Surah Quraysh 106:4
سُورَةُ قُرَيۡشٍ · Meccan · Verse 4 of 4
ٱلَّذِىٓ أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن جُوعٍۢ وَءَامَنَهُم مِّنْ خَوْفٍۭ
Translation
who provides them with food to ward off hunger, safety to ward off fear.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse, a beautiful continuation of the previous one, highlights two fundamental blessings Allah bestowed upon the Quraysh, inviting them to deep gratitude and worship. It is Allah Himself speaking, reminding the people of Quraysh about His boundless favors. The specific wording chosen here powerfully conveys the nature and magnitude of these gifts.
Sustenance From Hunger
The verse begins, "الَّذِيٓ أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن جُوعٍۢ" (He who fed them from hunger). The particle "مِّن" (min), meaning 'from,' is significant here. It suggests that Allah provided food to them *as* or *when* hunger arose, as Imam al-Razi explains. It's not just that they were saved from a distant famine, but that their very state of hunger was addressed and relieved. The land of Mecca was barren, making sustained provision a constant challenge. This phrase tells us that Allah continually provided for their basic need for sustenance, alleviating the hunger that was a natural condition of their environment. The indefiniteness of "جوع" (hunger) suggests its severity, reminding them of the profound relief Allah granted them from intense periods of scarcity, to the point of eating carrion and burnt bones, as some scholars like al-Zamakhshari note. This reminds the reader of the depth of the challenge Allah overcame for them.
Security From Fear
Following this, the verse states, "وَءَامَنَهُم مِّنْ خَوْفٍۭ" (and secured them from fear). Like "مِّن جُوعٍ", the use of "مِّن خَوْفٍ" (from fear) similarly emphasizes Allah's active protection from the state of fear. The people of Quraysh, though guardians of the Kaaba, were a small group in a dangerous region, constantly vulnerable to raids and attacks. Allah, however, granted them unique security. This blessing was particularly evident in events like the protection from the formidable Elephant army, as highlighted by al-Jalalayn and al-Zamakhshari. The indefinite nature of "خوف" (fear) points to its enormity, encompassing a spectrum of profound threats, from external invaders to the constant threat of abduction or inter-tribal conflict. This wording underlines that Allah continuously intervened to make them safe from the many dangers that surrounded them.
Through these precise word choices, the verse paints a vivid picture of Allah as the ultimate Provider and Protector. He didn't merely grant abstract blessings; He directly addressed their most pressing, foundational needs. This powerful articulation of sustenance from hunger and security from fear serves as an undeniable call to worship the Lord of this House with sincere gratitude.
Sources: al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn, al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Quraysh 106:4 is discussed in 9 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Quraysh 106:4 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.