Verse display
أَن رَّآهُ اسْتَغْنَىٰ
An raahu istaghna
The Clot, Read / al-`Alaq (96:7)
Connections 2 single-source 1 commentator

Multi-source connections

No verses on this ayah are cited by 2 or more commentators using numeric S:A notation. All extracted references come from a single source's commentary.

Single-source mentions (2) cited by only one commentator
By commentator who cites how many verses on this ayah

Note: these connections are extracted from numeric S:A references inside the commentary text and are therefore biased toward mufassirun who use that notation. Prose-style references (e.g. "Surat al-Baqarah verse 30") will be added later, which should surface additional multi-source consensus.

Abdel Haleem

View translator profile →
when he thinks he is self-sufficient
An raahu istaghna

Support the Author

As an Amazon Associate, ParallelQuran earns from qualifying purchases.

Qur'an Tools

Hadith References 1

Only hadith that explicitly reference Quranic verses are included, and this selection is not exhaustive. Narrations are curated to match the chosen verses from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, cited via Sunnah.com.
Sahih Muslim #2797 Sahih

Abu Huraira reported that Abu Jahl asked (people) whether Muhammad placed his face (on the ground) in their presence. It was said to him: Yes. He said: By Lat and `Uzza. If I were to see him do that, I would trample his neck, or I would smear his face with dust. He came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as he…

Tafsir Commentary

when he sees it that is to say his own soul to be self-sufficient in terms of wealth — this was revealed regarding Abū Jahl ra’ā ‘sees’ means to see mentally; istaghnā ‘self-sufficient’ is the second direct object; an ra’āhu ‘when he sees it’ is an object denoting reason.
حقًا إن الإنسان ليتجاوز حدود الله إذا أبطره الغنى، فليعلم كل طاغية أن المصير إلى الله، فيجازي كلَّ إنسان بعمله.
إذا رأى نفسه قد استغنى وكثر ماله ثم تهدده وتوعده ووعظه.
لأنه رأى نفسه ذا غنى فى المال والجاه والعشيرة ، ورآها - لغروره وبطره - ليست فى حاجة إلى غيره .والمراد بالإِنسان هنا : جنسه؛ لأن من طبع الإِنسان أن يطغى ، إذا ما كثرت النعم بين يديه ، إلا من عصمه الله - تعالى - منهذا الخُلُقِ الذميم ، بأن شكره - سبحانه - على نعمه ، واستعملها فى طاعته .وقيل المراد بالإِنسان هنا : أبو جهل ، وأن هذه الآيات وما بعدها حتى آخر السورة قد نزلت فى أبى جهل ، فقد أخرج البخارى عن ابن عباس قال : قال أبو جهل : لئن رأيت محمدا يصلى عند الكعبة ، لأطأن على عنقه ، فبلغ ذلك النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال : " لئن فعل لأخذته الملائكة " . ونزول هذه الآيات فى شأن أبى جهل لا يمنع عموم حكمها ، ويدخل فى هذا الحكم دخولا أوليا أبو جهل ، إذ العبرة بعموم اللفظ لا بخصوص السبب .
وقوله: ( كَلا ) يقول تعالى ذكره: ما هكذا ينبغي أن يكون الإنسان أن يُنْعِم عليه ربُّه بتسويته خَلقه، وتعليمه ما لم يكن يعلم، وإنعامه بما لا كُفءَ له، ثم يكفر بربه الذي فعل به ذلك، ويطغى عليه، أن رآه استغنى.وقوله: (إِنَّ الإِنْسَانَ لَيَطْغَى * أ( أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يَنْهَى *عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّى) ...
( أن ) لأن ( رآه استغنى ) أن رأى نفسه غنيا . قال الكلبي : يرتفع عن منزلة إلى منزلة في اللباس والطعام وغيرهما .وقال مقاتل : نزلت في أبي جهل ، كان إذا أصاب مالا زاد في ثيابه ومركبه وطعامه ، فذلك طغيانه .
أَنْ رَآَهُ اسْتَغْنَى (7) فموقع قوله : { إن الإنسان ليطغى أن رآه استغنى } موقع المقدمة لما يَرد بعده من قوله : { أرأيت الذي ينهى عبداً إذا صلى } إلى قوله : { لا تطعه } [ العلق : 19 ] لأن مضمونه كلمة شاملة لمضمون : { أرأيت الذي ينهى عبداً إذا صلى } إلى قوله : { فليدع ناديه } [ العلق : 17 ] .والمعنى : أن ما قاله أبو جهل ناشىء عن طغيانه بسبب غناه كشأن الإِنسان .والتعريف في { الإنسان } للجنس ، أي من طبع الإنسان أن يطغى إذا أحسّ من نفسه الاستغناء ، واللام مفيدة الاستغراق العرفي ، أي أغلب الناس في ذلك الزمان إلا من عصمه خُلقه أو دينه .وتأكيد الخبر بحرف التأكيد ولام الابتداء لقصد زيادة تحقيقه لغرابته حتى كأنه مما يتوقع أن يشك السامع فيه .والطغيان : التعاظم والكبر .والاستغناء : شدة الغنى ، فالسين والتاء فيه للمبالغة في حصول الفعل مثل استجاب واستقر .و { وَأنْ رآه } متعلق ب«يطغى» بحذف لام التعليل لأن حذف الجار مع ( أنْ ) كثير شائع ، والتقدير : إنّ الإِنسان ليطغى لرؤيته نفسه مستغنياً .وعلة هذا الخُلق أن الاستغناء تحدث صاحبَه نفسُه بأنه غير محتاج إلى غيره وأن غيره محتاج فيرى نفسه أعظم من أهل الحاجة ولا يزال ذلك التوهم يربو في نفسه حتى يصير خلقاً حيث لا وازع يزعه من دين أو تفكير صحيح فيطغى على الناس لشعوره بأنه لا يخاف بأسهم لأن له ما يدفع به الاعتداء من لأمةِ سلاححٍ وخدممٍ وأعوان وعُفاة ومنتفعين بماله من شركاء وعمال وأُجراء فهو في عزة عند نفسه .فقد بينت هذه الآية حقيقةً نفسية عظيمة من الأخلاق وعلم النفس . ونبهت على الحذر من تغلغلها في النفس .وضمير { رآه } المستتر المرفوع على الفاعلية وضميرُه البارز المنصوب على المفعولية كلاهما عائد إلى الإِنسان ، أي أن رأى نفسه استغنى .ولا يجتمع ضميران متحدا المعاد : أحدهما فاعل ، والآخر مفعول في كلام العرب ، إلا إذا كان العامل من باب ظن وأخواتها كما في هذه الآية ، ومنه قوله تعالى : { قال أرأيتك هذا الذي كرمت عليَّ } في سورة الإسراء ( 62 ) . قال الفراء : والعرب تطرح النفس من هذا الجنس ( أي جنس أفعال الظن والحسبان ) تقول : رأيتُني وحسبتُني ، ومتى تَراك خارجاً ، ومتى تظُنك خارجاً ، وألحقت ( رأى ) البصرية ب ( رأى ) القلبية عند كثير من النحاة كما في قول قطري بن الفجاءة: ... فلقد أراني للرِّمَاح دَريئةمن عن يميني مرة وأمامي ... ومن النادر قول النّمر بن تَوْلَب: ... قد بِتُّ أحْرُسُنِي وَحْدِي وَيَمْنَعُنِيصوتُ السباع به يضبَحْن والْهامِ ... وقرأ الجميع أن رآه } بألف بعد الهمزة ، وروى ابن مجاهد عن قنبل أنه قرأه عن ابن كثير «رأه» بدون ألف بعد الهمزة ، قال ابن مجاهد : هذا غلط ولا يعبأ بكلام ابن مجاهد بعد أن جزم بأنه رواه عن قنبل ، لكن هذا لم يروه غير ابن مجاهد عن قنبل فيكون وجهاً غريباً عن قنبل .وأُلحق بهذه الأفعال : فعل فقَدَ وفعل عَدِم إذا استعملا في الدعاء نحو قول القائل : فقَدْتُني وعَدِمْتُني .
والإنسان -لجهله وظلمه- إذا رأى نفسه غنيًا، طغى وبغى وتجبر عن الهدى
أن رآه أي لأن رأى نفسه استغنى ; أي صار ذا مال وثروة . وقال ابن عباس في رواية أبي صالح عنه ، قال : لما نزلت هذه الآية وسمع بها المشركون ، أتاه أبو جهل فقال : يا محمد تزعم أنه من استغنى طغى ; فاجعل لنا جبال مكة ذهبا ، لعلنا نأخذ منها ، فنطغى فندع ديننا ونتبع دينك . قال فأتاه جبريل - عليه السلام - فقال : ( يا محمد خيرهم في ذلك فإن شاءوا فعلنا بهم ما أرادوه فإن لم يسلموا فعلنا بهم كما فعلنا بأصحاب المائدة ) . فعلم رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - أن القوم لا يقبلون ذلك ; فكف عنهم إبقاء عليهم . وقيل : أن رآه استغنى بالعشيرة والأنصار والأعوان . وحذف اللام من قوله أن رآه كما يقال : إنكم لتطغون إن رأيتم غناكم . وقال الفراء : لم يقل رأى نفسه ، كما قيل قتل نفسه ; لأن رأى من الأفعال التي تريد اسما وخبرا ، نحو الظن والحسبان ، فلا يقتصر فيه على مفعول واحد . العرب تطرح النفس من هذا الجنس تقول : رأيتني وحسبتني ، ومتى تراك خارجا ، ومتى تظنك خارجا . وقرأ مجاهد وحميد وقنبل عن ابن كثير ( أن رأه استغنى ) بقصر الهمزة . الباقون رآه بمدها ، وهو الاختيار .
Those who wage aggressive campaigns against Truth or place impediments in the way of those who adopt the path of Truth, are destined to have a miserable fate. In such circumstances, the real prop for a preacher of Truth is his prayers to God. Having been disappointed by people, he should turn to God for fulfilment. He should distance himself from human beings and come close to the God of all humanity and submit to Him.
Verses [ 6-7] كَلَّا إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَيَطْغَىٰ أَن رَّ‌آهُ اسْتَغْنَىٰ (The fact is that man crosses the limits, because he deems himself to be free of need.) Although the verse immediately refers to a particular person, namely, Abu Jahl who insulted the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، the statement is general which draws man's attention to one of his weaknesses. So long as man is in need of others, he walks straight; but when he thinks that he does not need anyone, he tends towards transgression, and develops the tendency to wrong-doing, tyranny and oppression. This is generally the behavior of the affluent people, government officials, and people with abundant children and friends or servants. They become purse-proud and intoxicated with the leadership power they exercise on their groups. Abu Jahl was a typical example of this. He was one of the well-to-do and prosperous people of Makkah. All the members of his tribe and inhabitants of the city respected and obeyed him. He became arrogant and insulted the leader of all the Prophets - the noblest of creation. The next verse warns such arrogant people about the evil consequences of their behavior.
(That he thinketh himself independent) of Allah because of his wealth!
The Threat against Man's Transgression for the sake of Wealth Allah informs that man is very pleased, most evil, scornful and transgressive when he considers himself self-sufficient and having an abundance of wealth. Then Allah threatens, warns and admonishes him in His saying, إِنَّ إِلَى رَبِّكَ الرُّجْعَى (Surely, unto your Lord is the return.) meaning, `unto Allah is the final destination and return, and He will hold you accountable for your wealth, as to where you obtained it from and how did you spend it.' Scolding of Abu Jahl and the Threat of seizing Him Then Allah says, أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِى يَنْهَى - عَبْداً إِذَا صَلَّى (Have you seen him who prevents. A servant when he prays) This was revealed about Abu Jahl, may Allah curse him. He threatened the Prophet for performing Salah at the Ka`bah. Thus, Allah firstly admonished him with that which was better by saying, أَرَءَيْتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى الْهُدَى (Have you seen if he is on the guidance.) meaning, `do you think this man whom you are preventing is upon the straight path in his action, or أَوْ أَمَرَ بِالتَّقْوَى (Or enjoins Taqwa) in his statements Yet, you rebuke him and threaten him due to his prayer.' Thus, Allah says, أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَرَى (Knows he not that Allah sees) meaning, doesn't this person who is preventing this man who is following correct guidance know that Allah sees him and hears his words, and He will compensate him in full for what he has done Then Allah says by way of warning and threatening, كَلاَّ لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ (Nay! If he ceases not,) meaning, if he does not recant from his discord and obstinacy, لَنَسْفَعاً بِالنَّاصِيَةِ (We will scorch his forehead.) meaning, `indeed We will make it extremely black on the Day of Judgement.' Then He says, نَاصِيَةٍ كَـذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍ (A lying, sinful forehead!) meaning, the forehead of Abu Jahl is lying in its statements and sinful in its actions. فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُ (Then let him call upon his council.) meaning, his people and his tribe. In other words, let him call them in order to seek help from them. سَنَدْعُ الزَّبَانِيَةَ (We will call out the guards of Hell!) `And they are the angels of torment. This is so that he may know who will win -- Our group or his group' Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "Abu Jahl said, `If I see Muhammad praying at the Ka`bah, I will stomp on his neck.' So this reached the Prophet , who said, «لَئِنْ فَعَلَ لَأَخَذَتْهُ الْمَلَائِكَة» (If he does, he will be seized by the angels.)" This Hadith was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i in their Books of Tafsir. Likewise, it has been recorded by Ibn Jarir. Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Jarir, all recorded it from Ibn `Abbas with the following wording: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was praying at the Maqam (prayer station of Ibrahim) when Abu Jahl bin Hisham passed by him and said, `O Muhammad! Haven't I prevented you from this' He threatened the Prophet and thus, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ became angry with him and reprimanded him. Then he said, `O Muhammad! What can you threaten me with By Allah, I have the most kinsmen of this valley with me in the large.' Then Allah revealed, فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُ - سَنَدْعُ الزَّبَانِيَةَ (Then let him call upon his council. We will call out the guards of Hell!)" Ibn `Abbas then said, "If he had called his people, the angels of torment would have seized him at that very instant." At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih." Ibn Jarir recorded from Abu Hurayrah that Abu Jahl said, "Does Muhammad cover his face with dust (i.e., from prostration) while he is among you all" They (the people) replied, "Yes." Then he said, "By Al-Lat and Al-`Uzza, if I see him praying like this, I will stomp on his neck, and I will certainly put his face in the dust." So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and he began praying, which made it possible for Abu Jahl to stomp on his neck. Then the people became surprised at him (Abu Jahl) because he began retreating on his heels and covering himself with his hands. Then it was said to him, "What's the matter with you" He replied, "Verily, between me and him is a ditch of fire, monsters and wings." Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «لَوْ دَنَا مِنِّي لَاخْتَطَفَتْهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عُضْوًا عُضْوًا» (If he had come near me, the angels would have snatched him limb by limb.) The narrator added; "Allah revealed an Ayah, but I do not know whether it is concerning the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah or not: كَلاَّ إِنَّ الإِنسَـنَ لَيَطْغَى (Nay! Verily, man does transgress.) to the end of the Surah." Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, Muslim, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Abi Hatim all recorded this Hadith. Amusement for the Prophet Then Allah says, كَلاَّ لاَ تُطِعْهُ (Nay! Do not obey him.) meaning, `O Muhammad! Do not obey him in what he is forbidding from such as steadfastness in worship and performing worship in abundance. Pray wherever you wish and do not worry about him. For indeed Allah will protect you and help you, and He will defend you against the people.' وَاسْجُدْ وَاقْتَرِب (Fall prostrate and draw near (to Allah)!) This is just like what has been confirmed in the Sahih of Muslim on the authority of Abu Salih who reported from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «أَقْرَبُ مَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَهُوَ سَاجِدٌ، فَأَكْثِرُوا الدُّعَاء» (The closest that a servant can be to his Lord is when he is in prostration. Therefore, make abundant supplications (i.e., while prostrating).)" It has also been mentioned previously that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to prostrate when he recited إِذَا السَّمَآءُ انشَقَّتْ (When the heaven is split asunder.) (84:1) and اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِى خَلَقَ (Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created.) (96:1) This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Iqra' (Surat Al-`Alaq). Unto Allah is due all praise and thanks, and He is the Giver of success and protection against error.