Why Does Taha 20:130 Say 'So That You May Be Pleased' and Not 'So That Allah May Be Pleased With You'?
قال الله تعالى في سورة طه: (وَمِنْ آنَاءِ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْ وَأَطْرَافَ النَّهَارِ لَعَلَّكَ تَرْضَىٰ) طه 20: 130، ما الذي يفيده قوله تعالى: "لعلك ترضى"، بدلا عن قول: "لعل الله يرضى عنك"؟
What is the indication of the phrase "so that you may be pleased" instead of "so that Allah may be pleased with you" in Surah Taha?
The answer gives four benefits of the phrasing: pleasure is the calm of the soul, the goal of every person, and the greatest is being pleased with Allah as Lord; glorification brings salvation from the Fire; the one who benefits from remembrance is the servant, not Allah; and the Quran and remembrance are never a cause of misery (20:2).
The scholars said that this verse and its specific phrasing are intended to bring mankind to what he hopes to achieve through the acts of worship he loves to perform. The profound benefits of this phrasing include the following points.
The Fruits of Glorification
1. Inner Peace and Satisfaction
First, satisfaction and pleasure represent the stillness and calmness of the soul, which is the ultimate goal of every human being. The greatest satisfaction is being completely pleased with Allah as a Lord, acknowledging His Majesty. From this satisfaction comes being fully content with His destiny, His judgment, and His command.
2. Salvation from the Hellfire
Second, among the fruits of glorification is salvation from the Fire, as in His saying: (Glory be to You! Protect us from the torment of the Fire) Surah Al Imran 3: 191. Whoever is saved from the Fire is, without doubt, pleased.
3. Worship Benefits the Human, Not Allah
Third, in Allah's Words "so that you may be pleased", there is a clear indication that the one who will truly benefit from the glorification is man himself, and not the Lord. Allah is completely free of any need from the people.
4. The Quran as a Source of Comfort
Fourth, if we contemplate the start of Surah Taha, in which this verse was revealed, one finds His saying: (Taha. We have not revealed the Quran to you O Prophet to cause you distress) Surah Taha 20: 1 to 2. This clearly indicates that the Quran and the Thikr are never a cause of misery or psychological distress. On the contrary, it is a cause of deep self comfort and reassurance.
ما الذي يفيده قوله تعالى "لَعَلَّكَ تَرْضَى" بدلا عن قول "لعل الله يرضى عنك" في سورة طه؟
يذكر الجواب أربع فوائد لهذا التعقيب: أن الرضا سكون النفس وهو غاية كل إنسان وأعظمه الرضا بالله ربا، وأن التسبيح سبب للنجاة من النار، وأن المنتفع بالذكر هو العبد لا الرب، وأن القرآن والذكر ليسا سببا للشقاء (طه 20:2).
قال العلماء: المراد بهذه الآية وهذا التعقيب أن يصل العبد بما يحب من العبادة إلى ما يؤمل، ومن الفوائد العظيمة لهذه الصياغة ما يلي.
ثمرات التسبيح والرضا
1. سكون النفس وهدوئها
أولا: أن الرضا هو سكون النفس وهدوئها وهو غاية كل إنسان، وأعظم الرضا هو الرضا بالله ربا جل جلاله، ومن الرضا به ربا الرضا بقضائه وقدره، وحكمه وأمره.
2. النجاة من النار
ثانيا: من ثمرات التسبيح النجاة من النار، كما في قوله: (سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ) آل عمران 3: 191، فمن نجا من النار رضي بلا شك.
3. المنتفع هو العبد
ثالثا: في قوله "لَعَلَّكَ تَرْضَى"، إشارة إلى أن المنتفع بالذكر هو العبد وليس الرب تعالى الله وتقدس، فالله غني عن العالمين.
4. القرآن وطمأنينة النفس
رابعا: التأمل في صدر سورة طه التي نزلت فيها هذه الآية يجد قوله عز وجل: (طه مَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ لِتَشْقَى) طه 20: 1 إلى 2، وهذا يفيد أن القرآن والذكر ليسا سببا للشقاء أو العقد النفسية وإنما هو سبب لارتياح النفس وطمأنينتها.
1. Pleased With the Reward | الرضا بالثواب
Al-Sa'di explains that Allah commanded the Prophet to be patient with their hurtful words and to seek help against them by glorifying his Lord at these virtuous times, so that, if he did so, he would be pleased with what his Lord gives him of reward now and later, his heart would be at rest, and his eyes would find comfort in worship. Ibn Kathir links the phrase to Allah's promise: and your Lord will give you, and you will be pleased (Ad-Duha 93:5).
وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَىٰ (سورة الضحى: 5)
قال السعدي: "لعلك إن فعلت ذلك، ترضى بما يعطيك ربك من الثواب العاجل والآجل، وليطمئن قلبك، وتقر عينك بعبادة ربك، وتتسلى بها عن أذيتهم، فيخف حينئذ عليك الصبر". وربطه ابن كثير بقوله تعالى: ولسوف يعطيك ربك فترضى (الضحى 93:5).
2. Pleased With Allah as Lord | الرضا بالله ربا
The Prophet said: He has tasted the sweetness of faith who is pleased with Allah as Lord, with Islam as religion, and with Muhammad as Messenger (Sahih Muslim 34). This is the greatest satisfaction the answer describes, and in Paradise the pleasure is mutual: Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him (Al-Bayyinah 98:8).
رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ (سورة البينة: 8)
قال النبي ﷺ: "ذاق طعم الإيمان من رضي بالله ربا وبالإسلام دينا وبمحمد رسولا" (صحيح مسلم 34). وهذا أعظم الرضا الذي ذكره الجواب، وفي الجنة يكون الرضا من الجانبين: رضي الله عنهم ورضوا عنه (البينة 98:8).
3. Allah Is Free of Need of the Worlds | الله غني عن العالمين
In a hadith qudsi Allah says: O My servants, you can never reach harming Me so as to harm Me, nor reach benefiting Me so as to benefit Me; if the first and last of you, mankind and jinn, were as pious as the most pious heart among you, that would not add anything to My dominion (Sahih Muslim 2577). Allah says: whoever strives, strives only for himself; Allah is free of need of the worlds (Al-Ankabut 29:6).
وَمَن جَاهَدَ فَإِنَّمَا يُجَاهِدُ لِنَفْسِهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ (سورة العنكبوت: 6)
قال الله تعالى في الحديث القدسي: "يا عبادي إنكم لن تبلغوا ضري فتضروني ولن تبلغوا نفعي فتنفعوني، يا عبادي لو أن أولكم وآخركم وإنسكم وجنكم كانوا على أتقى قلب رجل واحد منكم ما زاد ذلك في ملكي شيئا" (صحيح مسلم 2577). فالمنتفع بالعبادة هو العبد كما ذكر الجواب.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Why does the verse say so that you may be pleased and not so that Allah may be pleased?
The answer explains that the one who benefits from remembrance is the servant, not Allah, who is free of need of the worlds. Al-Sa'di explains the pleasure as being pleased with the reward Allah gives now and later.
What is the greatest form of satisfaction for a believer?
Being pleased with Allah as Lord, which includes being pleased with His decree, judgment, and command. The Prophet said: He has tasted the sweetness of faith who is pleased with Allah as Lord (Sahih Muslim 34).
How does the beginning of Surah Taha relate to this verse?
The surah opens: We have not sent down the Quran to you to make you miserable (Ta-Ha 20:2). The answer concludes that the Quran and remembrance are never a cause of misery but of comfort and reassurance.
Does Allah benefit from our worship?
No. In a hadith qudsi Allah says that His servants can never harm Him or benefit Him, and that the piety of all of them would add nothing to His dominion (Sahih Muslim 2577).