سُوْرَةُ الزُّخْرُفِ
Surah Az-Zukhruf (43) — Ayah 32
أَهُمْ يَقْسِمُونَ رَحْمَتَ رَبِّكَ ۚ نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُم مَّعِيشَتَهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ وَرَفَعْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَـٰتٍ لِّيَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُهُم بَعْضًا سُخْرِيًّا ۗ وَرَحْمَتُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ ﴿32﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Is it they who would portion out the Mercy of your Lord? It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in this world, and We raised some of them above others in ranks, so that some may employ others in their work. But the Mercy (Paradise) of your Lord (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) is better than the (wealth of this world) which they amass.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَهُمْ
ahum
Do they
يَقْسِمُونَ
yaqsimūna
distribute
رَحْمَتَ
raḥmata
(the) Mercy
رَبِّكَ ۚ
rabbika
(of) your Lord
نَحْنُ
naḥnu
We
قَسَمْنَا
qasamnā
[We] distribute
بَيْنَهُم
baynahum
among them
مَّعِيشَتَهُمْ
maʿīshatahum
their livelihood
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ
l-ḥayati
the life
ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ
l-dun'yā
(of) the world
وَرَفَعْنَا
warafaʿnā
and We raise
بَعْضَهُمْ
baʿḍahum
some of them
فَوْقَ
fawqa
above
بَعْضٍۢ
baʿḍin
others
دَرَجَـٰتٍۢ
darajātin
(in) degrees
لِّيَتَّخِذَ
liyattakhidha
so that may take
بَعْضُهُم
baʿḍuhum
some of them
بَعْضًۭا
baʿḍan
others
سُخْرِيًّۭا ۗ
sukh'riyyan
(for) service
وَرَحْمَتُ
waraḥmatu
But (the) Mercy
رَبِّكَ
rabbika
(of) your Lord
خَيْرٌۭ
khayrun
(is) better
مِّمَّا
mimmā
than what
يَجْمَعُونَ
yajmaʿūna
they accumulate
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
32. Are they the ones who distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have distributed among them their livelihood in the life of this world, and We have raised some of them above others in rank so that some may take service from others. But the mercy of your Lord [32] is better than whatever they accumulate [33].
[31] What misunderstanding are these people under? Do they think that before granting Prophethood to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Allah Most High should have consulted them as to who could be deserving of Prophethood and Messengership? Prophethood, after all, is a very great thing. Even in the other blessings that Allah Almighty has given to whomever He wills, they have no say. Allah has given some more intellect, some knowledge, some more wealth, some more children, some less, and some none at all. Some have been given more ability to work, some more physical strength, some have been given beauty, some have been given one virtue, and others another. Now, do they want that one person should be given all virtues, or that no one should be given any virtue at all? Whereas, whatever Allah has distributed, it is by this that the system of the world is established. The rich need the poor to do their work, and the poor need the rich so that by working for them, they can earn their livelihood. Similarly, students need teachers and teachers need students. In short, on the basis of this difference in qualities, every person is in need of another, and in the distribution of these qualities, they themselves are powerless, let alone interfering in the matter of others, especially in a blessing as lofty as Prophethood.
[32]
Prophethood is Allah’s Special Blessing and Mercy:
Here, mercy refers to special mercy or Prophethood. That is, the honor of Prophethood and Messengership is far superior and higher than the wealth, possessions, and leaderships after which you are running. When Allah did not distribute the sustenance and other provisions of the world according to their suggestions, will He then grant Prophethood to someone according to their suggestions and opinions? Allah Almighty knows well who is truly deserving of this special mercy and whom He should bestow with this mercy.
[33] Because the wealth of the world is perishable and unreliable, whereas this special mercy of Allah, that is, Prophethood, is an extremely exalted thing in both worlds.
[31] What misunderstanding are these people under? Do they think that before granting Prophethood to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Allah Most High should have consulted them as to who could be deserving of Prophethood and Messengership? Prophethood, after all, is a very great thing. Even in the other blessings that Allah Almighty has given to whomever He wills, they have no say. Allah has given some more intellect, some knowledge, some more wealth, some more children, some less, and some none at all. Some have been given more ability to work, some more physical strength, some have been given beauty, some have been given one virtue, and others another. Now, do they want that one person should be given all virtues, or that no one should be given any virtue at all? Whereas, whatever Allah has distributed, it is by this that the system of the world is established. The rich need the poor to do their work, and the poor need the rich so that by working for them, they can earn their livelihood. Similarly, students need teachers and teachers need students. In short, on the basis of this difference in qualities, every person is in need of another, and in the distribution of these qualities, they themselves are powerless, let alone interfering in the matter of others, especially in a blessing as lofty as Prophethood.
[32]
Prophethood is Allah’s Special Blessing and Mercy:
Here, mercy refers to special mercy or Prophethood. That is, the honor of Prophethood and Messengership is far superior and higher than the wealth, possessions, and leaderships after which you are running. When Allah did not distribute the sustenance and other provisions of the world according to their suggestions, will He then grant Prophethood to someone according to their suggestions and opinions? Allah Almighty knows well who is truly deserving of this special mercy and whom He should bestow with this mercy.
[33] Because the wealth of the world is perishable and unreliable, whereas this special mercy of Allah, that is, Prophethood, is an extremely exalted thing in both worlds.
