Surah Al-Naml, Ayah 40

October 19, 2025

قَالَ الَّذِي عِندَهُ عِلْمٌ مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ أَنَا آتِيكَ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَن يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ مُسْتَقِرًّا عِندَهُ قَالَ هَٰذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّي لِيَبْلُوَنِي أَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ ۖ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّي غَنِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ

Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, "I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you." And when [Solomon] saw it placed before him, he said, "This is from the favor of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful - his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful - then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous."

اس نے کہا جس کے پاس کتاب کا علم تھا، 'میں اسے آپ کے پاس لے آؤں گا اس سے پہلے کہ آپ کی نظر آپ کی طرف واپس آئے۔' پھر جب اس نے اسے اپنے پاس رکھا ہوا دیکھا تو کہا، 'یہ میرے رب کے فضل سے ہے تاکہ وہ مجھے آزمائے کہ میں شکر کرتا ہوں یا ناشکری۔ اور جو شکر کرتا ہے تو وہ اپنے ہی فائدے کے لیے شکر کرتا ہے، اور جو ناشکری کرتا ہے تو بے شک میرا رب بے نیاز اور کریم ہے۔'

Reflection

This verse recounts when Prophet Solomon's throne was miraculously brought to him in an instant through divine power working through someone with knowledge from the Scripture. Solomon's immediate response demonstrates perfect wisdom and humility - he recognizes this miracle as a test from Allah to see whether he would be grateful or ungrateful. His insight that gratitude benefits the grateful person themselves, while ingratitude doesn't harm Allah (who is Free of need and Generous), shows deep spiritual understanding. This teaches that extraordinary blessings are tests of character, that the proper response to divine favors is gratitude and humility, that gratitude primarily benefits the one who practices it, and that Allah doesn't need human gratitude but grants blessings out of His generosity. Solomon's response serves as a model for how to handle success and blessings.

Context

This verse appears in Surah Al-Naml (The Ant), recounting Solomon's story. It demonstrates the proper response to extraordinary divine blessings and miraculous events.

Themes

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