وَلَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَصَبَرُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا كُذِّبُوا۟ وَأُوذُوا۟ حَتَّىٰٓ أَتَىٰهُمْ نَصْرُنَا ۚ وَلَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَكَ مِن نَّبَإِى۟ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ 34
Translations
And certainly were messengers denied before you, but they were patient over the denial, and they were harmed until Our victory came to them. And none can alter the words [i.e., decrees] of Allāh. And there has certainly come to you some information about the [previous] messengers.
Transliteration
Wa laqad kudhhibat rusulun min qablika fa sabaru ala ma kudhhibu wa udhiu hatta atahum nasruna wa la muabaddila li kalimat illah wa laqad jaaka min nabai il mursalin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah consoles the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by reminding him that previous messengers were also denied and persecuted, yet they remained patient until Allah's help came to them. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that this is a divine promise that the word of Allah cannot be changed—His plan will ultimately prevail. Al-Tabari notes that the ayah provides historical reassurance that persecution of messengers is a pattern, but divine victory is inevitable for those who persevere with faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed during the early Meccan period when the Prophet faced severe opposition and mockery from the Quraysh. It is situated within Surah Al-An'am's broader theme of divine signs and the inevitability of God's justice, serving to strengthen the Prophet's resolve during difficult circumstances.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim (2286) records that the Prophet said: 'The greatest trials (balaas) were given to the Prophets, then those nearest to them in piety,' emphasizing that persecution is a test for the faithful. Additionally, Tirmidhi records that 'No one is tested with a trial harder than prophethood,' affirming the connection between the prophetic mission and trials.
Themes
Key Lesson
For modern believers, this ayah teaches that difficulties and opposition are not signs of failure but are tests that precede divine victory—patience in faith, combined with unwavering belief in Allah's promise, is the path to ultimate triumph. It reminds us that our struggles are shared with the greatest exemplars of human history, and that Allah's plan cannot be altered by human resistance.
Related Ayahs
ثُمَّ لَمْ تَكُن فِتْنَتُهُمْ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ وَٱللَّهِ رَبِّنَا مَا كُنَّا مُشْرِكِينَ
Then there will be no [excuse upon] examination except they will say, "By Allāh, our Lord, we were not those who associated."
قُلْ أَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ أَبْغِى رَبًّا وَهُوَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ ۚ وَلَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ إِلَّا عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ
Say, "Is it other than Allāh I should desire as a lord while He is the Lord of all things? And every soul earns not [blame] except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that over which you used to differ."
سَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ لَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَآ أَشْرَكْنَا وَلَآ ءَابَآؤُنَا وَلَا حَرَّمْنَا مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ ذَاقُوا۟ بَأْسَنَا ۗ قُلْ هَلْ عِندَكُم مِّنْ عِلْمٍ فَتُخْرِجُوهُ لَنَآ ۖ إِن تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَإِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا تَخْرُصُونَ
Those who associated [others] with Allāh will say, "If Allāh had willed, we would not have associated [anything] and neither would our fathers, nor would we have prohibited anything." Likewise did those before deny until they tasted Our punishment. Say, "Do you have any knowledge that you can produce for us? You follow not except assumption, and you are not but misjudging."
وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ذُو ٱلرَّحْمَةِ ۚ إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَسْتَخْلِفْ مِنۢ بَعْدِكُم مَّا يَشَآءُ كَمَآ أَنشَأَكُم مِّن ذُرِّيَّةِ قَوْمٍ ءَاخَرِينَ
And your Lord is the Free of need, the possessor of mercy. If He wills, He can do away with you and give succession after you to whomever He wills, just as He produced you from the descendants of another people.