Do Not Feel Proud of Having Benefited Islam and Salafiyyah

6.7.24

**Do Not Feel Proud of Having Benefited Islam and Salafiyyah**

Allah Ta'ala says:

"They regard it as a favor to you that they have embraced Islam. Say, 'Do not regard your Islam as a favor to me. Rather, Allah has conferred favor upon you that He has guided you to the faith if you should be truthful.'" (Al-Hujurat: 17)

Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

"Then Allah, the Exalted, says: {They regard it as a favor to you that they have embraced Islam}, meaning the Bedouins who think that their conversion to Islam, following, and supporting the Prophet is a favor. Allah responds to them: {Say, 'Do not regard your Islam as a favor to me'}, for its benefit actually returns to you, and Allah has conferred favor upon you with it. {Rather, Allah has conferred favor upon you that He has guided you to the faith if you should be truthful} in your claim. Just as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to the Ansar on the day of Hunayn: 'O Ansar, did I not find you astray and Allah guided you through me? And you were divided and Allah united you through me? And you were poor and Allah enriched you through me?' Every time he said something, they replied: 'Allah and His Messenger have conferred favor.'"

📚[Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 7/390]

Shaykh Ibn Nasser Al-Sa'di, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

"This is one of the conditions of those who claim faith for themselves but do not possess it. They may mean by this statement to teach Allah, though it is known that He is aware of everything, or they might intend to give credit to His Messenger, thinking that they have given something that is not beneficial to them but rather is for worldly gains. This is boasting about something that should not be boasted about to His Messenger, for the favor is from Allah Ta'ala upon them. Just as Allah bestows favors upon them with creation, provision, and visible and hidden blessings, His favor of guiding them to Islam and faith is greater than everything else. Therefore, Allah Ta'ala says: {They regard it as a favor to you that they have embraced Islam. Say, 'Do not regard your Islam as a favor to me, but Allah has conferred favor upon you that He has guided you to the faith if you should be truthful.'}"

📚[Tafsir As-Sa'di = Taisirul Karimir Rahman, p. 802]