Transliteration:( Yamunnoona 'alaika an aslamoo qul laa tamunnoo 'alaiya Islaamakum balillaahu yamunnu 'alaikum an hadaakum lil eemaani in kuntum saadiqeen )
"(O beloved Prophet) they count it as a favour to you that they have embraced Islam. Please declare: 'Do not count your embracing Islam as a favour [50] to me. Rather, Allah has conferred a favour upon you to believe [51] (in Islam) if you are truthful.'"
This verse addresses those who boasted about having accepted Islam, thinking that their conversion was a favour to the Prophet ﷺ. Allah Almighty commands the Prophet ﷺ to declare that Islam is not a favour done to him, but rather a favour from Allah to those who are granted the gift of faith.
Faith is not something a person offers to Allah or His Messenger as charity — it is a blessing bestowed upon them, not an entitlement earned by them.
Just as a subject’s service is not a favour to the king, but a reflection of the king's benevolence, similarly, embracing Islam is not a favour to the Prophet ﷺ — it is the benefactor’s mercy being shown to the servant.
From this verse, it is clear that the Prophet ﷺ owes nothing to the creation; rather, it is the creation who owe everything to him. Every bounty — be it guidance, mercy, or salvation — reaches us through the Prophet ﷺ. Whether people accept faith or remain in disbelief, it does not affect the rank or status of the Holy Prophet ﷺ in any way.
If the entire world were to disbelieve, his grandeur would remain untouched. And if all were to become pious, they would be the beneficiaries, not him. This is beautifully illustrated in the simile: Taking light from the sun does not benefit the sun, but benefits the one who takes it.
Thus, Allah reminds us that the true favour is Imaan, and He attributes its bestowal to His own Grace — just as He describes the sending of the Prophet ﷺ as the greatest divine favour:
"Undoubtedly, Allah did a great favour to the Muslims that He sent a Messenger in them from among themselves" (Surah Aal-e-‘Imran, 3:164).
This highlights that Allah is fully aware of all things unseen, including the reality of what lies within our hearts. So, boasting about one's faith or trying to convince Allah or His Messenger of one's sincerity is pointless. True belief is not about declarations, but about genuine submission.
However, when believers make statements like "O Allah! We are sinners" or "O our Lord! We believe", these are not said to inform Allah, but are pleas for His mercy and acts of humility. Such supplications are encouraged and not contradictory to this verse — as in:
"Our Lord! We heard a proclaimer calling to faith…" (Surah Aal-e-‘Imran, 3:193).
The tafsir of Surah Hujurat verse 17 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Hujurat ayat 14 which provides the complete commentary from verse 14 through 18.
(49:17) They count it as a favour to you that they accepted Islam. Say: “Do not regard your (accepting) Islam as a favour to me; rather, Allah has bestowed a favour on you by guiding you to faith, if you are truthful (in your claim to be believers).
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
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