Surah Al-A'raf 7:140: Shall I seek a god other than Allah, who honored you?

7:140

قَالَ أَغَيۡرَ ٱللَّهِ أَبۡغِيكُمۡ إِلَٰهٗا وَهُوَ فَضَّلَكُمۡ عَلَى ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ

Qala aghayra Allahi abgheekum ilahan wahuwa faddalakum AAala alAAalameena

He said, "Is it other than Allah I should desire for you as a god while He has preferred you over the worlds?"

Word by word

قَالَHe said
أَغَيۡرَShould other than
ٱللَّهِAllah
أَبۡغِيكُمۡI seek for you
إِلَٰهٗاa god
وَهُوَwhile He
فَضَّلَكُمۡhas preferred you
عَلَىover
ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَthe worlds

Al-A'raf · 7:140Makkah

Shall I seek a god other than Allah, who honored you?

Musa reminds them what Allah already gave

Musa's question

another godwhat they asked for

while

Allahpreferred you over the nations

Why the request was strange

something newto fill a gap

already givenmore than they could count

Musa asked them: shall I seek for you a god other than Allah, when He has given you superiority over the nations? Ibn Kathir says he reminded them of Allah's blessings, saving them from Fir'awn's tyranny and humiliation.

You have a home, health, a family that calls. Then a new phone comes out and you feel empty without it. Remembering what Allah has already given makes the craving much smaller.

Something is missing, so I need something new.

When I remember what Allah gave me, I stop looking elsewhere to fill the gap.

Try this

List five things Allah has given you that you did not earn. Read the list once tonight.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

He said: "Shall I seek for you an ilah (a god) other than Allah, while He has given you superiority over the nations. (140)And (remember) when We rescued you from Fir'awn's people, who were afflicting you with the worst torment, killing your sons and letting your women live. And in that was a great trial from your Lord (141)

Reminding the Children of Israel of Allah's Blessings for Them

Musa reminded the Children of Israel of Allah's blessings, such as saving them from Fir'awn, his tyranny and the humiliation and disgrace they suffered. He reminded them of the glory and revenge against their enemy, when they watched them suffering in disgrace, destroyed by drowning and meeting utter demise. We mentioned this subject in the Tafsir of Surat Al-Baqarah.