wakadhālika fatannā baʿḍahum bibaʿḍin liyaqūlū ahāulāi manna l-lahu ʿalayhim min bayninā alaysa l-lahu bi-aʿlama bil-shākirīna
Translation
And thus We have tried some of them through others that they [i.e., the disbelievers] might say, "Is it these whom Allāh has favored among us?" Is not Allāh most knowing of those who are grateful?310
Notes
[310] Those referred to in verses 52-54 are the poor Muslims who were sincere believers and students of the Prophet (ﷺ). The influential leaders of Quraysh had disdained to sit with them, saying to Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ), "Perhaps if you evicted them, we would follow you."
Verse 53 of Surah Al-An’am (6:53), a Meccan surah, is in juz 7, on page 134 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 74 reciters.
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Tafsir of verse 53
Al-Mukhtasar
So I tested them by means of one another. I made some of them rich and others poor. I made them different with respect to their worldly fortunes. I tested them in this way so that the rich disbelievers say about the poor believers: Are these poor people the ones whom Allah has favoured with guidance from amongst us? If this faith was any good, then they would not have beaten us to it, because we are the people who come first. Does Allah not know those who are thankful for His favours, so He guides them to faith, from those who deny these favours, so He abandons them to disbelief? Certainly, Allah knows about them.
Thus We have tested some of them by means of others, so that they may say, “Are these the ones whom Allah has favored among us15?” Does Allah not know best those who are grateful?
Notes
[15] The poor Muslims with the Prophet (ﷺ). The influential leaders of Quraysh disdained sitting with them.
Thus We have tried some of them with others, that they might say: "Is it these (poor believers) whom Allâh has favoured from amongst us?" Does not Allâh know best those who are grateful?
And even so do We try some of them by others, that they say: Are these they whom Allah favoureth among us? Is not Allah best Aware of the thanksgivers?
Thus did We try some of them by comparison with others, that they should say: "Is it these then that Allah hath favoured from amongst us?" Doth not Allah know best those who are grateful?
And thus do We try some of them by others so that they say: Are these they upon whom Allah has conferred benefit from among us? Does not Allah best know the grateful?
And thus We have tempted some of them by (others) (Literally: by some "others") that they may say, "Are these (the ones) Allah has been bounteous to among us?" Is not Allah the Best Knower of the thankful?
إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {فَتَكُونَ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ} قَالَ جَاءَ الأَقْرَعُ بْنُ حَابِسٍ التَّمِيمِيُّ وَعُيَيْنَةُ بْنُ حِصْنٍ الْفَزَارِيُّ فَوَجَدُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ مَعَ صُهَيْبٍ وَبِلاَلٍ…
Narrated by Khabbāb ibn al-Aratti
Verses related to verse 53
Cited by Ibn Kathir in his explanation of this verse
Then is he who knows that what has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth like one who is blind? They will only be reminded who are people of understanding -
And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His face [i.e., acceptance]. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect.
So the eminent among those who disbelieved from his people said, "We do not see you but as a man like ourselves, and we do not see you followed except by those who are the lowest of us [and] at first suggestion. And we do not see in you over us any merit; rather, we think you are liars."
