What does Quran 76:9 mean?

Quran 76:9 (Surah Al-Insaan, Ayah 9) translates to: "[Saying], "We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude."

Which Surah and Juz is Quran 76:9 from?

This ayah is from Surah Al-Insaan (Man), the 76th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 29.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 76:9?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Sunan an-Nasa'i, Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah.

What tafsir is available for Quran 76:9?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Al-Jalalayn, Ibn Abbas — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

What topics does Quran 76:9 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Allah, Charity, Righteousness, Taqwa, Community Responsibility.

Ayah 8

وَيُطْعِمُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ مِسْكِينً...

76:9Al-Insaan

Ayah 10

إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِن رَّبِّنَا يَوْمًا عَبُوسًۭا قَم...

إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ ٱللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَآءًۭ وَلَا شُكُورًا

Innaamaa nut'imukum li wajhil laahi laa nureedu minkum jazaaa'anw wa laa shukooraa

[Saying], "We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude.

Themes in this ayah

Explore in Habl →

Qualities of the believers92 Gratitude77 Charity68

Scores run 0–100: how strongly this ayah speaks to a theme. 70+ is central, 50+ is clear, under 50 is weak.

12 other themes with weak connections

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76:9Ayah 131

5 ayahs in Al-Insaan are strongly about the qualities of the believers. This is one of them.

← Previous on Qualities of the believers76:8And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive,Next on Qualities of the believers →76:10Indeed, We fear from our Lord a Day austere and distressful."

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 76:9→

‘We feed you only for the sake of God seeking His reward. We do not desire any reward from you nor any thanks this contains the reason for the giving of the food. Now do they actually say this or is it that God knows this to be true of them and has thus praised them by mentioning it? The two are different opinions regarding this matter.

"Do not count what you give, otherwise Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will count what He gives to you."

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #2465Abu Sa'eed narrated that the Messenger of Allah(s.a.w) said:Sahih

"Do not accompany except a believer, and do not serve your food except to one with Taqwa."

Sunan Ibn Majah #3034It was narrated that Asma’ bint Yazid said:Sahih

“Some food was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ) and it was offered to us. We said: ‘We do not have any appetite for it.’ He said: ‘Do not combine hunger and lies.’”

Sunan Ibn Majah #3180It was narrated from ‘Uqbah bin ‘Amir Al-Juhani that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“Do not force your sick ones to eat or drink. Allah will feed them and give them to drink.”

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #3542Sahl bin Mu`adh bin Anas narrated from his father that:Hasan

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever eats food and then says: ‘All praise is due to Allah who fed me this and granted it as provision to me, without any effort from me nor power, (Al-ḥamdulillāh, alladhī aṭ`amanī hādha wa razaqanīhi min ghairi ḥawlin minnī, wa lā quwwatin)’ his past sins shall be forgiven.”