قُلْ أَرَءَيْتَكُمْ إِنْ أَتَىٰكُمْ عَذَابُ ٱللَّهِ بَغْتَةً أَوْ جَهْرَةً هَلْ يُهْلَكُ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ 47
Translations
Say, "Have you considered: if the punishment of Allāh should come to you unexpectedly or manifestly, will any be destroyed but the wrongdoing people?"
Transliteration
Qul ara'aytakum in atakum 'adhab-ul-lahi baghtatan aw jahrah hal yuhlak illa al-qawm az-zalimun
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to ask the disbelievers: whether Allah's punishment comes upon them suddenly or openly, is anyone destroyed except the wrongdoing people? This ayah emphasizes that divine punishment is a consequence of injustice and wrongdoing, not arbitrary destruction. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret this as a rhetorical challenge to make clear that Allah's justice ensures punishment only befalls those who commit transgression and reject the truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah Al-An'am, which was revealed to address the polytheists of Mecca who rejected the message of monotheism. The context addresses their denial of the accountability and Day of Judgment, reminding them that Allah's punishment is just and targeted toward those who wrong themselves through disbelief and disobedience.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet said, 'Everyone will taste death, and only on the Day of Judgment will you receive your full recompense.' Additionally, Surah Al-Anfal 8:25 is thematically related: 'And fear fitnah which does not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that suffering and calamity are not random but are divine consequences linked to human actions and moral choices—a reminder for believers to guard against injustice and wrongdoing while providing comfort that Allah's justice is perfect and merciful toward those who submit to Him.