قَدِ ٱفْتَرَيْنَا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا إِنْ عُدْنَا فِى مِلَّتِكُم بَعْدَ إِذْ نَجَّىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ مِنْهَا ۚ وَمَا يَكُونُ لَنَآ أَن نَّعُودَ فِيهَآ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّنَا ۚ وَسِعَ رَبُّنَا كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًا ۚ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا ٱفْتَحْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ قَوْمِنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْفَـٰتِحِينَ 89
Translations
We would have invented against Allāh a lie if we returned to your religion after Allāh had saved us from it. And it is not for us to return to it except that Allāh, our Lord, should will. Our Lord has encompassed all things in knowledge. Upon Allāh we have relied. Our Lord, decide between us and our people in truth, and You are the best of those who give decision."
Transliteration
Qad iftaraynā 'alā Allāhi kadhiban in 'udnā fī millatikum ba'da idhā najjānā Allāhu minhā, wa mā yakūnu lanā an na'ūda fīhā illā an yashā'a Allāhu rabbunā, wasi'a rabbunā kulla shay'in 'ilman, 'alā Allāhi tawakkalnā, rabbanā ftaḥ baynanā wa bayna qawminā bil-ḥaqqi wa anta khayru al-fātiḥīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah contains the resolute declaration of Prophet Shuayb (peace be upon him) and the believers of Madyan, rejecting the demand of their people to abandon their faith. They proclaim that returning to idolatry after Allah has saved them would be fabricating lies against Allah, and that they will not return to disbelief except if Allah wills otherwise—emphasizing divine will while maintaining human responsibility. The verse demonstrates unwavering commitment to monotheism and concludes with an appeal to Allah for judgment with truth, reflecting complete reliance upon Him. Ibn Kathir notes this exemplifies the spiritual fortitude required when facing pressure to abandon faith, while Al-Qurtubi emphasizes the balance between divine decree and human choice expressed herein.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the narrative of Prophet Shuayb and the people of Madyan (Surah Al-A'raf: 85-93, a Meccan surah). The context depicts the believers' response to their people's ultimatum: either rejoin their religion or face expulsion. Shuayb and the faithful respond with this powerful testimony of faith, representing the confrontation between tawhīd (monotheism) and shirk (polytheism) that characterizes many Meccan surahs addressing the pagan Quraysh.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, the principle of unwavering faith despite persecution is supported by the Hadith Qudsi: 'My servant continues to draw near to Me with optional acts of worship until I love him' (Sahih Bukhari 6502), and the instruction in Surah An-Nahl 16:125 on steadfastness, which numerous hadiths elaborate upon regarding maintaining faith under pressure.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that maintaining faith despite social pressure and persecution is a sacred covenant with Allah, and that true reliance upon Him means neither fearing human rejection nor accepting false compromise. It reminds modern Muslims that adhering to Islamic principles requires resolute conviction and that Allah's knowledge encompasses all consequences, making complete trust in Him the surest path through trials.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ فِيهَا تَحْيَوْنَ وَفِيهَا تَمُوتُونَ وَمِنْهَا تُخْرَجُونَ
He said, "Therein you will live, and therein you will die, and from it you will be brought forth."
قَالَ أَلْقُوا۟ ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَلْقَوْا۟ سَحَرُوٓا۟ أَعْيُنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱسْتَرْهَبُوهُمْ وَجَآءُو بِسِحْرٍ عَظِيمٍ
He said, "Throw," and when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, and they presented a great [feat of] magic.
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَلِقَآءِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ ۚ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
Those who denied Our signs and the meeting of the Hereafter - their deeds have become worthless. Are they recompensed except for what they used to do?
وَأَوْرَثْنَا ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَانُوا۟ يُسْتَضْعَفُونَ مَشَـٰرِقَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَغَـٰرِبَهَا ٱلَّتِى بَـٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا ۖ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا۟ ۖ وَدَمَّرْنَا مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَقَوْمُهُۥ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْرِشُونَ
And We caused the people who had been oppressed to inherit the eastern regions of the land and the western ones, which We had blessed. And the good word [i.e., decree] of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel because of what they had patiently endured. And We destroyed [all] that Pharaoh and his people were producing and what they had been building.