An-Nisa · Madani · ayah 131 of 176

An-Nisa 4:131

وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَلَقَدْ وَصَّيْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ أَنِ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ وَإِن تَكْفُرُوا۟ فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَنِيًّا حَمِيدًا

“And to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And We have instructed those who were given the Scripture before you and yourselves to fear Allāh. But if you disbelieve - then to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And ever is Allāh Free of need and Praiseworthy.”

Saheeh International

Essence

Everything belongs to Allah, every scripture carried one charge, be mindful of Him, and He is praised whether or not anyone praises.

A reflection

Praised whether or not anyone praises

The ayah ends with two names that answer a question before it is asked. Ghanī: free of all need. Ḥamīd: praiseworthy.

One commentator explains the pairing. He is free of need for His creation and for their worship, all of it. Yet He deserves praise for His countless favours, even if not one of them praised Him. Another puts it more simply. He is praised in Himself, whether they praise Him or not.

The root of ḥamd starts from goodness someone has met and is glad of. The Arabs said they found a place maḥmūd when its shelter or pasture contented them. Praise, in this language, is not flattery handed upwards. It is the natural response to goodness found.

Now look at ourselves. Picture a soloist in a community choir. She sings beautifully. But all through her solo, her eyes search the front row. One man checks his watch, and she loses her line. Her voice depended on his face.

That is how most of us live. Our sense of worth rises and falls with mention. A thank-you that came late, a name read last, a message left on 'seen'.

This is where the ego shrinks. The One who owns everything in the heavens and the earth needs nothing from anyone. His praiseworthiness does not wait for an audience.

So does Allah need our praise? This ayah answers no, in its own words. A narration in Sahih Muslim makes it explicit. If every person who ever lived had the most mindful heart among them, it would add nothing to His dominion. If every one had the most wicked, it would take nothing away. Praise is for us: it turns a heart towards the source of everything good it has found.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.