What Does 'Do Not Praise Yourselves' (An-Najm 53:32) Mean?
ما معنى قوله تعالى: "فَلَا تُزَكُّوا أَنفُسَكُمْ" في سورة النجم؟
"And you shall not praise yourselves" [An-Najm 53:32] means that one should not tell his good deeds or praise himself, for Allah knows best what is in the souls.
"فلا تزكوا أنفسكم" [النجم 53: 32]
تعني بأنه لا ينبغي على أحد أن يتحدث عن أعماله الصالحة أو أن يمدح نفسه، فالله أعلم بما في النفوس.
1. He Knows Best Who Fears Him | هو أعلم بمن اتقى
Allah says: He knows you best, from when He produced you from the earth and when you were fetuses in your mothers’ wombs; so do not claim purity for yourselves, He knows best who fears Him (53:32). Ibn Kathir explains: do not praise yourselves, thank yourselves and remind others of your deeds. The start of the same verse, on al-lamam, is explained in what al-lamam means in Surah An-Najm.
هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ إِذْ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ وَإِذْ أَنتُمْ أَجِنَّةٌ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ (سورة النجم: 32)
قال تعالى: (هو أعلم بكم إذ أنشأكم من الأرض وإذ أنتم أجنة في بطون أمهاتكم فلا تزكوا أنفسكم هو أعلم بمن اتقى) (النجم 53: 32)، قال ابن كثير: (فلا تزكوا أنفسكم) أي: تمدحوها وتشكروها وتمنوا بأعمالكم.
2. Allah Purifies Whom He Wills | بل الله يزكي من يشاء
Ibn Kathir links the verse to: have you not seen those who claim purity for themselves? Rather, Allah purifies whom He wills, and they will not be wronged even as much as a thread (4:49). Al-Hasan and Qatadah said it was revealed about the Jews and Christians when they said: we are the children of Allah and His beloved (5:18). Self-admiration and pride are explained in arrogance and boasting in Islamic law.
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَهُم ۚ بَلِ اللَّهُ يُزَكِّي مَن يَشَاءُ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا (سورة النساء: 49)
قال تعالى: (ألم تر إلى الذين يزكون أنفسهم بل الله يزكي من يشاء ولا يظلمون فتيلا) (النساء 4: 49)، قال الحسن وقتادة: نزلت في اليهود والنصارى حين قالوا: (نحن أبناء الله وأحباؤه) (المائدة 5: 18)، كما نقل ابن كثير.
3. The Name Barrah Changed to Zaynab | تغيير اسم برة إلى زينب
Muhammad ibn Amr ibn Ata said that he named his daughter Barrah (the righteous one), and Zaynab bint Abi Salamah told him that the Prophet had forbidden this name. She had been named Barrah herself, and the Prophet said: do not claim purity for yourselves; Allah knows best the righteous among you. They asked: what shall we name her? He said: name her Zaynab (Sahih Muslim 2142).
قال محمد بن عمرو بن عطاء: سميت ابنتي برة، فقالت لي زينب بنت أبي سلمة: إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم نهى عن هذا الاسم، وسميت برة، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "لا تزكوا أنفسكم، الله أعلم بأهل البر منكم"، فقالوا: بم نسميها؟ قال: "سموها زينب" (صحيح مسلم 2142).
4. Praising Another Person | مدح الرجل أخاه
A man praised another in front of the Prophet, and he said: woe to you, you have cut your companion’s neck, repeating it several times. Then he said: whoever of you must praise his brother, let him say: I think so-and-so is such, and Allah is his Reckoner, and I do not attest anyone’s purity before Allah, if he knows that of him (Sahih al-Bukhari 2662).
أثنى رجل على رجل عند النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: "ويلك، قطعت عنق صاحبك، قطعت عنق صاحبك"، مرارا، ثم قال: "من كان منكم مادحا أخاه لا محالة فليقل: أحسب فلانا والله حسيبه، ولا أزكي على الله أحدا، أحسبه كذا وكذا، إن كان يعلم ذلك منه" (صحيح البخاري 2662).
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What does do not praise yourselves mean in 53:32?
That a person should not speak of his own good deeds or praise himself; Allah knows best who fears Him.
How does Ibn Kathir explain it?
Do not praise yourselves, thank yourselves and remind others of your deeds.
Why did the Prophet change the name Barrah?
Because it praises its owner; he said: do not claim purity for yourselves, Allah knows best the righteous among you (Sahih Muslim 2142).
How should a Muslim praise someone else?
By saying: I think he is such, and Allah is his Reckoner, and I do not attest anyone’s purity before Allah (Sahih al-Bukhari 2662).