The phrase “Ma yaf’alullahu bi ‘azabikum in shakartum wa aamantum” is part of the final verse of Surah An-Nisa (4:147) in the Quran. [1]
Arabic Text
مَّا يَفْعَلُ اللَّـهُ بِعَذَابِكُمْ إِن شَكَرْتُمْ وَآمَنتُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّـهُ شَاكِرًا عَلِيمًا
Transliteration
Maa yaf’alul laahu bi ‘azaabikum in shakartum wa aamantum, wa kaanal laahu shaakiran aleema. [1, 2]
Translation (Sahih International)
“What would Allah do with your punishment if you are grateful and believe? And ever is Allah Appreciative and Knowing.” [3]
Context and Meaning
- The Core Message: This verse highlights that Allah does not punish for the sake of punishment. If human beings express gratitude (Shukr) and believe (Iman), Allah has no need to punish them.
- Attributes of Allah: The verse concludes by mentioning two of Allah’s attributes: Shaakir (Appreciative/Responsive to gratitude) and Aleem (Knowing/All-Knowing).
- Significance: It emphasizes that gratitude and faith are causes for safety from divine punishment, as Allah appreciates the good actions of His servants. [1, 4, 5, 6, 7]
AI responses may include mistakes.
[3] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2365577
[4] https://www.facebook.com/groups/motivationalmoments2.0/posts/1245020772897013/
[5] https://www.facebook.com/groups/1658360137737767/posts/4194870747420014/
[7] https://www.facebook.com/groups/motivationalmoments2.0/posts/1245020772897013/
This phrase is the beginning of Verse 147 of
Surah An-Nisa (Chapter 4) in the Holy Qur’an.
The full verse reads:
“Mā yaf‘alu-llāhu bi-‘adhābikum in shakartum wa-āmantum; wa-kānal-lāhu Shākiran ‘Alīmā.”
Meaning & Translation
- Direct Translation: “What would Allah do with your punishment if you are grateful and believe? And ever is Allah Appreciative and Knowing.”
- Core Message: The verse emphasizes that God does not gain anything from punishing His creation. Punishment is not an end in itself; rather, it is a consequence of straying from faith and gratitude. If a person is truly grateful (Shukr) and has firm faith (Iman), they align themselves with God’s mercy rather than His justice/punishment.
Key Attributes of Allah Mentioned:
- Ash-Shakir (The Appreciative): He recognizes and rewards even the smallest acts of gratitude and good deeds.
- Al-Alim (The All-Knowing): He is fully aware of the sincerity in your heart and your efforts to be thankful.
Would you like to explore the Tafsir (detailed explanation) of this verse or hear its recitation?

9 sites
- Transliteration “Ma yaf’halu llahu biazabikum in shakartum wa …24 Jun 2014 — Transliteration “Ma yaf’halu llahu biazabikum in shakartum wa amantum wakana llahu shakiran aleema” Translation What would Allah d…
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- Reminder Count your blessings if only you can and say Alhamdulillah. Bismillahi-rahmanir-rahim Alhamdulillah – a word we are all too familiar with. It stands as a simple utterance but is entrenched in profound meaning and divine devotion. In literal terms, it means “Praise Be to Allah (SWT)”. As Muslims, we have all grown up hearing the use of the word “Alhumdulillah” in our daily lives, but do we truly understand the significance of the word? It is the first phrase of the first verse of Surah Fatiha which is the first Surah of the Quran. We recite Surah Fatiha and hence, Alhumdulillah in every single Raka’ah! We often tend to utter words in an automatic fashion but sometimes we forget the deep implications of those words. Alhamdulillah is a form of high praise of Allah (SWT) and it is very much loved by Him. Saying Alhumdulillah is an expression of high praise and utter gratitude before Allah (SWT), the most Gracious, the ever Merciful, for bestowing us with His endless blessings – spiritually, materialistically etc. which He continues to give us. Being grateful is one of the main attributes of a Muslim and is an integral part of being a good believer. Allah says And7 Sept 2022 — “Almighty Allah said in (Suratul nisa’i,4:147) “What would Allah do with your punishment if you are grateful and believe? And Alla…
Facebook
- Allah Kaun Hai | PDF | Prophets And Messengers In Islam | Allah26. Allāh has no personal gain in punishing What can Allah gain by your punishment if you are grateful and believe? And ever is Al…
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Show all
YES
The verse
“Mā yaf‘alullāhu bi-‘adhābikum…” (Surah An-Nisa, 147) provides a profound look into the relationship between the Creator and His creation, shifting the focus from fear of punishment to a life of gratitude.
1. Tafsir (Detailed Explanation)
- Divine Self-Sufficiency: Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that Allah is “too Rich” to need to punish anyone. Punishment is not a source of power for Him; it is a consequence of human sin and the rejection of faith.
- The Power of Gratitude (Shukr): Tafsir Al-Jalalayn notes that the question “What would Allah do with your punishment?” acts as a denial, meaning He will not punish those who are grateful. Gratitude is defined as:
- Ascribing all blessings to their real source (Allah).
- Loving and remaining loyal to the Benefactor.
- Using one’s blessings in ways that please Him (e.g., using a good voice for recitation or wealth for charity).
- Allah as Ash-Shakir (The Appreciative): Uniquely, Allah calls Himself “Shakir” here. While humans give thanks to Him, He “thanks” His servants by recognizing and rewarding even their smallest good deeds far beyond what they deserve.
2. Recitation and Listening
You can listen to world-renowned reciters (such as Mishary Rashid Alafasy or AbdulBaset AbdulSamad) for this specific verse on platforms like Quran.com. Listening to the verse helps in capturing the rhythmic beauty and the comforting tone of the “rhetorical question” Allah asks humanity.
3. Key Lessons
- Hope over Fear: This verse encourages believers to move from a state of “paralysis from fear” to one of “hopeful aspiration”.
- Repentance: It serves as a final encouraging note after verses discussing the severe punishment of hypocrites, showing that the door to mercy is always open through faith and gratitude.
Would you like to see translations of this verse in a specific language, or should we look into the Arabic word-by-word breakdown?This phrase is the beginning of Verse 147 of
Surah An-Nisa (Chapter 4) in the Holy Qur’an.
The full verse reads:
“Mā yaf‘alu-llāhu bi-‘adhābikum in shakartum wa-āmantum; wa-kānal-lāhu Shākiran ‘Alīmā.”
Meaning & Translation
- Direct Translation: “What would Allah do with your punishment if you are grateful and believe? And ever is Allah Appreciative and Knowing.”
- Core Message: The verse emphasizes that God does not gain anything from punishing His creation. Punishment is not an end in itself; rather, it is a consequence of straying from faith and gratitude. If a person is truly grateful (Shukr) and has firm faith (Iman), they align themselves with God’s mercy rather than His justice/punishment.
Key Attributes of Allah Mentioned:
- Ash-Shakir (The Appreciative): He recognizes and rewards even the smallest acts of gratitude and good deeds.
- Al-Alim (The All-Knowing): He is fully aware of the sincerity in your heart and your efforts to be thankful.
Would you like to explore the Tafsir (detailed explanation) of this verse or hear its recitation?

9 sites
- Transliteration “Ma yaf’halu llahu biazabikum in shakartum wa …24 Jun 2014 — Transliteration “Ma yaf’halu llahu biazabikum in shakartum wa amantum wakana llahu shakiran aleema” Translation What would Allah d…
Facebook
- Reminder Count your blessings if only you can and say Alhamdulillah. Bismillahi-rahmanir-rahim Alhamdulillah – a word we are all too familiar with. It stands as a simple utterance but is entrenched in profound meaning and divine devotion. In literal terms, it means “Praise Be to Allah (SWT)”. As Muslims, we have all grown up hearing the use of the word “Alhumdulillah” in our daily lives, but do we truly understand the significance of the word? It is the first phrase of the first verse of Surah Fatiha which is the first Surah of the Quran. We recite Surah Fatiha and hence, Alhumdulillah in every single Raka’ah! We often tend to utter words in an automatic fashion but sometimes we forget the deep implications of those words. Alhamdulillah is a form of high praise of Allah (SWT) and it is very much loved by Him. Saying Alhumdulillah is an expression of high praise and utter gratitude before Allah (SWT), the most Gracious, the ever Merciful, for bestowing us with His endless blessings – spiritually, materialistically etc. which He continues to give us. Being grateful is one of the main attributes of a Muslim and is an integral part of being a good believer. Allah says And7 Sept 2022 — “Almighty Allah said in (Suratul nisa’i,4:147) “What would Allah do with your punishment if you are grateful and believe? And Alla…
Facebook
- Allah Kaun Hai | PDF | Prophets And Messengers In Islam | Allah26. Allāh has no personal gain in punishing What can Allah gain by your punishment if you are grateful and believe? And ever is Al…
Scribd
Show all
YES
The verse
“Mā yaf‘alullāhu bi-‘adhābikum…” (Surah An-Nisa, 147) provides a profound look into the relationship between the Creator and His creation, shifting the focus from fear of punishment to a life of gratitude.
1. Tafsir (Detailed Explanation)
- Divine Self-Sufficiency: Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that Allah is “too Rich” to need to punish anyone. Punishment is not a source of power for Him; it is a consequence of human sin and the rejection of faith.
- The Power of Gratitude (Shukr): Tafsir Al-Jalalayn notes that the question “What would Allah do with your punishment?” acts as a denial, meaning He will not punish those who are grateful. Gratitude is defined as:
- Ascribing all blessings to their real source (Allah).
- Loving and remaining loyal to the Benefactor.
- Using one’s blessings in ways that please Him (e.g., using a good voice for recitation or wealth for charity).
- Allah as Ash-Shakir (The Appreciative): Uniquely, Allah calls Himself “Shakir” here. While humans give thanks to Him, He “thanks” His servants by recognizing and rewarding even their smallest good deeds far beyond what they deserve.
2. Recitation and Listening
You can listen to world-renowned reciters (such as Mishary Rashid Alafasy or AbdulBaset AbdulSamad) for this specific verse on platforms like Quran.com. Listening to the verse helps in capturing the rhythmic beauty and the comforting tone of the “rhetorical question” Allah asks humanity.
3. Key Lessons
- Hope over Fear: This verse encourages believers to move from a state of “paralysis from fear” to one of “hopeful aspiration”.
- Repentance: It serves as a final encouraging note after verses discussing the severe punishment of hypocrites, showing that the door to mercy is always open through faith and gratitude.
Would you like to see translations of this verse in a specific language, or should we look into the Arabic word-by-word breakdown?
