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.
Related Ayahs
ثُمَّ قَفَّيْنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِم بِرُسُلِنَا وَقَفَّيْنَا بِعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلْإِنجِيلَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ رَأْفَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَرَهْبَانِيَّةً ٱبْتَدَعُوهَا مَا كَتَبْنَـٰهَا عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَّا ٱبْتِغَآءَ رِضْوَٰنِ ٱللَّهِ فَمَا رَعَوْهَا حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهَا ۖ فَـَٔاتَيْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَـٰسِقُونَ
Then We sent following their footsteps [i.e., traditions] Our messengers and followed [them] with Jesus, the son of Mary, and gave him the Gospel. And We placed in the hearts of those who followed him compassion and mercy and monasticism, which they innovated; We did not prescribe it for them except [that they did so] seeking the approval of Allāh. But they did not observe it with due observance. So We gave the ones who believed among them their reward, but many of them are defiantly disobedient.
سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Whatever is in the heavens and earth exalts Allāh, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
لِّكَيْلَا تَأْسَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا فَاتَكُمْ وَلَا تَفْرَحُوا۟ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ
In order that you not despair over what has eluded you and not exult [in pride] over what He has given you. And Allāh does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful -
يُولِجُ ٱلَّيْلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلَّيْلِ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
He causes the night to enter the day and causes the day to enter the night, and He is Knowing of that within the breasts.