قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يُنَجِّيكُم مِّنْهَا وَمِن كُلِّ كَرْبٍ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ 64
Translations
Say, "It is Allāh who saves you from it and from every distress; then you [still] associate others with Him."
Transliteration
Qul Allahu yunajjikum minha wa min kulli karbin thumma antum tushrikun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet (ﷺ) to tell the people that Allah alone is the One who delivers them from distress and every hardship, yet despite this clear manifestation of His power and mercy, they persist in associating partners with Him. Ibn Kathir explains this as highlighting the contradiction of human nature—recognizing Allah's exclusive power in times of crisis while reverting to shirk in times of ease—demonstrating both Allah's patience with His creation and the ingratitude of those who forget their Lord's favors.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-An'am, which emphasizes monotheism and refutes polytheistic practices of the Quraysh. The ayah is part of a broader passage addressing the hypocrisy of the idolaters who called upon Allah alone in times of danger but returned to idol worship when safe. This reflects the common Meccan pattern of calling out such contradictions.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'When a man is afflicted with a calamity and says, "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un" (Indeed we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return), Allah will compensate him with reward and a better replacement.' This hadith complements the ayah's theme of turning to Allah in times of distress.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that true faith requires consistency in recognizing Allah's sovereignty in both hardship and ease, rather than selectively calling upon Him only in times of crisis. It encourages believers to maintain gratitude and monotheistic devotion regardless of circumstances, avoiding the trap of compartmentalizing our reliance on Allah.
Related Ayahs
فَالِقُ ٱلْإِصْبَاحِ وَجَعَلَ ٱلَّيْلَ سَكَنًا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ حُسْبَانًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ
[He is] the cleaver of daybreak and has made the night for rest and the sun and moon for calculation. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ مَالَ ٱلْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ ۖ وَأَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْكَيْلَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۖ وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَٱعْدِلُوا۟ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ ۖ وَبِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْفُوا۟ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
And do not approach the orphan's property except in a way that is best [i.e., intending improvement] until he reaches maturity. And give full measure and weight in justice. We do not charge any soul except [with that within] its capacity. And when you speak [i.e., testify], be just, even if [it concerns] a near relative. And the covenant of Allāh fulfill. This has He instructed you that you may remember.
فَقُطِعَ دَابِرُ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ۚ وَٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
So the people that committed wrong were eliminated. And praise to Allāh, Lord of the worlds.
وَهَـٰذَا كِتَـٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ مُبَارَكٌ مُّصَدِّقُ ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَلِتُنذِرَ أُمَّ ٱلْقُرَىٰ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِۦ ۖ وَهُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ
And this is a Book which We have sent down, blessed and confirming what was before it, that you may warn the Mother of Cities [i.e., Makkah] and those around it. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in it, and they are maintaining their prayers.