سُوْرَةُ النَّمْلِ
Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 19
فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًا مِّن قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِىٓ أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَـٰلِحًا تَرْضَىٰهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِى بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِى عِبَادِكَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ﴿19﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
So he [Sulaimân (Solomon)] smiled, amused at her speech and said: "My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favours which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You, and admit me by Your Mercy among Your righteous slaves."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَتَبَسَّمَ
fatabassama
So he smiled
ضَاحِكًۭا
ḍāḥikan
laughing
مِّن
min
at
قَوْلِهَا
qawlihā
her speech
وَقَالَ
waqāla
and said
رَبِّ
rabbi
My Lord
أَوْزِعْنِىٓ
awziʿ'nī
Grant me (the) power
أَنْ
an
that
أَشْكُرَ
ashkura
I may thank You
نِعْمَتَكَ
niʿ'mataka
(for) Your Favor
ٱلَّتِىٓ
allatī
which
أَنْعَمْتَ
anʿamta
You have bestowed
عَلَىَّ
ʿalayya
on me
وَعَلَىٰ
waʿalā
and on
وَٰلِدَىَّ
wālidayya
my parents
وَأَنْ
wa-an
and that
أَعْمَلَ
aʿmala
I may do
صَـٰلِحًۭا
ṣāliḥan
righteous (deeds)
تَرْضَىٰهُ
tarḍāhu
that will please You
وَأَدْخِلْنِى
wa-adkhil'nī
And admit me
بِرَحْمَتِكَ
biraḥmatika
by Your Mercy
فِى
fī
among
عِبَادِكَ
ʿibādika
Your slaves
ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
l-ṣāliḥīna
righteous
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.
(Ayah 19) ➊ { فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًا مِّنْ قَوْلِهَا:} Sometimes a smile is also due to anger and displeasure, as is in the hadith of the repentance of Ka‘b bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him): [ تَبَسَّمَ تَبَسُّمَ الْمُغْضَبِ ] [ بخاري : ۴۴۱۸ ] that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) smiled when he saw me, a smile like that of an angry person. After the smile, {’’ ضَاحِكًا ‘‘} was said because this smile was a prelude to laughter, which is an expression of happiness. The reason for smiling and laughing was, firstly, amazement at the ant’s wisdom and its goodwill towards its people; secondly, happiness at his own good reputation, that even the ants know that Sulayman does not intentionally wrong anyone.
➋ { وَ قَالَ رَبِّ اَوْزِعْنِيْۤ …:} Hearing the ant’s voice, then understanding its words, then his own good reputation—these were all things that filled the heart of Sulayman (peace be upon him) with feelings of gratitude instead of pride and arrogance. But thinking that I cannot truly thank for this blessing and all the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon me and my parents, he prayed to Allah to grant him the ability to be grateful. A blessing upon one’s parents is also a blessing for a person.
➌ { وَ اَنْ اَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضٰىهُ:} Righteous deeds are those that are purely for Allah and according to the way He has prescribed. Upon being granted knowledge, Sulayman (peace be upon him) became concerned about action, because knowledge without action becomes evidence against a person.
➍ { وَ اَدْخِلْنِيْ بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِيْ عِبَادِكَ الصّٰلِحِيْنَ:} From this it is known that joining the ranks of Allah’s righteous servants and attaining Paradise is not possible without Allah’s mercy. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: [ لَنْ يُّدْخِلَ أَحَدًا عَمَلُهُ الْجَنَّةَ، قَالُوْا وَلَا أَنْتَ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ!؟ قَالَ لَا، وَلَا أَنَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَّتَغَمَّدَنِيَ اللّٰهُ بِفَضْلٍ وَ رَحْمَةٍ ] [ بخاري، المرضٰی، باب تمني المریض الموت : ۵۶۷۳ ] “No one will enter Paradise because of his deeds.” The people asked, “O Messenger of Allah! Not even you?” He said, “No, not even me, unless Allah covers me with His grace and mercy.”
➎ Why did Sulayman (peace be upon him), being a prophet, pray to be included among the righteous? See Surah Yusuf (101).
➋ { وَ قَالَ رَبِّ اَوْزِعْنِيْۤ …:} Hearing the ant’s voice, then understanding its words, then his own good reputation—these were all things that filled the heart of Sulayman (peace be upon him) with feelings of gratitude instead of pride and arrogance. But thinking that I cannot truly thank for this blessing and all the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon me and my parents, he prayed to Allah to grant him the ability to be grateful. A blessing upon one’s parents is also a blessing for a person.
➌ { وَ اَنْ اَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضٰىهُ:} Righteous deeds are those that are purely for Allah and according to the way He has prescribed. Upon being granted knowledge, Sulayman (peace be upon him) became concerned about action, because knowledge without action becomes evidence against a person.
➍ { وَ اَدْخِلْنِيْ بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِيْ عِبَادِكَ الصّٰلِحِيْنَ:} From this it is known that joining the ranks of Allah’s righteous servants and attaining Paradise is not possible without Allah’s mercy. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: [ لَنْ يُّدْخِلَ أَحَدًا عَمَلُهُ الْجَنَّةَ، قَالُوْا وَلَا أَنْتَ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ!؟ قَالَ لَا، وَلَا أَنَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَّتَغَمَّدَنِيَ اللّٰهُ بِفَضْلٍ وَ رَحْمَةٍ ] [ بخاري، المرضٰی، باب تمني المریض الموت : ۵۶۷۳ ] “No one will enter Paradise because of his deeds.” The people asked, “O Messenger of Allah! Not even you?” He said, “No, not even me, unless Allah covers me with His grace and mercy.”
➎ Why did Sulayman (peace be upon him), being a prophet, pray to be included among the righteous? See Surah Yusuf (101).
