Surah Hud — Verse 31

Word Meanings:

• Khazā’in Allah (خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ): The treasuries of Allah — the stores of provision, sustenance, and all forms of divine bounty.
• Al-Ghayb (الْغَيْب): The unseen — knowledge of what is hidden from human perception, including future events, the secrets of hearts, and matters of the Hereafter.
• Tazdarī (تَزْدَرِي): To look down upon with contempt, to belittle, or to hold in low regard.
• A’yunukum (أَعْيُنُكُمْ): Your eyes — referring to the way people perceive and judge others based on outward appearances.
• Zālimīn (الظَّالِمِينَ): The wrongdoers — those who transgress against themselves and others by violating rights and justice.

Tafsir (Explanation):

In this verse, Prophet Nūḥ (peace be upon him) addresses his people with remarkable humility, honesty, and moral clarity, dismantling their false assumptions about him and defending the dignity of the weak believers among his followers.

His people had demanded that he drive away the poor and humble believers if he wanted them to accept his message, arrogantly claiming that these simple folk were unworthy of divine favor. They also mocked him, asking why he had not been given treasures or angelic status if he were truly a prophet.

Nūḥ responds by declaring, in the clearest terms, what he is *not* claiming:

• He does not claim to possess the treasuries of Allah, as if he could dispense wealth and provisions at will.
• He does not claim knowledge of the unseen, for that belongs exclusively to Allah alone.
• He does not claim to be an angel — he is merely a human being chosen to deliver a message.

Then he addresses their contempt for the poor believers: "I do not say of those whom your eyes look down upon that Allah will never grant them any good." He reminds them that Allah alone knows what is in their hearts — their sincerity, their faith, and their true worth. Appearances are deceptive; a person dressed in rags may carry a heart more beloved to Allah than mountains of gold.

He concludes with a powerful moral principle: if he were to belittle these believers or deny them Allah’s mercy, he would himself become one of the wrongdoers — unjust to them and to his own soul.

This verse carries a timeless lesson for every believer: never judge people by their wealth, status, or appearance. True honor lies in taqwā (God-consciousness), and only Allah knows the reality of what resides in human hearts. The Prophet ﷺ himself was sent as a mercy to all — rich and poor, strong and weak — and his companions included both the elite of Quraysh and the poorest slaves, all equal in their submission to Allah.

Let this beautiful example of Nūḥ’s character inspire us to treat every Muslim with respect and dignity, to guard our tongues from belittling others, and to place our complete trust in Allah’s perfect knowledge and justice. For He alone knows the hidden depths of every soul, and He alone will reward each person according to their true intentions and deeds.