وَيَقُولُونَ سُبْحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِن كَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّنَا لَمَفْعُولًا 108
Translations
And they say, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, the promise of our Lord has been fulfilled."
Transliteration
Wa-yaqūlūna subḥāna rabbinā in kāna wa'du rabbinā la-maf'ūlā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the believers' response upon hearing the Qur'an—they glorify Allah and affirm their conviction that Allah's promise is certainly to be fulfilled. Ibn Kathir explains that this verse demonstrates the believers' awe and reverence for Allah's word, acknowledging that His promises regarding the Day of Judgment and Paradise are absolutely certain and will come to pass without doubt.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Isra (verses 107-109), which describes the reactions of different groups to the Qur'an. The preceding verses mention those who disbelieve, while this verse highlights the faithful believers who respond with glorification and certainty in Allah's promise. It reflects the Meccan period when the Qur'an was being rejected by the disbelievers while believers affirmed their faith.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (7:151) emphasizes the importance of testifying to Allah's unity and affirming His promises. Additionally, the hadith from Tirmidhi about the characteristics of the believers who hear the Qur'an and their hearts tremble with fear of Allah relates to the spiritual state described in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
True believers respond to the divine message not with doubt or hesitation, but with complete conviction in Allah's promises and humble glorification of His majesty. This ayah teaches us that firm belief in Allah's word should manifest in our actions and speech, declaring His transcendence and certainty in His ultimate justice.
Related Ayahs
عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يَرْحَمَكُمْ ۚ وَإِنْ عُدتُّمْ عُدْنَا ۘ وَجَعَلْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ حَصِيرًا
[Then Allāh said], "It is expected, [if you repent], that your Lord will have mercy upon you. But if you return [to sin], We will return [to punishment]. And We have made Hell, for the disbelievers, a prison-bed."
وَقُلِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ شَرِيكٌ فِى ٱلْمُلْكِ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ وَلِىٌّ مِّنَ ٱلذُّلِّ ۖ وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًۢا
And say, "Praise to Allāh, who has not taken a son and has had no partner in [His] dominion and has no [need of a] protector out of weakness; and glorify Him with [great] glorification."
إِنَّ عِبَادِى لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَـٰنٌ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ وَكِيلًا
Indeed, over My [believing] servants there is for you no authority. And sufficient is your Lord as Disposer of affairs.
قَالَ أَرَءَيْتَكَ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كَرَّمْتَ عَلَىَّ لَئِنْ أَخَّرْتَنِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ لَأَحْتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
[Iblees] said, "Do You see this one whom You have honored above me? If You delay me [i.e., my death] until the Day of Resurrection, I will surely destroy his descendants, except for a few."