فَإِن كَذَّبُوكَ فَقُل رَّبُّكُمْ ذُو رَحْمَةٍ وَٰسِعَةٍ وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُهُۥ عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ 147
Translations
So if they deny you, [O Muḥammad], say, "Your Lord is the possessor of vast mercy; but His punishment cannot be repelled from the people who are criminals."
Transliteration
Fa-in kadhdhiabuka faqul rabbukum dhu rahmatun waasi'ah wa la yuraddubasa'uhu 'an al-qawm al-mujrimeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah instructs Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on how to respond when people reject his message: to remind them that their Lord possesses vast mercy, yet His punishment will not be turned away from the criminal people. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this verse balances divine attributes—emphasizing both Allah's infinite compassion and His justice—and serves as a consolation to the Prophet, indicating that rejection does not negate God's mercy toward creation, but those who persist in transgression will face the consequences of their actions.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah Al-An'am, which addresses the polytheists' rejection of monotheism and the Prophet's message. The surah repeatedly emphasizes the futility of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and the certainty of Divine punishment for those who deliberately turn away from truth despite clear signs.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to Sahih Muslim's hadith where the Prophet said, 'My mercy precedes My wrath,' emphasizing that while Allah's mercy is vast, His justice demands accountability. Also relevant is the hadith in Jami' at-Tirmidhi about patience in face of rejection: the Prophet was commanded to be patient when his message was denied.
Themes
Key Lesson
When faced with rejection or resistance to truth, believers should trust in God's vast mercy while remaining firm that justice will ultimately prevail; both divine compassion and divine accountability are real, and those who knowingly reject truth cannot escape the consequences of their choices.