Rebuilding the Concept of Human Entitlement in Light of the Divine Gift: An Objective Exegetical Reading

Abstract

This research aimed to rebuild the concept of human entitlement in light of the divine gift through an objective study of the Quranic verses in which the name of Allah “Al-Wahhab” (the Bestower) and the derivatives of the verb “to give” appear, in order to reveal that what a person receives in terms of offspring, kingdom, wisdom, guidance, righteous companionship, and mercy is not a pure fruit of his own effort nor an inevitable result of material causes, but rather a divine honor and a divine gift that Allah bestows upon His servants by His grace and mercy. The research also sought to correct the human perception based on self-entitlement, and to highlight that the relationship of man to Allah’s blessings is founded upon neediness and gratitude, not upon claim or self-deception. The research adopted the objective exegetical method by collecting the verses related to the divine gift, analyzing them in their Quranic contexts, and linking them to the concepts of divine honor and human entitlement, while distinguishing between the illusory self-entitlement that the Quran rejects and the conditional entitlement based on Allah’s grace and acceptance of obedience. The research further proved that true human dignity stems from Allah’s grace, not merely from human acquisition, citing the verse: ﴿And We have certainly honored the children of Adam﴾ [Al-Isra: 70]. It concluded that the implications of the name “Al-Wahhab” – giving without compensation, giving without prior merit, giving abundantly and continuously, and encompassing both material and spiritual gifts – instill in a person humility, trust in Allah, and gratitude for the greatness of Al-Wahhab, and establish doctrinal and educational visions that make all of Allah’s gifts forms of divine facilitation, not an inevitable result of human effort.