مَّن يُصْرَفْ عَنْهُ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَدْ رَحِمَهُۥ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْمُبِينُ 16
Translations
He from whom it is averted that Day - [Allāh] has granted him mercy. And that is the clear attainment.
Transliteration
Man yusraf 'anhu yawma'idhin faqad rahamahu, wa dhalika al-fawz al-mubin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Day of Judgment, stating that whoever is spared or averted from punishment on that Day has indeed been shown mercy by Allah, and this is the clear/manifest success. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse emphasizes that deliverance from the punishment of the Day of Resurrection is the greatest mercy and the ultimate victory, as it represents salvation from eternal torment. The 'turning away' (sarf) of punishment is understood as divine protection and forgiveness.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-An'am, a Meccan surah that extensively discusses monotheism, the resurrection, and the Day of Judgment. Verse 6:16 is part of a passage (verses 15-16) contrasting the desires of disbelievers with the true success of believers, emphasizing that worldly gains pale in comparison to salvation on the Day of Judgment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever is forgiven by Allah on the Day of Resurrection, he is indeed successful' (related concept in various hadith collections). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet emphasizes that 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' - showing that merciful treatment in this life reflects Allah's mercy.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that the greatest success is not material wealth or worldly achievement, but rather Allah's mercy and protection from His punishment on the Day of Judgment. It should motivate us to prioritize our relationship with Allah and righteousness over fleeting worldly pursuits, recognizing that ultimate victory lies only in divine forgiveness and salvation.
Related Ayahs
ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَذَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ
See how they will lie about themselves. And lost from them will be what they used to invent.
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ قَالَ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ وَلَمْ يُوحَ إِلَيْهِ شَىْءٌ وَمَن قَالَ سَأُنزِلُ مِثْلَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ فِى غَمَرَٰتِ ٱلْمَوْتِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ بَاسِطُوٓا۟ أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمُ ۖ ٱلْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ ٱلْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ غَيْرَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَكُنتُمْ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
And who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allāh or says, "It has been inspired to me," while nothing has been inspired to him, and one who says, "I will reveal [something] like what Allāh revealed." And if you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the overwhelming pangs of death while the angels extend their hands, [saying], "Discharge your souls! Today you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation for what you used to say against Allāh other than the truth and [that] you were, toward His verses, being arrogant."
وَمَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ مِنْ حِسَابِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍ وَلَـٰكِن ذِكْرَىٰ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ
And those who fear Allāh are not held accountable for them [i.e., the disbelievers] at all, but [only for] a reminder - that perhaps they will fear Him.
ذَٰلِكَ أَن لَّمْ يَكُن رَّبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا غَـٰفِلُونَ
That is because your Lord would not destroy the cities for wrongdoing while their people were unaware.