سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 71
وَٱللَّهُ فَضَّلَ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فِى ٱلرِّزْقِ ۚ فَمَا ٱلَّذِينَ فُضِّلُوا۟ بِرَآدِّى رِزْقِهِمْ عَلَىٰ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِيهِ سَوَآءٌ ۚ أَفَبِنِعْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ يَجْحَدُونَ ﴿71﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And Allâh has preferred some of you above others in wealth and properties. Then, those who are preferred will by no means hand over their wealth and properties to those (slaves) whom their right hands possess, so that they may be equal with them in respect thereof. Do they then deny the Favour of Allâh?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
فَضَّلَ
faḍḍala
has favored
بَعْضَكُمْ
baʿḍakum
some of you
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
بَعْضٍۢ
baʿḍin
others
فِى
fī
in
ٱلرِّزْقِ ۚ
l-riz'qi
[the] provision
فَمَا
famā
But not
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
فُضِّلُوا۟
fuḍḍilū
were favored
بِرَآدِّى
birāddī
would hand over
رِزْقِهِمْ
riz'qihim
their provision
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
to
مَا
mā
whom
مَلَكَتْ
malakat
possess
أَيْمَـٰنُهُمْ
aymānuhum
their right hands
فَهُمْ
fahum
so (that) they
فِيهِ
fīhi
(are) in it
سَوَآءٌ ۚ
sawāon
equal
أَفَبِنِعْمَةِ
afabiniʿ'mati
Then is it the Favor
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
of Allah
يَجْحَدُونَ
yajḥadūna
they reject
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah71) ➊ {وَ اللّٰهُ فَضَّلَ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلٰى بَعْضٍ فِي الرِّزْقِ …:} That is, when you are not willing to give your slaves any share of your sustenance and authority to make them equal to you, even though in being human they are just like you, then why do you make Allah’s slaves (servants) His partners? Lament the intellect of the polytheists of Makkah, who, while proclaiming “Labbayk” during Hajj and Umrah and admitting that You have no partner, then say, “except for one partner, whom You own, but he does not own.” [ مسلم، الحج، باب التلبیۃ و صفتہا… : ۱۱۸۵ ] When he is owned, how did he become a partner? That which you do not like for yourselves, why do you accept it for Allah Almighty?
➋ This verse also clearly refutes the claim of the communists (socialists) that all people should have equal sustenance, and that whatever is extra with someone should be seized. Allah Almighty said, this is not possible, nor can the system of the universe run on this, nor has it ever happened; even among communist rulers and the public, there was a world of difference in their standards of living. Many other verses support this; see Surah Ar-Rum (28) and Surah Az-Zukhruf (32).
➋ This verse also clearly refutes the claim of the communists (socialists) that all people should have equal sustenance, and that whatever is extra with someone should be seized. Allah Almighty said, this is not possible, nor can the system of the universe run on this, nor has it ever happened; even among communist rulers and the public, there was a world of difference in their standards of living. Many other verses support this; see Surah Ar-Rum (28) and Surah Az-Zukhruf (32).
