A verse from Al Qur’an that Reinforces Tawhid (Absolute Oneness of God) and breaks reliance on idols

Understanding some of the verses of Al Qur'an can dispel many misconceptions that reside in the minds of Muslims who still cling to beliefs that are tangent to the teachings of Islam.  These verses are also meant to remove the misunderstanding of the polytheists, who believed that from among the servants of Allah, someone gave them the provision, someone the children and someone health to their patients. All these superstitions of shirk are baseless, and the pure truth is just that whatever of mercy reaches the people, reaches to them only through Allah Almighty’s bounty and grace. No one else has the power either to bestow it or to withhold it. This theme has been expressed at many places in the Quran and the Ahadith in different ways so that man may avoid the humiliation of begging at every door and at every shrine and may realize that making or marring of his destiny is in the power of One Allah alone and of none else.

To reinforce our premise, we share the second verse from Surah Fatir, the 35 Surah / Chapter of Al Qur'an, given herein under, reflecting on its core meaning and its application to every living being and to ponder over:

The Verse 2 — Surah Fāṭir (35:2):

مَا يَفْتَحِ ٱللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ مِن رَّحْمَةٍ فَلَا مُمْسِكَ لَهَا ۖ وَمَا يُمْسِكْ فَلَا مُرْسِلَ لَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

“Whatever mercy Allah opens up for people, none can withhold it; and whatever He withholds, none can release after Him. And He is the Almighty, the All-Wise.”

What is Tawhid

Before we explain this verse, let us understand what is Tawhid.

Tawhid means the absolute oneness of God (Allah) and is the most fundamental concept in Islam, asserting that there is only one God who is unique and has no partners. This belief in monotheism is the core of the Islamic faith, signifying that God is the sole creator and sustainer of the universe and that all worship should be directed to Him alone. 

Tawhid teaches us:

• Oneness of being: Allah is uniquely one in His being, not composed of parts.
• Oneness of attributes: Allah's divine attributes, such as knowledge, hearing, and power, are unique and not shared with anyone.
• Oneness of actions: Allah has no partner or helper in His divine actions, such as creation and control of the universe.
• Pillar of faith: Tawheed is the first and most important pillar of Islam and is essential for a person to be considered a Muslim.
• Avoidance of Shirk: The practical application of Tawheed involves avoiding Shirk (associating partners with God), which is considered the greatest sin in Islam. This includes avoiding both major forms of shirk (like worshipping idols) and minor forms (like showing off in worship). 

That is Tawhid means belief in absolute Oneness of Allah and avoidance of Shirk in all its forms.

What the Verse Means

Let us now see how this verse can be explained to find its relevance to belief in One True God and rejection of Idolism:

• All good comes only from Allah
• Here the Mercy of Allah has been explained which comes to us in many shades despite our arrogant rejection of the Divine Mercy. 
• The Mercy here includes: Rizq (sustenance), Health, Guidance, Protection, Success, Peace, Opportunities, Good relationships. Hope, Relief and of course Barakah.
• That is if Allah decides to give you something, no creation can stop it.
• No one can give what Allah withholds
• No boss, no doctor, no government, no powerful person can deliver what has not been written for you.
• This removes: Fear of people, fear of loss, and attachment to worldly sources.
• Allah gives and withholds with perfect wisdom
• The verse ends with two major attributes of Allah: (1) Al-‘Azīz — The All-Powerful, and (2) Al-Ḥakīm — The All-Wise
• The mention of these two powerful attributes of Allah means: (1) His power is perfect, (2) His decisions are wise, (3) His timing is flawless and that (4) Nothing is random.

How to Reflect on This Verse

If one reflects deeply on Who Allah is and what are His limitless powers and mercy, one would start to understand the wisdom behind this verse. Here is just a cue to the immense wisdom this verse carries:

• Trust Allah more, worry less
• When something is meant for you, it will come: a job, marriage, provision, healing, and an opportunity.
• Your heart finds peace knowing that Allah never misses you.
• Stop fearing people: People cannot harm or benefit you except by Allah’s permission. with this form belief, our hearts become free from anxiety and stress.
• Let go of envy: If Allah gave someone something, He opened a door of mercy for them. We uct have faith in the fact that our turn will come if it is good for us.
• Accept the wisdom behind delays: Sometimes Allah withholds to: protect, purify, strengthen, redirect and elevate our rank. Delays are not denials — they are wisdom.
• Strengthen your du‘ā: This verse teaches that ALL mercy is in Allah’s hand, so du‘ā becomes: sincere, hopeful and confident. Our du‘ā is asking the One who controls all outcomes.
• Be grateful for the blessings you already have - Health, family, safety, food, knowledge — these are “doors of mercy” Allah has opened for you.
• Be patient in hardships - Hardship is also mercy if it: brings you closer to Allah, increases your tawakkul, wipes away sins, and reshapes your character. Allah’s withholding is not cruelty — it is mercy in disguise.

Relevance to Our Modern Life

Unless we shape our lives that hinge on unflinching faith and trust in Allah, we can never understand the Divine wisdom of mercy, delays and denials. Remember:

• When job hunting → Allah opens doors no résumé can open.
• When worried about money → rizq is from Allah, not the employer.
• When relationship breaks → Allah withholds for your future good.
• When dealing with illness → healing is a mercy only He grants.
• When feeling anxious → control belongs to Allah, not circumstances.
• When facing injustice → Allah’s power overrides all oppressors.

This, this verse removes crippling fear, anxiety, resentment, and stress and replaces the heart with: trust, patience, contentment, and inner peace. Surah Fāṭir 35:2 teaches that everything you hope for or fear is entirely in Allah’s hands — so attach your heart to Him alone. No idols or saints or priests can help us to our wishes fulfilled, for it is only the Divine Wisdom that decides who to give, when and how much or hold something for someone to test the strength of one's faith. Let us never fail this test.

You may refer to Summary and Selected verses of Sürah (35) Fāṭir “The Originator / The Creator” for more Selected Verses already published. For more scholarly explanation of this verse, click on link |3| given below.

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

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.

For more 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: Summary and Selected verses of Sürah (35) Fāṭir “The Originator / The Creator”

At "Islam: My Ultimate Decision" it has been our endeavour to introduce Al Qur'an in as much ways as possible so that our viewers can understand Al Qur'an and follow it as easily as possible. We have already presented the Overview, the Tafseer/Exegesis of all 114 Surahs / Chapters of Al Qur'an. In addition to that we have also embarked upon us to present some of the important and selected verses from each Surah for easy understanding. 

In our continuing series of selected verses from selected Surahs of Al Qur'an, today we share the bird eye view of Surah 35 Fatir, meaning the Originator and some of the selected verses.  We have already shared a brief overview and Tafseer / Exegesis of the Surah which can be read from links given below:

| Overview | Exegesis / Tafseer |

Herein under we will only present a condensed overview of the entire Sūrah, for the scope of this post is to only to introduce the Sūrah and provide links to some of the selected verses from this Sūrah for selective reading / references. The following bird eye view 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.

About the Surah:

Surah Fāṭir (Arabic: فاطر, fāṭir; meaning: The Originator / The Creator), is also known as Al-Mala’ikah (ﺍﻟملائكة, ’al-malā’ikah; meaning: "The Angels"). It has 45 ayats / verses part of the Juzʼ 22 with five rukūʿ (Arabic: رُكوع) - that is a group of thematically related verses in a given Surah. The Surah Fatir is classified as the Makkan Surah, for it was revealed before the migration of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to Medinah, called as Hijrah.

Main Audience: Since it was revealed in Makkah, its audience were the early Meccan disbelievers, idolaters, and those doubting the Prophet ﷺ.

Context of Revelation: Sūrah Fāṭir was revealed:  

• It was revealed in a period when: (1) The Quraysh were resisting the message, (2) Mocking the Prophet ﷺ, (3) Arguing about resurrection, (4) Taking idols as “closer intercessors,” (5) Being overly impressed with worldly life, (6) Rejecting the idea of accountability.
• The surah comes as a powerful reminder of: (1) Who Allah is (the Creator, Provider, Originator), (2) Why humans are accountable, (3) The purpose of life, (4) The reality of the Hereafter - It is a surah that awakens the conscience and breaks arrogance.

Core Theme: The central theme of Sūrah Fāṭir is: “Recognizing Allah’s absolute creative power leads to guidance; ignoring His signs leads to ruin. It contrasts: (1) Creator vs. creation, (2) Truth vs. falsehood, (3) Guidance vs. misguidance, (4) Gratitude vs. ingratitude, and (5) The fleeting dunya vs. eternal Akhirah.

Key Subjects and Structure: Following are some of the key subjects discussed in the Surah under the overall theme of Allah being the Originator and the Creator of the entire universe:

• Allah as al-Fāṭir — The Originator (verses 1–3) - Allah introduces Himself as: (1) Creator of the heavens and the earth, (2) Maker of angels as messengers, (3) Provider of all sustenance. This sets the foundation: He alone deserves worship.
• No one can withhold what Allah gives (verse 2) - This reinforces Tawḥīd and breaks reliance on idols.
• Creation signs & natural phenomena (verses 5–14) - Allah uses: (1) life & death, (2) day & night, (3) rain, (4) plants, (5) winds to show that all power belongs to Him alone.
• Warning against being deceived by worldly life (verse 5) - The surah strongly warns: (1) “Don’t be deceived by dunya.” (2) “Don’t be deceived by Shayṭān.”
• Human ingratitude vs. gratitude (verses 15–18) - A major theme: People need Allah; Allah does not need anyone and that every soul carries its own burden.
• Parable of the good and bad people (verse 19–22) - Powerful analogy: (1) The blind vs. the seeing, (2) Darkness vs. light, (3) Shade vs. heat, and (4) The living vs. the dead. These metaphors symbolize faith vs. disbelief.
• Prophets brought the same message (verses 23–25) - Reassurance to the Prophet ﷺ that rejection is not new.
• The reward of the righteous (verses 32–35) - The verses mention description of Paradise, Peace, Removal of sorrow, True success.
• The Fate of previous nations (verse 45) - If Allah punished people immediately, nothing would remain — but He gives time. This is the idea of Divine patience (imhal) and warning.

Why is the Surah Important Today?

No verse or surah of Qur'an has been irrelevant throughout the history since revelation more than fourteen centuries ago. Let us view the relevance of Surah Fatir in modern times:

• It addresses materialism - People today, like Quraysh, are dazzled by wealth and status.
• It teaches gratitude - In an age of entitlement, it reminds that everything is from Allah.
• It strengthens faith in God’s power - When people feel helpless or overwhelmed.
• It explains why evil exists - Allah gives time for repentance, not immediate punishment.
• It helps overcome doubts - By pointing to the natural world as signs of Allah’s existence.
• It teaches personal accountability - Everyone carries their own burden — no blame-shifting.

Lessons for Us Today

• Do not be deceived by worldly life.
• Stay grateful — ingratitude is spiritually deadly.
• Do not rely on intermediaries between you and Allah.
• Reflect on nature to strengthen iman.
• Be patient in calling others to Islam (like Prophet ﷺ).
• Prepare for the Hereafter — the only lasting success.
• Do not confuse temporary prosperity with Divine approval.
• Allah delays punishment out of pure mercy.

Selected verses from Sürah Fāṭir

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

• Verse 2: A verse from Al Qur’an that Reinforces Tawhid (Absolute Oneness of God) and breaks reliance on idols
• Verse 3: Is there any creator, apart from Allah, who provides you your sustenance?
• Verse 18: No one can share burden of sin committed by another - even though he be a near of kin
• Verse 43: An evil scheme [ultimately] besieges the person who contrives it
• Verse 45: 
• Do not test the Divine patience
• Why does Allah give leverage to the tyrants and demagogues

In time we will add more verses from Sürah (35) Fāṭir that reinforce its themes.

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 more 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 | Help has been taken from ChatGPT for expanding the scope of this post.

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

Do not test the Divine patience

The Lord of the World made the entire universe for a reason - and that reason is to let the man understand Allah's wisdom by reflecting on His creations. He also wished that man should only worship Him alone and shun any Satanic influences so as not to be misled. Yet man is always been in defiance to the Godly commands and is generally seen to be inclined towards the Satanic enticements in one form or the other. This certainly annoys the Lord of the World for no master likes to have defiant subjects.

It is for this reason that in all Divine Scriptures, specially Al Qur'an, man has been cautioned umpteen number of times never to be defiant to commands of Allah for while the patience of Allah is limitless, there is always a breaking point for nonsense cannot be tolerated for ever. One of such caution is mentioned in the 45th verse of Surah 35. Fāṭir in which man has been forewarned that if Allah starts to take mankind to task, there would not have been a single human living on earth.

Let us read this verse and then reflect on its meaning and the hidden message to mankind.

The Verse (Surah Fāṭir 35:45)

وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللَّهُ النَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوا مَا تَرَكَ عَلَىٰ ظَهْرِهَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِ بَصِيرًا

“If Allah were to take mankind to task for what they have earned, He would not leave a single living creature on the earth; but He grants them respite until an appointed time. And when their appointed time arrives, Allah is fully aware of His servants.”

A brief on Surah Fāṭir 

Before we expand the above quoted verse, let us just briefly know what this Surah is all about and the theme of the last verses of the Surah.

Surah Fāṭir is Makkan, and its themes revolve around: (1) Allah’s power and creation, (2) Human ingratitude, (3) Warning of resurrection and accountability, (4) The mercy of Allah despite human sins. 

The last six verses of the Surah (Verses 40–45) reflect on (1): People ignoring Allah’s signs, (2) Their reliance on powerless idols, (3) Their arrogance and denial, (4) Yet Allah continues to delay punishment, (5) Not because people deserve it — but because Allah is Merciful. These verses mean that plotting evil recoil none but the author of it and If Allah was to punish people for their wrong doings, He would have not left even and animal around.

Deep Explanation of the Verse

Reflecting exclusively on the 45th verse, it would be noticed that the last verses of the earlier five verses in fact is a conclusion by saying: "If Allah punished people immediately for their sins, not a living thing would survive — but He gives time, He delays, He allows people chances to return."

This verse is foundational for understanding three major Islamic concepts:

• Environmental corruption (فساد في الأرض)
• Moral decline in society
• The theological principle of divine delay (الإمهال)

Now let us reflect on the verse deeply:

• “If Allah were to take mankind to task for what they have earned…”
• Human sins are so many that if Allah were to punish them instantly, humanity would not survive.
• People continuously violate Allah’s commands by: (1) Shirk, (2) injustice, (3) oppression, (4) immorality, and (5) corruption - specially Environmental corruption (فساد في الأرض)
• Yet Allah does not seize them immediately.

Let us dwell on Environmental corruption (فساد في الأرض) in some detail.

It is a Qur’anic principle that human sin harms the entire creation. Allah says in Surah Al-Rūm 30:41: “Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what people’s hands have earned…”

This corruption includes: (1) pollution, (2) ecological destruction, (3) climate imbalance, (3) exploitation of animals, (4) depletion of natural resources, (5) imbalance in rainfall, crops, and seasons

How does 35:45 connect to corruption?

• Connection 1 - Human wrongdoing affects all living creatures
• Allah says if He punished people immediately: “He would not leave a single living creature (دابة) on the earth.”
• Why? Because animals, the environment, and ecosystems suffer because of human misconduct.
• This shows: (1) Human sins have global consequences, (2) Even innocent creatures suffer because of human corruption, (3) Ecosystems collapse when humans behave immorally.
• Imam Ibn Kathīr and Al-Tabari say this verse shows: “Human sins affect the entire environment and all creation.”
• Connection 2 — Natural disasters are sometimes linked to human wrongdoing
• The Qur’an and Sunnah affirm that: (1) drought, (2) floods, (3) crop failure, (4) famine - often result from moral and spiritual corruption.
• For Example: “Whatever misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your own hands have earned…” (42:30)
• Hadith: “No people decrease in weights and measures except that they are afflicted with famine, hardship, and the tyranny of rulers.” —Ibn Majah
• This links فساد with moral wrongdoing in society.
• Connection 3 — Human moral failure is the root cause of فساد
• The Qur’an repeatedly shows that: (1) Moral corruption leads to societal corruption, (2) societal corruption leads to environmental corruption, and (3) environmental corruption is the total destruction
• Surah 35:45 fits into this chain by stating: If Allah seized people for their sins, all life would perish. This means that human moral decline is severe, yet Allah is still patient - allowing humans the chance to reform
• How moral decline affects everything: (1) Dishonesty results into economic corruption, (2) Oppression and injustice results in social breakdown, (3) Neglect of divine law decays spirituality, (4) Greed and consumerism results into environmental destruction, (5) Wars and aggression kills and incur ecological loss.
• Supporting Verses: (1) 7:56: “Do not spread corruption on earth after its reformation.” (2) 
• 11:85: “Do not cause فساد on earth.” (3) 2:205: “He strives to spread corruption on earth and destroy crops and animals.” 
• All of these reinforce 35:45: Humans destroy what Allah created, yet Allah delays consequences so they may return.
• Connection 4 — Allah delays the collapse of nature out of mercy
• Despite widespread corruption on earth—pollution, injustice, exploitation—Allah does not send immediate destruction.
• Why? Because of Divine Delay (الإمهال), which we explain below.
• Divine Delay (الإمهال) — A Core Islamic Concept
• الإمهال means Allah delaying punishment despite wrongdoing.
• It is not approval of sin, nor forgetfulness or weakness - it is Mercy + Wisdom + Test.
• Surah 35:45 is one of the clearest proofs of الإمهال - “He grants them respite (يؤخرهم) until an appointed time.”
• Allah delays punishment: (1) so people can reflect, (2) so they can repent - so the message reaches them, so injustice becomes clear and so reward or punishment becomes fully deserved
• Hadith (Sahih Bukhari): “Allah gives respite to the wrongdoer until, when He seizes him, He does not let him escape.”  - This exact hadith explains 35:45.
• Why does Allah delay? (Three Theological Reasons) - (1) To give humans time to repent for Allah loves repentance and forgives quickly, (2) To complete the test of earthly life, for life is not a place of immediate justice—that is the Hereafter, and (3) To let events unfold according to divine wisdom
• Now coming back to the segment wise reflection on the above quoted verse:

• “He would not leave a single living creature on the earth.”
• Because human sins draw divine punishment on the whole environment.
• Even animals suffer due to human wrongdoing.
• This is supported by hadith: “Animals suffer punishments because of the sins of people.” (Recorded by al-Bayhaqi; meaning supported by other narrations)
• It shows human moral corruption has global consequences.
• “But He grants them respite until an appointed time.”
• This is pure Divine Mercy: Allah gives people life, health, wealth, opportunities — even when they disobey Him.
• Every delay in punishment is a chance to repent.
• The "appointed time" is: (1) the moment of death, or (2) the Day of Judgment
• “And when their appointed time comes, He sees (perfectly) His servants.”
• That is No one escapes accountability.
• Allah delays, not ignores - for He is not blind to injustice or disbelief — He is only giving time.
• Allah ends the verse with: “…Allah sees His servants.” meaning by He delays, but is not unaware, He postpones, but does not ignore and for sure Accountability is certain.

Putting It All Together — The Verse as a Unified Message and is is a masterpiece of Qur’anic theology because it connects: (1) Human moral failures (sins, injustice, greed) (2) Destruction of nature and society (فساد) which is the real possibility of global destruction - Yet Allah delays out of mercy (الإمهال), giving humans time to return to moral and spiritual truth. It shows that: human sin is powerful enough to destroy the world, but Allah’s mercy is even greater - yet this mercy is not unlimited but in time for those who still sway away from the righteous path, accountability will arrive when the time finally comes for those who test Divine patience.

Qur’anic Support Verses

There are many other verses which are based on the same theme, some are listed below:

• 14:42 — Allah delays, but does not forget - “Do not think Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do.”
• 16:61 — identical meaning - “If Allah were to punish mankind for their wrongdoing, He would not leave a single creature upon the earth.”
• 39:53 — He delays so that people repent - “O My servants who have transgressed… do not despair of Allah’s mercy.”

Hadith Support

• Allah gives time; He does not seize immediately. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah gives respite to the wrongdoer, but when He seizes him, He does not let him escape.” — Sahih Bukhari
• Sins affect the entire creation - The Prophet ﷺ said: “No people decrease in weights and measures except that they are afflicted with famine and hardship.” — Ibn Majah

This shows how society’s moral sins bring global consequences.

Relevance Today

• Humanity’s corruption affects the earth 
• Today we see (1) environmental collapse, (2) exploitation, (3) oppression, (4) moral decline, (5) injustice, and (6) wars and bloodshed.
• These are consequences of human wrongdoing — yet Allah still gives time for people to return.
• Modern arrogance mirrors ancient nations
• People today deny: (1) accountability, (2) resurrection, (3) Divine Command, and (4) moral bounds
• Just like ancient nations, but Allah still allows time.
• Allah’s Mercy is greater than humanity’s sin
• Despite all human rebellion, Allah continues: (1) feeding them, (2) giving life, (3) giving chances, and (4) delaying punishment
• This verse reminds us that every new day is a chance to repent.
• A warning against complacency
• Just because punishment is delayed, people assume: (1) Allah is pleased with them, (2) or that there is no Judgment, (3) or that sins have no consequences.
• But the verse says: Allah sees everything — and delay is not approval.

Lessons for Us Today

• Allah’s Mercy is vast — He delays punishment, gives countless chances.
• Sins have consequences — socially, spiritually, environmentally.
• Delay is not escape — accountability is certain.
• Repent while the door is open — before the appointed time comes.
• Do not be deceived by worldly comfort — it does not mean Allah is pleased.
• Human wrongdoing affects all creation.

In summary, Surah Fāṭir 35:45 teaches that human sins are so destructive that they could ruin even animals and the environment, yet Allah delays punishment out of pure mercy. This delay allows humans to repent and correct their moral decline. Meanwhile, the Qur’an (especially 30:41) explicitly connects human wrongdoing to environmental فساد. The verse therefore forms a theological bridge between moral corruption, environmental harm, and the divine principle of giving respite (الإمهال). Ultimately, Allah sees all and will bring final justice when the appointed time comes.

This verse thus combines fear, hope, and awareness — and remains deeply relevant to our world today. Let us not wait for the Divine wrath to put our books straight and clean, for there has never been an instance in which the people were told when and where the Divine wrath will catch them - men are always caught unaware and unprepared thinking that there is still time to repent and seek Divine mercy. So let us not test the Divine patience and reshape our lives according to Divine commands to avert chances of Divine anger and be always be begging Him for His infinite mercy to forgive our wrong doings.

Readers may like to read the tafsir of the above quoted verse by some of the revered scholars of Islam from one of our earlier publications: Why does Allah give leverage to the tyrants and demagogues

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.

Photo | references: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A. You may also refer to our refference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on important issue related to Islam to know more about Islam.

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 Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Beware of Al Khannās الْخَنَّاس - The one who hides after whispering

Al Qur'an is a Divine Book of guidance and is repository of Divine commands and instructions how to remain on the enlightened path and how to avoid allurements to deviate from it. Al Qur'an begins with a comprehensive prayer / dus to seek mercy of Allah (Surah 1.A Fateha) which is immediately followed by the most comprehensive Surah of Al Qur'an, the Surah 2. Al Baqarah (The Cow) which begins with the phrase: This Book is guidance for those who are pious and reflect. The Qur'an then continues to guide man through the remaining 112 Surahs / Chapters. The last two Surahs, namely Surah 113. Al Falak and Surah 114. An Naas, tell man to be on the look out of the forces of Evil that try to lure the man into the abyss of evil both through external pressures and from within

Please rad this post in conjunction with following publications already posted:

• Sürah 114. Al Naas (Mankind) - | Summary | Exegesis / Tafseer | 
• Striking resemblance between Surahs Falaq and Naas

While the Surah 113. Al Falak mentions external evil impacting life of a believer, the 114th SUrah An Naas mentions the evil within. And for this, an Arabic word الْخَنَّاس (al-Khannās) is used. While we have already shared a general meaning of the fourth verse in which this form of evil appears, that is:

مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ 

( 4 )   From the evil of the retreating whisperer 

We in this post will concentrate exclusively on the clear, accurate explanation of الْخَنَّاس (al-Khannās) from Sūrat an-Nās (114:4) — its root meaning, context, and why it is used:

Meaning of “al-Khannās” (الخناس)

The word al-Khannās comes from the Arabic root: خ ن س — khanasa, which means: (1) to withdraw, (2) to shrink back, (3) to retreat after appearing, and or (4) to hide after manifesting.

So الخنّاس (al-Khannās) means: (1) “the one who repeatedly retreats”, (2) “the stealthy withdrawer” and (3) “the one who hides after whispering”

It implies a being that approaches, whispers, then quickly disappears when remembered of Allah.

Who is al-Khannās in Surah an-Nās?

In context of this Surah, this refers specifically to Shayṭān (Satan) — the devil who: (1) whispers evil, (2) plants doubts, (3) suggests sins, (4) plays with thoughts, and then retreats immediately when Allah is remembered (e.g., saying Astaghfirullah, Bismillah, or any dhikr).

Al-Khannās as mentioned in an authentic hadith, in which the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Shayṭān sits on the heart of the son of Adam; when he remembers Allah, Shayṭān withdraws.” — Musnad Aḥmad, Sahīh

This behavior perfectly fits the meaning of Khannās.

Context of Sūrat an-Nās

Sūrat an-Nās was revealed as part of the Mu‘awwidhatayn (the two protective surahs) for seeking Allah’s protection from "internal attacks (thoughts, whispers, doubts)" as opposed to Sūrat al-Falaq, which deals with external harms.

Thus:

In Sūrat Falaq believers are asked to seek Divine help from protection from external evils

While in Sūrat Nās believers are prompted to seek Divine help from protection from internal evils (whispers of Shayṭān)

Why is the devil called “al-Khannās”? (Wisdom)

Because this describes how the devil works: (1) He does not attack openly, (2) He works subtly through whispers (waswasa). and (3) He withdraws when resisted by remembrance of Allah which instantly defeat him.

However, he returns repeatedly, coming, whispering, retreating, then returning again. This captures the psychological nature of Satan’s influence. And this persistency on the part of the Satan more often than not makes believers with weak Eeman (faith) to fall into the Satanic trap and commit sin. Remember, it was the Satan which enticed Prophet Adam and Eve to eat fruit of the forbidden tree and made them defy the exclusive Divine commandment. 

Here is a overall game plan of Satan to put concept of Al Khannās into reality:

The order of the evil of the whisperers seems to be this: first they incite one to open unbelief, polytheism, or rebellion against Allah and His Messenger, and enmity of the righteous (godly) people. If they fail in this and a person does enter Allah’s religion, they misguide him to some innovation. If they fail in this too, they tempt him to sin. If they do not succeed even in this, they inspire the man with the suggestion that there is no haram in indulging in minor sins, so that if he starts committing these freely, he is over burdened with sin. If one escapes from this too, in the last resort they try that one should keep the true religion confined to oneself, and should do nothing to make it prevail, but if a person defeats all these plans, the whole party of the devils from among men and jinn makes a common front against him and incites and stirs up the people and makes them shower him with invective and accusation and slander, and defames him as widely as it can. Then, Satan comes to the believer and excites him to anger, saying: It is cowardly of you to have borne all this insult: arise and clash with your opponents.

 

This is the last and final device with Satan by which he tries to thwart the struggle of the caller to truth and entangle him in difficulties and obstructions. If he succeeds in escaping from this too, Satan becomes powerless before him. About this same thing it has been said in the Quran: If Satan ever excites you to anger, seek refuge with Allah. (Surah Al-Aaraf, Ayat 200); (Surah HaMim As-Sajdah, Ayat 36). Say: Lord, I seek refuge with You from the promptings of satans. (Surah Al-Mominun, Ayat 97). The fact is that if ever an evil suggestion from Satan so much as touches those who are God-fearing people, they immediately get alerted and clearly see the right course they should adopt. (Surah Al-Aaraf, Ayat 201).

Relevance Today

The concept of Khannās has since never faded and continues to attack the believers, specially the weaker ones. The social media is largely responsible for aiding the Satan in misleading men, whispering evil thoughts in as many ways as can be thought of. Men and women, get easily attracted to the evil and once in it, they find it hard to get out. And even if they try, the persistent Satanic pricking have them fall deeper and deeper in the well of evil.

Thus, today, as ever before, the concept of Khannās fits perfectly with: (1) intrusive thoughts, (2) doubts in faith, (3) temptations, (4) anxiety-causing whispers, (5) negative inner dialogue, (6) overthinking and (6) sudden sinful urges.

How to repel the influence of Khannās?

Although, the effect created by Khannās is enormous, its antidote is very simple: Whenever one remembers Allah — through dhikr, prayer, Qur’an recitation — these thoughts “withdraw.”

Let us in the first place keep our mind clear of evil thoughts, focus our idle time on remembrance of Allah rather than engaging in activities or thoughts that aid the work of the Satan and his devil squad to lure us in his game plan of keeping us away from remembrance of Allah and at the same time thinking ill of others and making plans to hurt others. And if and when we feel that we are falling under the spell of evil, we must immediately shun any negative thoughts trying to mislead us and start remembering Allah.

Foregoing in view,  one should understand that an evil suggestion is the starting point of evil act. When it affects a careless or heedless person, it creates in him a desire for evil. Then, further whisperings change the evil desire into an evil intention and evil purpose. When the evil suggestion grows in intensity, the intention becomes a resolution, which then culminates in the evil act. Therefore, the meaning of seeking God’s refuge from the evil of the whisperer is that Allah should nip the evil in the bud.

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 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. 

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.

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

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.

Fore more selected verses from Al-Qurʾān Please refer to our Selected verses from Sūrahs of Qur'an to highlight important topics with detailed explanation and Reference Page on Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 

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 Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Supplication attributed to Prophet ʿĪsā (Jesus) عیسٰی عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ as mentioned in Al Qur'an

AL Qur'an, the last of the Divine Scripturas from the Lord of the World, mentions supplications from many a eminent and prominent of prophets chosen by Allah, a number of which we have already published in our blog. Today, we share an invocation attributed to Prophet Eesa (Jesus, may peace be upon him) which he along with his trusted disciples made to the One True God, affirming that they believed in the God and that they may be counted among those who believed and bore witness.

This invocation is mentioned in Āyah 53 of Sūrah Āl ʿImrān (3:53) whcih we will discuss along with the context, meaning, and its lessons for us today.

Arabic Text (Surah Āl ʿImrān 3:53):

رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا بِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ وَاتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

Translation (Meaning)

“Our Lord, we have believed in what You revealed and followed the Messenger, so write us down among those who bear witness.” (Qur’an 3:53)

Context of Revelation

This verse comes as part of the story of Prophet ʿĪsā (Jesus) عليه السلام and his disciples (al-Ḥawāriyyūn). Prophet ʿĪsā was sent to the Children of Israel with clear miracles and divine guidance. But when Prophet ʿĪsā became conscious of their rejection of the faith, he asked: “Who will be my helpers in the cause of God?” [ This was the stage when many of his people rejected him and plotted against him. But a small group — his true disciples — responded to his call with faith and sincerity.] This when asked for the allegiance, the loyal disciples replied: “We are [your] helpers in God’s cause. We believe in God. Bear you witness that we have surrendered ourselves to Him. Our Lord, we believe in what You have bestowed from on high, and we follow the messenger, so write us down among those who bear witness [to the truth].” (Verses 52-53)

In the verse just before this (3:52), in verse 52 Allah says:

“But when ʿĪsā sensed disbelief from them, he said, ‘Who are my helpers in the cause of Allah?’ The disciples said, ‘We are Allah’s helpers; we believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims (submit to Him).’”

Then, in verse 53, they turn directly to Allah with this heartfelt duʿā — affirming their faith and asking Allah to count them among the witnesses to truth.

Detailed Explanation (Tafsīr)

1. رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا بِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ “Our Lord, we have believed in what You revealed…”

• This is a declaration of īmān (faith) in Allah’s revelation — in the Injīl (Gospel) that Allah revealed to Prophet ʿĪsā, and by extension, belief in all divine scriptures.
• They are acknowledging that guidance only comes from Allah and that whatever He reveals is the truth.
• Lesson: True believers submit wholeheartedly to Allah’s revelation — not picking and choosing, but accepting His message in full.

2. وَاتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ “And we followed the Messenger…”

• They declare that their faith is not only verbal, but shown through obedience — following the Messenger of Allah (ʿĪsā عليه السلام). 
• Faith without action is incomplete; true īmān requires following the messenger sent by Allah.
• Lesson: Every believer must follow their Prophet’s example — and for us, that means following the teachings and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ faithfully.

3. فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ “So record us among those who bear witness.”

They ask Allah to include them among the shāhidīn (witnesses) — those who:

• Bear witness to the truth of Allah’s Oneness (Tawḥīd),
• Bear witness to the truth of His prophets, and
• Will testify on the Day of Judgment that they believed and lived by the truth.

According to Tafsir Ibn Kathīr, the disciples prayed to be among those who would testify to the truth of all prophets — including Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, whose coming ʿĪsā had foretold (see 61:6).

So this duʿā also contains a longing for unity with all true believers across time.

• Lesson: Muslims should also desire to be counted among those who bear witness — by living Islam, speaking truth, and defending it with sincerity.

Spiritual Lessons from the Verse

• True faith includes both belief and action:
• The disciples said: “We have believed and followed.”
• Faith in the heart must be reflected in obedience in life.
• The believers are always few, but sincere. Just like the disciples of ʿĪsā, those who truly stand for truth may be few — yet Allah honors them eternally.
• Prayer strengthens faith. After declaring belief, they supplicate — asking Allah for firmness and acceptance. This shows humility and recognition that faith needs divine support.
• We must strive to be witnesses of truth. Not just by words, but by living as examples of honesty, justice, and submission to Allah.
• Unity of the prophetic message. This verse beautifully connects the followers of ʿĪsā and the followers of Muhammad ﷺ — all sincere believers share the same creed: submission to Allah.

Practical Reflection (for Us Today)

You can recite this verse as a duʿā to renew your īmān and commitment:

رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا بِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ وَاتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

“Our Lord, we have believed in what You revealed and followed the Messenger; so write us down among those who bear witness.”

Say it with sincerity — meaning: “O Allah, I believe in Your Book, I follow Your Messenger (Muhammad ﷺ), so count me among those who testify to the truth and live by it.”

It is a prayer worthy of careful study by everyone who claim to surrender himself to God. This is indeed the meaning of Islam as understood by the disciples and as understood by true Muslims, who actually surrender themselves to God. Anyone who suppresses his testimony and is reluctant to give it in favour of his religion is a sinner at heart. If he claims to be a Muslim but chooses a lifestyle other than that of Islam, or tries to live according to Islam within his own private life but not in the generality of this social life, or does not strive to establish a Divine method in the life of his society either to evade hardship or to spare his own life at the cost of his faith, then he is one who does not give full testimony to this religion, or, indeed, he gives a testimony against it. In so doing, he makes a testimony which deters others from accepting this faith. Can we contemplate the fate of a person who deters others from accepting the Divine faith through his own claim that he is a believer when actually he is not?

No invocation / supplication or even simple verse in Qur'an is without reflection by the believers. We must ponder over each, and try to be close to Allah by remembering Him in the same words that revered prophets of Allah remembered Him. And if these invocations are made with utter sincerity, let there be no doubt that these will not be accepted by Allah.

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.

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.

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

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.

For more Rabbana themed supplications, please refer to our reference page: Selected Invocations (Dua / دُعا) from Qur’an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Reading the Holy Quran 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.

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān 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 order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from the following sources: reference to which are given below:

Photo | Tafsir / Explanation References: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

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

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 Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Believers! Remember Wealth and children are blessings - NOT GOALS

This world is full of tests and trials - but no test is more heavy than the test of family, and wealth. In Al Qur'an, at many a places one's family and wealth are mentioned, and portrayed as the blessing from Allah - yet it is said time and again that these should not be ultimate goal. This subject is very important to understand so that we keep our direct rightly steered lest we fall astray and lose our final goal.

Herein under, we share the 15th verse of Surah 64. At-Taghābun and will try to understand the explanation of this important verse:

The Verse 

إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ ۚ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ

“Your wealth and your children are but a trial (fitnah), whereas with Allah is an immense reward.”

Context (Asbāb al-Nuzūl)

Surah At-Taghābun was revealed in Madinah, and its central theme is faith, accountability, and the test of worldly attachments. This verse directly follows earlier verses (64:14) that warn believers that even family ties can sometimes become a distraction from obeying Allah.

In verse 14, Allah says:

“O you who believe! Indeed, among your wives and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them…”

Then, verse 15 clarifies that this is not to abandon love for them, but to see them as a test (fitnah) — a means through which Allah examines one’s loyalty, patience, and obedience.

This is a very complex situation that merits such a caution from God as to alert believers' hearts so that they do not allow such feelings and pressures to creep into their minds. The caution is stated again, this time as a warning against the temptation presented by wealth and children. The Arabic word used here is fitnah فِتْنَةٌ, which conveys two meanings: 

• The first is 'trial', which makes the verse mean that God puts you to trial by giving you riches and children. He tests you in this way, so always be on the alert in order to pass your test and dedicate yourself to God. 
• The second meaning is 'temptation', and in this sense the verse means that riches and children present temptations for you to indulge in sin. 

Beware then and do not allow such temptations to distract you from the way that leads to God's acceptance. Both meanings are acceptable.

Meaning and Explanation

“Your wealth and your children are but a trial (fitnah)”

• Allah reminds us that both wealth and family are blessings, but they can also divert one from obedience if one’s heart becomes overly attached to them.
• Fitnah here means a test of sincerity — will you obey Allah when your wealth or family pull you in another direction?
• It tests:
• Whether you spend wealth in Allah’s cause or hoard it.
• Whether you raise your children in faith or let them lead you away from it.
• Whether you prioritize dunya (worldly life) or ākhirah (the hereafter).

“And with Allah is an immense reward”

• Allah promises that those who resist the temptations of wealth and family — and use them in righteous ways — will receive a great reward.
• It shifts our focus: the true goal isn’t comfort in this world, but eternal success with Allah.

Supporting Verses

• Surah Al-Anfāl (8:28): 
• “And know that your wealth and your children are but a trial, and that Allah has with Him a great reward.”
• Almost identical wording, emphasizing that this is a recurring warning.
• Surah Al-Munāfiqūn (63:9): “O you who believe! Let not your wealth and your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whoever does that – it is they who are the losers.”
• Surah Al-Kahf (18:46): “Wealth and children are the adornment of this worldly life, but the enduring good deeds are better with your Lord for reward and for hope.”

Prophetic Teachings (Hadith)

The Prophet ﷺ said:

• “The son of Adam says: ‘My wealth, my wealth.’ But, O son of Adam, have you any wealth except that which you gave in charity and thus spent, or that which you consumed, or that which you wore out?” — Sahih Muslim (2958)
• “Indeed, the world is sweet and green, and Allah is making you successors in it, so He will see how you act.” — Sahih Muslim (2742)

Both hadiths teach that worldly blessings are not evil — but they are temporary trusts and tests.

Lessons for Today

As we said before, this subject is very difficult to understand and act upon. Many of us may not pass this test as we often prefer the needs of our family and doll out our money for their needs, rather than setting our goal to please and prefer Allah over every wordily thing. That is to say:

• Wealth and children are blessings, not goals: They are entrusted to us to use responsibly in obedience to Allah.
• Prioritize the eternal over the temporary: Love your family — but love Allah more. Use wealth — but for righteous causes.
• The real reward is with Allah: If you sacrifice worldly ease for the sake of faith, Allah promises ajr ʿaẓīm — a tremendous reward.
• Balance is key: Islam doesn’t ask us to abandon family or possessions, but to not let them control our hearts. Let not love of wealth and family override our hearts from remembrance of Allah.

The next verse then asks believer to:

Hold Allah in awe as much as you can, and listen and obey, and be charitable. This is for your own good. And whoever remains safe from his own greediness, it is such that will prosper. (64:16) 

In Short, 64:15 teaches that the believer’s true test lies not in hardship, but in how he handles blessings.

The wealth and family we love can either lift us toward Allah — or, if misused, pull us away from Him.

Here one should also keep in view the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying which Tabarani has related on the authority of Abu Malik al-Ashari, saying: Your real enemy is not he whom, if you kill there is success for you, and if he kills you, there is Paradise for you; but your real enemy may be your own child who is born of your own loins, or the wealth of which you are the owner. That is why here as well as in Surah 8. Al-Anfaal, Ayat 28), Allah says: If you save yourselves from the temptation and allurements of worldly possessions and children and succeed in keeping love of them subject to the love of Allah, there are rich rewards for you with Allah. 

You may like to explanation of this verse by some of the eminent scholars of present times from our earlier post, link given below:

Which two things are a trial for the Believers?

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 more 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.

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