إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ 42
Translations
Except those [believers] on whom Allāh has mercy. Indeed, He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.
Transliteration
Illa man rahima Allahu innahu huwa al-Aziz ar-Rahim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the warning about the punishment of Hell by affirming that none shall be saved from it except those upon whom Allah has bestowed His mercy. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this establishes that salvation is entirely dependent upon Allah's grace and mercy, not human effort alone. The ayah emphasizes that Allah's might (al-Aziz) is coupled with His compassion (ar-Rahim), meaning His punishment is just but His mercy is always available to those He wills to forgive.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the conclusion of Surah Ad-Dukhan, which was revealed in Mecca and addresses the disbelievers' rejection of the Qur'an and the threat of punishment in the Hereafter. It comes in the context of describing the torment of Hell for those who reject faith, providing a counterbalance by affirming that Allah's mercy remains the path to salvation for believers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'My mercy precedes My wrath' (Sahih Muslim 2751). Additionally, the hadith 'None of you will enter Paradise by his deeds alone' with the clarification that Allah's mercy is the means (Sahih Bukhari 5673) relates directly to this ayah's theme.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that while punishment for sin is real, Allah's mercy is always greater and accessible to those who turn to Him sincerely—no sin is too great for His forgiveness, yet entrance to Paradise depends entirely on His will and grace, not our own efforts. It encourages both reverence for Allah's justice and hope in His infinite compassion.