وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ ۙ وَٱلرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِرَبِّكُمْ وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَـٰقَكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ 8
Translations
And why do you not believe in Allāh while the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord and He has taken your covenant, if you should [truly] be believers?
Transliteration
Wa mā lakum lā tu'minūna billāhi wa ar-rasūlu yad'ūkum litu'minū bi rabbikum wa qad akhādha mīthāqakum in kuntum mu'minīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rebukes those who reject faith despite Allah's signs and the Prophet's call to believe in their Lord, reminding them of the covenant (mīthāq) they took with Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this refers to the primordial covenant mentioned in Surah Al-A'raf (7:172) where all souls acknowledged Allah's lordship, making disbelief a violation of this fundamental agreement. The ayah emphasizes that rejecting the Prophet's message is particularly inexcusable given that believers already possess this divine covenant in their nature.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the Medinan Surah Al-Hadid, which addresses the Muslim community and calls them to increased faith and spending in Allah's cause. The broader context of the surah emphasizes the importance of believing in Allah and His messenger, and the ayah speaks directly to those hesitant about accepting the message despite its clarity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Every child is born upon the natural inclination (fiṭrah), but his parents make him Jewish, Christian, or Magian' (Sahih Bukhari 1385). Additionally, 'The first thing for which people will be brought to account on the Day of Judgment is the covenant of Allah' (related to fulfilling pledges to Allah).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that faith is not merely an intellectual choice but a fulfillment of an inherent covenant within our nature; rejecting guidance despite clear signs violates this primordial agreement. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder that hesitation in faith contradicts our deepest nature and responsibility before Allah, urging sincere acceptance of divine guidance.