Ali 'Imran · Madani · ayah 73 of 200

Ali 'Imran 3:73

وَلَا تُؤْمِنُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِمَن تَبِعَ دِينَكُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْهُدَىٰ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ أَن يُؤْتَىٰٓ أَحَدٌ مِّثْلَ مَآ أُوتِيتُمْ أَوْ يُحَآجُّوكُمْ عِندَ رَبِّكُمْ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْفَضْلَ بِيَدِ ٱللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

“And do not trust except those who follow your religion." Say, "Indeed, the [true] guidance is the guidance of Allāh. [Do you fear] lest someone be given [knowledge] like you were given or that they would [thereby] argue with you before your Lord?" Say, "Indeed, [all] bounty is in the hand[132] of Allāh - He grants it to whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Wise."”

Saheeh International

Essence

Some tried to keep guidance and favour inside their own circle, but guidance is Allah's, and His bounty is in His hand alone.

A reflection

Another's blessing is not your loss

A woman who has prayed for years for a child scrolls past a friend's baby announcement. Before she can stop it, she feels as if something has been taken from her. She is ashamed of the feeling, and it does not go away.

The ayah exposes the same instinct at the scale of a community. A modern commentary explains the fear behind the plan. If the Muslims learned what was in their books, they would become their equals, and gain an advantage. Grace was being treated as something that must be kept scarce.

The reply is majestic. 'Bounty is in the hand of Allah. He gives it to whom He wills. Allah is Wāsiʿ, ʿAlīm.' A modern commentary adds that His bounty is not confined to one nation over another.

Wāsiʿ has a picture in its root: a vessel with room to spare. Pour in what you like, and it still does not overflow. People in a gathering tawassaʿū when they shifted along to make room for a newcomer. Allah's giving is like that. Room for one more never means less for anyone else.

This cuts deep into the ego. Envy assumes that grace is a pie, and every slice to someone else is one fewer for me. Pride wants a monopoly on Allah's favour, for our family, our group, our people.

But the bounty is not in our hand. It never was. It is in His, and His hand is not narrowed by giving. The woman's prayer is still being heard. Her friend's child took nothing from the Vast.

The full entry has 6 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.