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
وَإِن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا نَحْنُ مُهْلِكُوهَا قَبْلَ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ أَوْ مُعَذِّبُوهَا عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا ۚ كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مَسْطُورًا
And there is no city but that We will destroy it before the Day of Resurrection or punish it with a severe punishment. That has ever been in the Register inscribed.
وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ تِسْعَ ءَايَـٰتٍۭ بَيِّنَـٰتٍ ۖ فَسْـَٔلْ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ إِذْ جَآءَهُمْ فَقَالَ لَهُۥ فِرْعَوْنُ إِنِّى لَأَظُنُّكَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ مَسْحُورًا
And We had certainly given Moses nine evident signs, so ask the Children of Israel [about] when he came to them and Pharaoh said to him, "Indeed I think, O Moses, that you are affected by magic."
أَمْ أَمِنتُمْ أَن يُعِيدَكُمْ فِيهِ تَارَةً أُخْرَىٰ فَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ قَاصِفًا مِّنَ ٱلرِّيحِ فَيُغْرِقَكُم بِمَا كَفَرْتُمْ ۙ ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُوا۟ لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا بِهِۦ تَبِيعًا
Or do you feel secure that He will not send you back into it [i.e., the sea] another time and send upon you a hurricane of wind and drown you for what you denied? Then you would not find for yourselves against Us an avenger.
قُلْ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِهِۦٓ أَوْ لَا تُؤْمِنُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ مِن قَبْلِهِۦٓ إِذَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ يَخِرُّونَ لِلْأَذْقَانِ سُجَّدًا
Say, "Believe in it or do not believe." Indeed, those who were given knowledge before it - when it is recited to them, they fall upon their faces in prostration,