Forgiveness of Prophet Joseph (Yusuf AS) - The Highest form of Forgiveness mentioned in Al Qur’an

One of the most difficult virtue of a man's character is forgiveness. We are often wronged on petty matters - but when the gravity of being wronged surpasses the ultimate limit of a man's patience, forgiveness become extremely difficult for the ordinaries. Those who still opt to forgive and forget and even pray for someone who wronged them, is the highest form of forgiveness and quality character of a man,

If someone asks me which is the highest form of forgiveness one can render, I would present the example of Prophet Joseph / Yusuf (Peace be upon him -ʿalayhis-salām عليه السلام) as mentioned in the 92nd verse of Sürah Yusuf of Al-Qurʾān. 

Those who are the people of the Book, must have read the anecdote related to Prophet Yusuf AS when his brothers out of jealousy hatched a conspiracy against him, for he was the most beloved son of his father, Prophet Jacob / Yaqub AS. They took him out with them one day and threw him in a dead well to die. It was by chance that a caravan which was passing by who saw the well and tried to extract water. But instead they found a boy inside the well, whom they pulled out and later sold him as a slave. There he grew up in the house of a noble and one day rose to highest level in the court of the ruler of Egypt. There he one day saw the entire bunch of his brothers who had come to Egypt in search of food as there was a famine in the area. Prophet Yusuf instantly recognized them, yet not only forgave them and erased the painful memory of their betrayal from his heart and even made a supplication for them for their forgiveness.

This entire anecdote is mentioned in Al Qur'an in an exclusive Surah / Chapter dedicated to Prophet Yusuf AS, the exegesis of which we have already published and can be accessed from the links given below:

| Overview | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Lessons | Selected verses from Surah 12. Yusuf

| How Sürah Yusuf guides believers to seek Divine Guidance in their daily chores | Surah Yusuf  - One of the most psychologically rich narratives in religious literature |

Now, herein under, we share the 92nd verse of Surah Yusuf which exclusively mention the forgiveness of Prophet Yusuf AS, which is considered as the highest form of Forgiveness mentioned in Al Qur’an. We are sharing this exclusive form of forgiveness so that we too try to build our character to such a height that we too are able to forgive others no matter how grave the offence has been committed against us.

The Verse:

قَالَ لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ يَغْفِرُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ

He said, "No blame will there be upon you today. Allāh will forgive you; and He is the most merciful of the merciful.

What Makes This the Highest Level?

We have already explained the context and the circumstances through which Prophet Yusuf AS went through. Now let us see how this form of forgiveness is so extraordinary to be exclusively mentioned.

Yūsuf (AS) did not just forgive—he did three extraordinary things:

• Complete removal of blame (ʿAfw) - “No blame upon you”
• That is he didn’t remind them of their crime, or shame them or sought an apology.
• His utterance “No blame upon you” is beyond forgiveness - thus erasing the offense completely
• No revenge despite full power
• At that moment, Yusuf had the authority, control and even the opportunity to settle the old scores. Yet he chose mercy.
• This is Forgiveness when revenge is possible (the hardest kind)
• Making du‘ā for them (Iḥsān)
• This is the highest form of character of a man who not only forgave them, and shelve his right to take a revenge, but also pray for them.
• “May Allah forgive you” - that is he didn’t just pardon, but also prayed for their forgiveness.
• This is the highest level of forgiveness - Turning hurt into goodness

Levels of Forgiveness in Islam

Let us just enumerate the levels of forgiveness in Islam as described by the scholars and then compare these with the forgiveness exhibited by Prophet Yusuf AS. And then let us ponder over which level should be adopt to forgive someone who may have wronged us bitterly.

• Level 1: Justice  Take your right with equal response
• Level 2: Forgiveness (ʿAfw) Let go of punishment
• Level 3: Iḥsān (Excellence) Forgive and do good in return - This is the level of  forgiveness displayed by Prophet Yūsuf (AS)

That is why it is mentioned in Al Qur'an, Surah Fussilat (41:34): “Repel evil with what is better…”

Why is this the highest status?

Now some ask, how come this forgiveness is given such a high status. It is because the misgivings and wounds of abandonment required extreme sense of overcoming: Ego, Anger, and the Desire for revenge. This kind act on part of Prophet Yusuf AS reflects Taqwa (God-consciousness) and Trust in Allah’s justice.

Parallel from the Sunnah

Here it would not be out of place to mention the great forgiveness displayed by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ at the conquest of Makkah. But before we mention the great forgiveness, let us just in few lines mentioned the utter torture and inhuman treatment to Prophet ﷺ and his family when he proclaimed Islam in Makkah. The affluent and the rich polytheists of Makkah tortured him verbally, mentally and even physically to pursue him to leave the propagation of Islam. Many of his companions were tortured and even killed to dissuade Prophet ﷺ. But he never lost his ground, for propagation of Islam was more dear to him than his life and family. When, however, the torture by the infidels, the idol worshipping polytheists became unbearable, Prophet ﷺ along with the handful of Muslims migrated to the city of Medinah, where the people welcomed him and entered the fold of Islam. The infidels did not lose him and had three battles to overpower him but he prevailed upon them. And then a time came when he moved to Makkah with his army - and captured it without fighting as the polytheists were overawed by his might and strength, 

And when he along with his army marched into streets of Makkah, he forgave them all, without any exception, and told them: “Go, you are free.”

His blanket forgiveness follow the same pattern of forgiveness by Prophet Yusuf AS. There was no revenge, no humiliation - but simply general amnesty. Such are the ways of prophets who have hearts bigger than mountains to forgive and forget.

Relevance Today

Forgiveness is not a trait of the prophets only - but the examples of their traits are mentioned time and again so that we humans too inculcate the virtue of forgiveness in our character and try our best not to seek revenge if wronged and forgive as much as we can.

Here is how we should do:

• In personal relationships  When there are family conflicts and betrayals - most people hold grudges. But Qur’an calls to rise above, forgive and forget.
• In leadership Power often leads to revenge. But example of Yūsuf (AS) shows that true power calls for mercy, not revenge or keeping grudges.
• In emotional healing Being wronged leaves scars but forgiveness frees removes these from within, and from the heart and mind.
• Important Balance  we need to ensure a balance, though which is not always obligatory as Islam allows Justice and lays down boundaries. But at the same time, Islam does encourage Forgiveness when possible and erasing the hurt from one's soul forever to live a happy life on ward - rather than taking the wounded heart along and continue to have heartburns.

Final Reflection

Take a test when you have been harmed. Ask yourself: If I had the power to take revenge… would I still forgive? That’s the real test.

The Core Message

The example of Prophet Yusuf AS and even that of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ teach us the highest level of forgiveness is "Forgive completely, without blame, and respond with goodness." Try it, though very hard to practice but take a start - it is rewarding.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please visit our reference page: Surah 12. Yusuf - Prophet Josef (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) for selected verses from Surah Yusuf You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For verses on Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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No matter how much you deny the truth of Al Qur'an - in time you will surely come to know of it

The beauty of the truth is that it can never obscured, concealed or hidden no matter how much one tries to. The plain truth that Al Qur'an carries is from One True God, the Creator of the universe - therefore the word of God would always prevail despite people burning copies of Al Qur'an or try to misquote it through debates and lies on the social media.

When the Qur'an was revealed and Prophet Muhammad ﷺ approached the polytheists of Makkah, they simply mocked the idea of it being revealed by Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ. When the stubbornness of the polytheists reached a point of open rebuttal coupled with extreme hostility towards the prophet of Allah, the following verse was revealed (the closing verse 88 of Surah 38 Saad - The Letter Saad):

وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ نَبَأَهُ بَعْدَ حِينٍ

38:88 And you will surely know [the truth of] its information after a time."

This is a small verse, but with deep reflective Divine wisdom and caution for all those who deny what has been revealed and presented to them. Let us unpack this verse and see how it has impacted the mankind since its revelation and how the wisdom is being accepted and more and more non believers are entering the fold of Islam.

In its simple translation, what this meant is that those who will remain alive will see in a few years that what the Prophet (peace be on him) said will come to pass. As for those who die, no sooner than they enter the portal of death they too will realise that what the Prophet (peace be on him) had said was true.

Apparent (Ẓāhir) Meaning

This is a closing warning at the end of the surah Saad. It is being said that Al Qur’an has delivered its message. And those who deny it are told: “Soon—you will come to know the reality of what you’re rejecting.”

What does “after a time” mean? Scholars explain it can refer to: (1) A time in this life, (2) When truth becomes evident when consequences unfold, (3) At death when unseen reality becomes clear, and (4) On the Day of Judgment, when full truth is revealed. That it is a delayed but certain realization.

Scholarly Insight

• Ibn Kathir: This is a warning to disbelievers that what they deny now will become undeniable later
• Al-Tabari: “News” (naba’) refers to The truth of the Qur’an and The وعد (promise) of accountability. That is for many the truth will be revealed in this world - but those who leave this world clinging to their lies will be ultimately be held accountable and brought to harsh justice.

Deeper Meaning (Wisdom)

• Truth does not depend on acceptance People may deny, mock or ignore the truth - but the truth remains true regardless of what people say and will finally be unfolded and known. 
• Time reveals reality Some truths are not time bound to be known and not immediately obvious. With deeper reflection in time the reality of truth starts to unfold.
• Delayed consequences Actions may seem without consequence initially, but the results are inevitable. No effort can hide the reality and it does surface sooner or later.

Similar Verses in the Qur’an

• Surah Al-An'am (6:67): “For every news is a reality, and you will come to know.”
• Surah Ibrahim (14:42): “Do not think Allah unaware of what the wrongdoers do…”
• Surah Az-Zumar (39:48): “The evil (of not accepting the truth) of what they earned will appear to them…”

This means that reality eventually becomes visible. May be not present generation, but future generations would one day find out that what was being labelled as lies was in fact The Truth and will start accepting it.

Relevance Today

This verse is very powerful in modern context:

• People dismiss truth easily Religion is mostly views as Optional or even Outdated. The verse thus reminds that Reality doesn’t change because of opinion and truth finally unfolds.
• Short-term thinking 
• People view their life and Divine revelations for immediate results only as did the polytheists of Makkah. They even asked the prophet of Allah to ask his God to unleash His wrath on them - and when nothing happened, they mocked Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for just scaring them of the Divine wrath as there was nothing of its kind. They even disregarded the anecdotes contained in Al Qur'an and the wrath of Allah which befell on previous people of 'Ad, Thamud and many others.
• However, Al Qur'an through the verse quoted above tries to teach that consequences of some truths are based on Long-term accountability and if the Divine warnings are not heeded today, there will be no turning back when the scale of Divine justice will be put in place on the Day of Judgement.
• Moral consequences are delayed Denials, obscuring truth may work for now or sometime, but the system based on lies eventually collapse and truth is upheld in the end.
• Personal life reflection Denying truth is not only by the non believers, Hiding the truth and ignoring worship of Allah by many Muslims will also have its consequences, which may not be immediate. But these accumulate and will be presented in the charge sheet and held accountable for not realizing that they too will be put to justice like other deniers of truth.

Personal Lessons

• Don’t be deceived by delay Just because something hasn’t happened yet, doesn’t mean it won’t
• Stay grounded in truth Even if others reject it
• Think long-term Your actions have future impact

Final Reflection

This verse is like a quiet but powerful statement: “You may ignore the truth today—but one day, you won’t be able to.”

This verse serves as a stern warning that the defiance shown by the disbelievers towards the Quran, which they labeled as a lie or "nothing but old tales" (implied in the context of surrounding verses), will be proven wrong when they face the reality of the punishment and the truth of the afterlife. 

If we now look around, we will notice that many non believers of Islam are getting to know the truth contained in Al Qur'an and understanding the message of Islam by entering the fold of Islam. We have shared many revert experiences (which can be read from our reference page: Embracing Islam: Revert Experiences) which speak loud and clear the acceptance of truth which validate the verse shared above that it is only time which will unfold the truth one day.

One of the eminent scholar Yusuf Ali explains this verse beutifully by noting: There may be many things which we in our "muddy vesture of decay" may not fully understand or take in. If we only follow the right Path, we shall arrive at the Goal in the Hereafter, and then everything will be dear to us.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may refer to more Selected Verses from  Sürah 38 Ṣād - the letter ص  already published. You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For verses on Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

Why does Muslims worshipping One True God – Al Wahid, rather than many gods, puzzle the Polytheists

Culture and traditions have a biding effect on people of any community. It would not be wrong to say that man is enslaved to these in varying degrees of adoption. Talking of faith, clinging to traditions passed on from ancestors play a great part in shaping the direction of man. Before we move forward with the subject of the post today, let us clearly understand what are traditions:

Tradition are beliefs and practices passed down over generations. It can include: Rituals, Religious practices and Social norms. It is more specific to religious beliefs and often tied to heritage and identity.

Now let us share the 5th verse of Surah 38. Saad (The Arabic letter Saad) which is relevant to the radiations, more specifically to the people of Makkah at the advent of Islam and also to people even today who worship more than one gods even today.  

Al-Qurʾān Verse: Surah Ṣād (38:5)

أَجَعَلَ ٱلْـَٔالِهَةَ إِلَـٰهًۭا وَٰحِدًا ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَشَىْءٌ عُجَابٌۭ

“Has he made all the gods into one God? Indeed, this is something astonishing!”

Context (Why was this verse revealed?)

This is a Makkan verse, revealed when the Prophet ﷺ called the Quraysh to Tawḥīd (absolute oneness of Allah). At that time the Arabs worshipped many idols. In fact each tribe had its own gods and own system of belief. Connecting the traditions of the Arabs of the time, they had a strong belief in worshipping of idols, taking them as their gods.

So the reaction of the Quraysh, the leading tribe of the Makkah, was obvious when the Prophet ﷺ said: Worship only ONE God. They responded (as in this verse): “You’re turning all our gods into one? That’s unbelievable!” This  was a natural rebuttal for no prophet had come to them before and their belief in a deity, though they still called it Allah in Arabi,  they looked towards their idols as if they were connecting with a deity which was far superior. Yet when worshipping, they had the image of their idols in their minds, and not an obscured and hidden imagination of a deity unseen by them.

Apparent (Ẓāhir) Meaning of the Verse 5

When Prophet ﷺ asked the polytheists of Makkah to worship One True God - Al Wahid, the were simply shocked, for they have been since time immemorial emotionally attached to traditions and multiple deities. In fact they have had countless gods represented into the shape of idols and for them believing in One God which too was unseen was rather puzzling. Thus, obviously they could not comprehend a change and lose powers to the new found belief and faith calling them to abandon the faith of their forefathers.

Eminent Muslim scholar Yusuf Ali in response to the rejection of Monotheistic message of Islam notes: And what is the offence of the Messenger of Unity? That he has made all their fantastic gods disappear; that in place of chaos he has brought harmony; that in place of conflict he brings peace! It is a wonderful thing, but not in the sarcastic sense in which the Unbelievers scoff at it!

Another Muslim scholar of present times Javed Ahmad Ghamidi explains: They said this to incite people against him by contending that he was denying the divinity of the beings which were regarded sacred by them and worshipped.

Muhammad Asad explains the polytheist reaction in these very words: Divorced from its purely historical background, this criticism acquires a timeless significance, and may be thus paraphrased: "Does the claim that all creative powers and qualities are inherent exclusively in what they conceive as 'one God'?" - a paraphrase which illustrates the tendency of many people to attribute a decisive influence on human life - and, hence, a quasi-divine status - to a variety of fortuitous phenomena or circumstances (like wealth, "luck", social position, etc.) rather than to acknowledge the overwhelming evidence, in all observable nature, of God's unique existence.

Deeper Meaning (Wisdom)

• Human resistance to pure monotheism
• Polytheists often prefer tangible, multiple intermediaries, instead of One unseen, absolute God.
• This is because Tawḥīd demands full submission to One god which entails no تقسيم (division) of authority.
• Simplicity feels “strange” 
• Ironically Tawḥīd is simple to follow. But for the polytheists, it felt too radical to abandon all their gods and turn to a Deity that was unseen and could not be replicated into an idol.
• This happens because Truth usually feels “strange” when society is used to falsehood or is disoriented.

Connection to Trinity (Christian Theology)

The same mindset is of the people who have faith inn trinity. And the verse above is equally applicable to the followers of Trinity for they too believe in more than One God. Let us connect this verse conceptually:

• What is the Trinity? In Christianity (as developed historically), God is understood as the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. . That is Three “persons” in one essence.
• Qur’anic Perspective 
• On the contrary, Al Qur’an consistently emphasizes "Absolute oneness without division."
• The 112nd Surah Al-Ikhlas spells the concept of One God clearly and explicitly: “He is Allah, One”
• This is also augmented in the 171st verse of Surah 4. An-Nisa: “Do not say ‘Three’… Allah is only One God”
• Key Theological Differences
• Tawḥīd: God is One, Indivisible and Unique as mentioned in Surah Ash-Shura (42:11): “There is nothing like Him.”

Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ is Al-Waahid (in Arabic: ٱلْوَٰحِدُ), the One and only God. There is no alternative. He is the sole originator from which all has arisen. He has no partners or relationships. None is equal to Him.

• Trinity: God is One essence in Three persons. That is Unity with internal distinction

* For detailed account on Islamic concept of Monotheism and Christian's concept of Trinity, please refer to our earlier posts:

• Bible and Quran - Contradictions (The Trinity)
• Concept of Tawheed in Islam- The Oneness of Allah

How 38:5 relates conceptually

While 38:5 is about Arab polytheists, the underlying principle applies to all people struggle with "Accepting absolute unity of God" - Whether Many gods (polytheism) or complex formulations (like Trinity)

Important Clarification

As mentioned before, The Quraysh, the rich and power clan of Makkah, who believed in Multiple separate gods, while the concept of Trinity (in Christian theology) claims one God, but in three persons. Although both faiths they are not identical concepts - But differ from pure Tawḥīd - which is worship of One True God, Muslims call Allah, without any associated and an imaginary of Him.

Relevance Today

• People still resist pure Tawḥīd Today still like to prefer intermediaries, like saints, to. connect to God.
• Cultural attachment Just like Quraysh, many a people still follow what they have inherited from their forefathers.
• Intellectual discomfort While Pure oneness is simple and absolute, yet humans often Complicate the belief systems and try to connect to God not directly but through idols are associating partners with Him for "better access."

Core Message of the Verse

Here, the real issue is not logic. In fact it is the traditional attachment, stubbornness to change due to egoist mindset and traditions. 

This verse thus poses a question: Why does pure truth feel strange to people? The answer is very simple: Because pure truth removes control, need for intermediaries and it is for this very reason the polytheists rejected monotheism, and those following Trinity. For this very reason, both polytheism and Trinity contrast with absolute divine unity in Islam.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Disclaimer: This post has been published for education purpose only giving out a comparative view point. It does not in any way infringe on the beliefs and traditions of people belonging to different faith. For further study on the subject, more research may be carried out for those wanting more on the subject.

You may refer to more Selected Verses from  Sürah 38 Ṣād - the letter ص  already published. You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For verses on Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Al-Qurʾān: Overview and selected verses from Sürah Al Qalam (The Pen)

Sürah Al Qalam (The Pen القلم), also called Sürah Nūn (The Arabic letter: نٓ) is the sixty-eighth sūrah (chapter) of the Qur'an with 52 verses (āyāt). This Sürah describes God's justice and the judgment day. We have already published the Summary and Tafseer / Exegesis of the Sürah, which can be accessed from by clicking on the highlighted links:  | Summary | Exegesis / Tafseer |

Herein under we present an overview entire Sūrah and some of the important verses for selective reading / references. The following overview includes the context, major themes and subjects and lessons that we can learn from this Sūrah, followed by references to  some of the selected verses already published.

Overview of Sürah Al Qalam

Surah Al-Qalam (The Pen) is an early Makkan surah, revealed when the Prophet ﷺ was facing extreme resistance from the polytheists of Makkah who mocked him and attacked on his character only because he was preaching a religion which was tangent to the faith practiced by them since ages. Thus the central purpose of this surah  is to:

• Defend the character of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, 
• Expose the mindset of arrogant rejecters, and 
• Teach patience, integrity, and accountability.

Main Theme of the Surah

The surah revolves around three powerful themes:

• Defense (دفاع) of the Prophet ﷺ 
• Right at the beginning of the Surah, it has been Divinely reassured that the Prophet assumes a great character and those who mock him are the one's who do not see beyond their myopic vision: “By the pen… you are not, by the favor of your Lord, mad. And indeed, you are upon a عظیم character.”
• Through this verse, Allah directly rejects accusations of the idol worshippers and elevates the Prophet’s character.
• Exposure of corrupt mindset The surah describes a type of person who is: (1) Arrogant, (2) Greedy, and (3) Oppressive, who mock  the truth. This doesn't refer to one person but a recurring human type.
• Story of the أصحاب الجنة (People of the Garden) A group of men is described here who planned to hoard wealth and denied the poor their share. Resultantly, their garden was destroyed  overnight.

Final accountability The surah ends with Warning of the Day of Judgment and contrast between the Believers and the Rejecters of Divine religion.

Context of Revelation

In early Makkah when the Prophet ﷺ proclaimed himself as prophet of Allah and invited the polytheists of Makkah to Islam, was labeled as a madman, a poet and a liar, trying to mislead the people from their faith of their forefathers.

Thus in the surah, Allah reassures His prophet telling him that his character was the proof of his honesty and truthfulness, which even the polytheist acknowledged before his prophethood. Thus has been Divinely reassured that truth will finally prevail, despite mockery and resistance by the disbelievers of Makkah.

Lessons for Us Today

• Character over reputation: 
• One should try to sacrifice his character to earn a cheap reputation or position by lying or harming interests of others.
• Today many a People chase image, branding, reputation - but the real worth of man is his character  (akhlaq), not public opinion - which should be upheld at all costs.
• That is The Qur’an says: "Focus on who you are, not what people say."
• Don’t be shaken by criticism
• The Prophet ﷺ was insulted, mocked and even physically mishandled to leave his preaching - yet remained firm and finally succeeded.
• Here is lesson for us and that is Truth is not measured by popularity, for may tycoons, politicians and demagogues wield popularity for the weak and meek are to afraid of opposing them. Yet one day their empires and positions and power crumble and the weak yet truthful succeed.
• Wealth can corrupt silently - Story of the garden
• The parable of garden in the surah shows that Greed doesn’t start big - It begins with Small selfish decisions. And the wealth earned through corruption piles up until the prescribed time given to them by Allah to repent. And when they do not, the wrath of Allah falls much heavier than they might have ever imagined.
• Today we see people making corruption by small compromises of their character - but it slowly becomes a mindset.
• Usurping the rights of the poor حقوق of the poor That is how corruption snatches rights of the poor. When rich people avoid giving charity, the forget that their wealth is a trust, not absolute ownership
• Arrogance blinds truth
• The rejecters didn’t lack intelligence - They lacked humility
• Today we still find that Ego blocks guidance and despite knowing the truth, we still bcling to the faith, culture and traditions of our forefathers as did the disbelievers of Makkah/

Reflective Verses

Herein under we share some of the important and reflective verses from the surah, which can reshape our beliefs and aspirations and focus more positively to the message and deen of Islam:

• Character of the Prophet ﷺ:
• (68:4): “Indeed, you are upon a tremendous character.”  
• Reflection: Character is the highest شهادة (testimony)
• Warning against bad traits
•  (68:10–13): “Do not obey every worthless habitual swearer… slanderer… منع للخير (preventer of good)…” 
• Reflection: These traits destroy individuals and societies
• Story of the Garden
• (68:17–19): “We tested them as We tested the أصحاب الجنة…”  
• Reflection: Blessings can be removed suddenly
• Realization after loss
• (68:28): “Did I not tell you to glorify Allah?”
• Reflection: Often we realize after loss, not before
• Final accountability
• (68:35–36): “Shall We treat the المسلمين like the criminals?”
• Reflection: Ultimate justice is with Allah

Deeper Wisdom

• The Pen (Qalam) at the beginning is symbol of Knowledge, Truth and Record of deeds - this suggests: What is written and recorded matters eternally
• Hidden danger of success: The أصحاب الجنة were Successful and Wealthy - but they failed morally which led to their downfall.
• Tests (آزمائش) are subtle: Hardship's are not always tests - Even blessings are tests more than hardship tests.

Core Message

The core message of Sürah Al Qalam is that (1) Truth stands even when mocked, (2) Character defines your worth, (3) Wealth is a test, and (4) Accountability is inevitable

Now let us share herein some of the selected ayat / verses from this surah already shared:

• How does Al-Qurʾān guide us to build a strong character framework
• Verses 17-33: How wealth can corrupt quietly, without a person even realizing it - A subtle parable from Al Qur'an
• Verse 51: Beware of the Evil Eye - Sometimes it cuts through your body

In time we will add more selected ayat / verses from this surah.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For verses on Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

Beware of the Evil Eye - Sometimes it cuts through your body (Selected verses from Al Qur'an)

Generally, mst men (including women) feel jealous of blessings bestowed on others despite being heavily blessed themselves. This jealousy and envy gives birth to the proverbial Evil Eye. Although, there is no scientific proof of the existence of the Evil Eye or  its harmful effects, yet it is a widely held cultural and spiritual belief that a malevolent, envious glare, or even an admiring gaze can cause misfortune, illness, or harm to the person being looked at. It is often described as negative energy stemming from jealousy. While not scientifically proven, it is treated as a real spiritual phenomenon in many cultures. 

While in all cultures and religions, mention of the Evil Eye exists, it does too in Islam. In fact there are many a ayat of Al Qur'an and Hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ  that make a mention of existence of the evil eye and its harmful effect. We have already shared many a Hadiths on the subject, of which we will make a mention of as we progress through this post. But for now, we share the 51st verse of Surah 68. Al Qalam (The Pen) which speaks of this menace.

The Verse:

وَإِن يَكَادُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُۥ لَمَجْنُونٌۭ 

The disbelievers would almost cut you down with their eyes when they hear ˹you recite˺ the Reminder,1 and say, “He is certainly a madman.”

The translation of this verse varies by some translators / scholars in which instead of cutting down is replaced by tripping down / slipping, meaning making someone lose ground of the strength his opinion.

“And indeed, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes when they hear the Reminder, and they say, ‘He is surely mad.’”

Let us unpack this verse as noted by the scholars of Islam:

Apparent (Ẓāhir) Meaning

This verse describes two things happening to the Prophet ﷺ:

• Intense hostility of disbelievers
• When the Prophet ﷺ made known to the elders of Makkah about his elation to the prophethood, they simply mocked him and rejected him for the reason that Prophet ﷺ was an orphan and not much affluent as other big wees of Makkah. The considered it inappropriate that an orphan has been preferred over them and entrusted with the prophethood.
• Thus they looked at him with hatred, jealousy and of course anger.
• And this hatred and envy is mentioned in the above said ayat / verse: “Almost make you slip with their eyes” which means their looks were so intense it’s as if they could harm him.
• Verbal attack Beside being eyeing him with evil eyes full of envy and hatred, they also hurled verbal assault on him, calling Prophet ﷺ as a “Mad” (majnoon) man." This added to the fuel to the physical hostility (evil looks), and aggravating their intense hatred for having been made superior to them.
• Please read our earlier post for more on Evil Eye: The harmful influence and reality of Evil Eye

Explanation of the Evil Eye by Scholars

• Famous 14th century scholar and exegete Ibn Kathir notes that this verse can refer to the evil eye (ʿayn) or intense hatred that almost harms.
• Al-Qurtubi affirms: that the verse is evidence that evil eye is real. However, he adds that it reflects psychological hostility and envy.

Deeper Meaning (Wisdom)

• Truth attracts opposition Being right doesn’t mean being accepted. That is why when the Prophet ﷺ brought truth and called them upon to Islam, he was faced with intense hatred and mockery. He was not verbally assaulted, but was also physically assaulted at many a times. The stoning of Prophet ﷺ by the street children and the elders in the city of Taif is a case in point.
• Envy can be destructive Their reaction wasn’t neutral, but it was emotionally charged. This is a universal truth that envy can become harmful, both physically and spiritually.
• Emotional aggression
• The verse captures non-physical harm like the bad looks and abusive language.
• Islam recognizes that harm is not only physical, but has many diemnsions.

Similar Verses in the Qur’an

As mentioned earlier, the mention of evil eye is made at many a place in AL Qur'an, some mentioned herein under:

• Surah Al-Falaq (113:5): “And from the evil of the envier when he envies.” Here  a prayer is made to prevent harm from the evil of the envier when it envies.
• Surah Yusuf The brothers of Yusuf (AS) envied him so intensely that it brought real harm to Prophet Yusuf when he was thrown into a dead well by his brother.
• Surah Al-Baqarah (2:109): “Many of the أهل الكتاب wish to turn you back… out of envy…”

* Note: Please refer to our exegesis of above quoted Surahs/verses from our reference page: 114 Chapters (Surahs) of the Holy Qur'an: Summary /Translation, Exegesis / Tafsir “التفسير “

Hadith on Evil Eye

In addition to Al Qur'an, there are many a Hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which caution the believers of be weary of the harmful effects evil eye:

• Sahih al-Bukhari: “The evil eye is real.”
• Sahih Muslim: “If anything were to overtake destiny, it would be the evil eye.”

This hadiths point toward the fact that the evil eye has a powerful effect, but can be warded of by turning to Allah.

Is this verse applicable to everyone?

Although, this verse is specifically for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, but in principle it is applicable to everyone for ordinary men and women too are envious of others' blessings and when they see someone in a better state from them, their envious heart vying for more induces in them negative reactions which are get transformed into dirty and evil looks, meaning harm. In many a case, one can feel the envy and it should be taken as a general warning and awareness, not paranoia, though.

Relevance Today

Is this verse and related hadiths relevant today? Yes indeed. One attracts evil eye from over projection like the following:

• Social exposure People are generally showy and tend to display their success, wealth, and even good health - which leads to envy and the evil eye.
• Silent negativity  Not all harm is spoken - it may come from meaningful looks, bad feelings and intentions.
• Being criticized for doing right Sometimes doing good or doing better than others are taken as point scoring, specially in the corporates world which often attract mockery (just like in the verse) for downplaying others.

How to protect against the harmful effects of the Evil Eye

Turning to Allah whenever one is blessed something more than others or put in a better position and praying to be protected from the envy of the others. Here are some tips for personal as well as protection of the family:

• Avoid showing off blessings unnecessarily - Not everything needs to be public, even from one's own siblings.
• Reciting the last two chapters of Al Qur'an: Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Naas. (Read our previous post on "Striking resemblance between Surahs Falaq and Naas." which give an insight to ward of internal and external evil
• Hasan Basri (رح) reports that if anyone is affected by the evil eye, these verses (51 52) may be recited and blown on the person: the ill effect will be dispelled.
• Also read our previous posts:
• For Protection against Evil and envious eye (Hadith 3371)
• How to seek refuge from all forms of Evil  (Hadith 1551)
• Supplication for the protection from every evil (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

Final Reflection

This verse shows that not everyone who opposes you is rational — but sometimes it is the Envy, Ego That makes one vulnerable to the harm which is inadvertently intended when one is better placed in a position or blessed more.

Remember! Evil eye and envy are real - so seek protection from Allah whenever put in a better place than others around and be extra grateful for the blessings so bestowed upon you.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may refer to more Selected Verses from Surah 68 Al Qalam (The Pen)  already published. You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For verses on Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

Does comparison with others’ blessings lead to Thanklessness

There is a very common phrase: Others' lawn is always greener - that is one is always comparing the blessings of other with one's shortfalls, without giving due importance to own blessings which may be far superior than others.  In fact  constant comparison with the blessings of others leads to utter discontentment and envy. Such a state of mindset shifts focus away from one's own blessings, causing individuals to overlook their personal gifts and focus only on what they lack. 

In fact, comparing yourself to others’ blessings can become thanklessness (kufr al-ni‘mah) depending on what it does to your heart. Let us dwell more in this state of mind in light of Al Qur'an and Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ - and see how can we build a positive frame of mind by being more grateful of our own blessings rather than having heartburns by envying what other have.

Generally speaking, thanklessness in the Qur’an and Sunnah, means: Failing to recognize, appreciate, or use Allah’s blessings properly—whether by denial, arrogance, complaint, or misuse. Though, it is not always outright disbelief; it can be a spiritual attitude toward نعمة (blessing).

When comparison becomes thanklessness

Let us reflect on some of the factors which turn gratitude into thanklessness:

• Discontent with what Allah gave you This is a common feeling that hits most of us in form or the other. Such discontentment arises when we start to feel “Why don’t I have this?” or “This isn’t enough.” This contradicts gratitude.
• Denying or ignoring blessings
• Surah An-Nahl (16:83): “They recognize the favor of Allah, then deny it; and most of them are ungrateful.”
• This means that they know blessings come from Allah - yet behave as if they don’t.
• Focusing on others instead of your blessings
• Allah says in Surah An-Nahl (16:18): “If you tried to count Allah’s blessings, you could not…”
• That is comparison makes Ignore what you already have.
• Focusing only on what’s missing
• It is reported in Sahih al-Bukhari that the Prophet ﷺ warned about people who are ungrateful for kindness (especially in close relationships)
• That is Remembering negatives and Forgetting positives
• Complaining and ingratitude
• Surah Al-Adiyat (100:6): “Indeed, man is ungrateful to his Lord.”
• This leads to Constant dissatisfaction - and Forgetting blessings quickly
• Resentment toward Allah’s distribution
• It is said in Al Qur'an: “Do not wish for what Allah has given some over others…”  Surah An-Nisa (4:32)
• This shows that objecting internally to Allah’s wisdom which is a form of spiritual ingratitude
• Envy (Hasad) This state of mind gets activated when one is wanting the blessing removed from others - This is clearly a major spiritual disease.
• Love of wealth leading to ingratitude
• It is mentioned in Sahih Muslim that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ cautioned that “If the son of Adam had a valley of gold, he would want another…”
• That is man has endless desires which cannot be fulfilled and instead of being thankful for what one has, one is always vying for more.
• This means that Endless desires kill gratitude

Deeper Insight

Let us see how scholars explain this diseased state of mind that usually creeps into many of us and makes our lives miserable. The crux of the problem or discontentment and thanklessness is not comparison itself—  It is Attachment to dunya which give rise to such discontented feelings and let us envy others. That is when the heart is attached to Wealth and Status.

This unreal comparison thus give rise to unnecessary heartburns, pains and endless agony

What does thanklessness lead to?

• Shifts Focus to Lack: Comparison traps you into focusing only on what someone else has that you do not.
• Stirs Dissatisfaction: Rather than bringing appreciation, looking at others' lives stirs up envy, entitlement, and dissatisfaction.
• Creates a "False" Reality: People often compare their behind-the-scenes life with someone else's highlight reel, forgetting that every person has unique challenges.
• Blinds to Personal Blessings: It makes people take their own blessings for granted—things like health, family, or safety, which others may be praying for. 

The Consequences of being Thanklessness

• Discontentment: Comparison fuels the "grass is greener" mentality, leading to a failure to appreciate one's current circumstances.
• Spiritual/Emotional Debt: Thanklessness is often seen as a symptom of self-centeredness or pride, where a person fails to recognize that what they have is a gift.
• Reduced Joy: It actively steals joy and fosters a bitter, complaining spirit.

Modern Reality

Although thanklessness has been embodied in man since ages, the environment around us has multiplied this menace because of easy access to social media, career competition and lifestyle exposure. Resultantly, people feel poor, even though they are not. This is exactly Practical thanklessness.

We must learn how to be grateful, rather than thankless. Sometimes we fail to count our blessings being overshadowed by success and blessings of others. A man looking hale and hearty, wealthy and successful outwardly may have health and family problems which we may not be having. Wealth is only wordily - but true gratitude comes when one lives for a life in the hereafter.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q & A for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

| Photo | Resource reference: A Personal reflection

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