An-Nisa · Madani · ayah 79 of 176

An-Nisa 4:79

مَّآ أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَآ أَصَابَكَ مِن سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِن نَّفْسِكَ ۚ وَأَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولًا ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدًا

“What comes to you of good is from Allāh, but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself.[201] And We have sent you, [O Muḥammad], to the people as a messenger, and sufficient is Allāh as Witness.[202]”

Saheeh International

Essence

Every good that reaches you is Allah's gift; the harm you meet you largely set in motion yourself, and Allah is enough as witness.

A reflection

When Allah is enough as witness

The ayah closes: wa-kafā bi-llāhi shahīdā. And Allah suffices as witness.

The root of kafā pictures a day's ration of food. It was the measure that needs nothing added. To kafā a matter was to take charge of it and see it through. A man 'sufficed' another when he lifted his burden off him.

These words come straight after the Prophet ﷺ was blamed for every misfortune (4:78). One commentator says the ayah defends him fully, then declares his rank. Allah has sent him to all people, and Allah is witness to the truth of his message. He did not need the critics' approval. Allah's witness was the full ration.

That is a majestic claim, and it shrinks something in us. Much of our anxiety is a craving for other witnesses. We want people to see our side, confirm our motives, defend our name. The ego feels it cannot rest until enough people agree.

Picture a district nurse whose patient has died. The patient's son posts online that she was careless. The comments pile up. She has the visit notes, the times, everything. She sits in her car outside the next house, phone in hand, drafting a long reply. Then she stops. She says quietly, 'Allah is enough as a witness.' She sends her notes to her manager instead, and goes in to her next patient.

Does Allah need to tell us He is sufficient? He is the Free of need (35:15). The words are for us. They lift a burden we were never meant to carry: the need to be vindicated by everyone.

Pride needs an audience. Humility is content with One.

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.