وَإِن كَانَ طَآئِفَةٌ مِّنكُمْ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلَّذِىٓ أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِۦ وَطَآئِفَةٌ لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ فَٱصْبِرُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَحْكُمَ ٱللَّهُ بَيْنَنَا ۚ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلْحَـٰكِمِينَ 87
Translations
And if there should be a group among you who has believed in that with which I have been sent and a group that has not believed, then be patient until Allāh judges between us. And He is the best of judges."
Transliteration
Wa-in kana ta'ifatun minkum amanu bi-alladhi ursilt bihi wa-ta'ifatun lam yu'minu, fa-sbiru hatta yahkum Allahu baynanaa, wa-huwa khayru al-hakimeen.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Prophet and believers, instructing them to exercise patience when their community is divided between believers and disbelievers regarding the message brought by the Prophet. The verse reassures that Allah alone is the ultimate Judge and will settle all disputes with perfect justice, transcending human judgment. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize this as Divine counsel to the Prophet to remain steadfast despite societal division, trusting in Allah's eventual vindication of truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-A'raf, which discusses the spiritual division among communities throughout history. It reflects the Meccan period when the Prophet faced rejection from the Quraysh while some believed in his message. The ayah is part of the narrative about Shu'ayb's advice to his people (verses 85-93), illustrating a recurring pattern in Islamic history where prophets faced similar trials of societal division.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it,' reflecting the importance of steadfastness in conveying truth despite opposition. Also relevant is a hadith in Jami' at-Tirmidhi where the Prophet counseled patience during trials, stating that patience is 'a light' (noor).
Themes
Key Lesson
When facing opposition or societal division regarding faith, believers should cultivate patience and trust in Allah's ultimate judgment rather than despair, knowing that God's decision is supremely just. This teaches that conviction in truth does not depend on immediate worldly acceptance, but on submission to Divine wisdom.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ وَٱلْـَٔاخِرِينَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Indeed, the former and later peoples
إِن تَكْفُرُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنكُمْ ۖ وَلَا يَرْضَىٰ لِعِبَادِهِ ٱلْكُفْرَ ۖ وَإِن تَشْكُرُوا۟ يَرْضَهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
If you disbelieve - indeed, Allāh is Free from need of you. And He does not approve for His servants disbelief. And if you are grateful, He approves [i.e., likes] it for you; and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you about what you used to do. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَهْدِيهِمُ ٱللَّهُ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Indeed, those who do not believe in the verses of Allāh - Allāh will not guide them, and for them is a painful punishment.
قُل لَّوْ أَنَّ عِندِى مَا تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِهِۦ لَقُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
Say, "If I had that for which you are impatient, the matter would have been decided between me and you, but Allāh is most knowing of the wrongdoers."