A reflection on Surah Al-Hujurat 49:17 - correcting the idea that faith is a favour done to Allah (SWT), rather than a gift received from Him.
It is easy, without realising it, to treat one's own faith as an accomplishment, something earned through effort rather than received as a gift. The Qur'an corrects this quietly but firmly, a correction worth sitting with as Ramadan approaches, at Darus Saulieghien Quraan Academy and beyond.
A Favour, Not a Debt
يَمُنُّونَ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ أَسْلَمُوا۟ ۖ قُل لَّا تَمُنُّوا۟ عَلَىَّ إِسْلَـٰمَكُم ۖ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يَمُنُّ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ هَدَىٰكُمْ لِلْإِيمَـٰنِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ ١٧
"They consider it a favour to you that they have accepted Islam. Say, 'Do not consider your Islam a favour to me. Rather, Allah has conferred favour upon you that He has guided you to the faith, if you should be truthful.'" (Surah Al-Hujurat 49:17)
Some of the new believers addressed here viewed their acceptance of Islam as something done for the Prophet (SAW), almost a favour owed to him. Allah (SWT) corrects the direction of the favour entirely: it is Allah (SWT) who has favoured them with guidance, not the reverse.
Iman as Gift, Not Achievement
This corrects a subtle pride that can creep into anyone's relationship with faith, the sense that consistent worship or years of study are owed recognition. Every increase in iman is itself a gift from Allah (SWT), never something we can claim as purely our own achievement.
We try to teach our students this humility, that their years of Qur'an study are themselves a favour from Allah (SWT), not a credit they hold over Him.
May Allah (SWT) continue to favour our students with guidance to faith, and may He keep their hearts humble rather than proud of it. Ameen.