Surah Al-An'am (6:165)

وَهُوَ الَّذِىۡ جَعَلَـكُمۡ خَلٰٓٮِٕفَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَرَفَعَ بَعۡضَكُمۡ فَوۡقَ بَعۡضٍ دَرَجٰتٍ لِّيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ فِىۡ مَاۤ اٰتٰٮكُمۡؕ اِنَّ رَبَّكَ سَرِيۡعُ الۡعِقَابِ ۖ وَاِنَّهٗ لَـغَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِيۡمٌ‏ ۝

Wahuwa allathee jaAAalakum khala-ifaal-ardi warafaAAa baAAdakum fawqa baAAdindarajatin liyabluwakum fee ma atakuminna rabbaka sareeAAu alAAiqabi wa-innahu laghafoorun raheem

And it is He who has made you successors upon the earth and has raised some of you above others in degrees of rank that He may try you through what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.

Tadabbur (Reflection)

Theme of the Ayat

The Test of Successorship: God's elevation of humanity as vicegerents.

The Insight

God has made you vicegerents (*Khala'if*) on earth and elevated some above others in provision to test you. **Live as a responsible steward.** Your wealth and status are tests, not rewards. Your life must be dedicated to acting as a just successor on earth, knowing that your Lord is swift in penalty and immensely forgiving.