رَّبَّنَا ٱكْشِفْ عَنَّا ٱلْعَذَابَ إِنَّا مُؤْمِنُونَ 12
Translations
[They will say], "Our Lord, remove from us the torment; indeed, we are believers."
Transliteration
Rabbana ikshif anna al-adhaba inna mu'minun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah represents the supplication of the believers in Pharaoh's court who recognized the truth of Moses' message and sought Allah's mercy during the torment of the plagues. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, these were among Pharaoh's people who believed but were caught in the punishment alongside the disbelievers, and their plea demonstrates that true faith (iman) is a shield against despair and motivates one to turn to Allah in times of affliction. The supplication emphasizes that believers must combine their faith with earnest dua (supplication) when facing trials.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Ad-Dukhan's narrative account of Pharaoh and his people, specifically during the period when the plagues befell Egypt. The context describes those from Pharaoh's people who believed in Moses and Aaron, contrasting them with the majority who remained in disbelief and haughtiness.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The supplication is the weapon of the believer' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the principle of combining faith with action is reflected in the hadith: 'Trust in Allah, but tie your camel' (Jami' At-Tirmidhi), showing that believers should both have faith and take appropriate means.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that in times of hardship, a believer's true recourse is sincere supplication to Allah while maintaining steadfast faith. It reminds us that declaring our belief in Allah while humbly requesting His mercy is the pathway through which divine relief comes.