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
وَلَا تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلَىٰ عُنُقِكَ وَلَا تَبْسُطْهَا كُلَّ ٱلْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُومًا مَّحْسُورًا
And do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck or extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent.
أَفَأَصْفَىٰكُمْ رَبُّكُم بِٱلْبَنِينَ وَٱتَّخَذَ مِنَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ إِنَـٰثًا ۚ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَقُولُونَ قَوْلًا عَظِيمًا
Then, has your Lord chosen you for [having] sons and taken [i.e., adopted] from among the angels daughters? Indeed, you say a grave saying.
وَإِذَآ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَى ٱلْإِنسَـٰنِ أَعْرَضَ وَنَـَٔا بِجَانِبِهِۦ ۖ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ كَانَ يَـُٔوسًا
And when We bestow favor upon man [i.e., the disbeliever], he turns away and distances himself; and when evil touches him, he is ever despairing.
إِذًا لَّأَذَقْنَـٰكَ ضِعْفَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ وَضِعْفَ ٱلْمَمَاتِ ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُ لَكَ عَلَيْنَا نَصِيرًا
Then [if you had], We would have made you taste double [punishment in] life and double [after] death. Then you would not find for yourself against Us a helper.