradise) in peace and security.

وَالَّذِينَ يَسْعَوْنَ فِي آيَاتِنَا مُعَاجِزِينَ أُولَٰئِكَ فِي الْعَذَابِ مُحْضَرُونَ ٣٨

And those who strive against Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), to frustrate them, will be brought to the torment.

وَالَّذِينَ يَسْعَوْنَ فِي آيَاتِنَا
And those who strive against Our Ayat
مُعَاجِزِينَ
to frustrate them
أُولَٰئِكَ فِي الْعَذَابِ
will be brought to the torment

قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُ ۚ وَمَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ ٣٩

Say: "Truly, my Lord enlarges the provision for whom He wills of His slaves, and (also) restricts (it) for him, and whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah's Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers."

قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ
Say: 'Truly, my Lord enlarges the provision for whom He wills of His slaves,'
وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُ ۚ
and (also) restricts (it) for him,
وَمَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ ۖ
and whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah's Cause), He will replace it.
وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ
And He is the Best of providers.