وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لَكَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ أَحَاطَ بِٱلنَّاسِ ۚ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا ٱلرُّءْيَا ٱلَّتِىٓ أَرَيْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَٱلشَّجَرَةَ ٱلْمَلْعُونَةَ فِى ٱلْقُرْءَانِ ۚ وَنُخَوِّفُهُمْ فَمَا يَزِيدُهُمْ إِلَّا طُغْيَـٰنًا كَبِيرًا 60
Translations
And [remember, O Muḥammad], when We told you, "Indeed, your Lord has encompassed the people." And We did not make the sight which We showed you except as a trial for the people, as was the accursed tree [mentioned] in the Qur’ān. And We threaten [i.e., warn] them, but it increases them not except in great transgression.
Transliteration
Wa-idh qulna laka inna rabbaka ahata bi-al-nasi wa-ma jaalna al-ru'ya allati araynika illa fitnatan li-al-nasi wa-al-shajarata al-malauna fi al-Qur'ani wa-nukhawwifuhum fa-ma yaziduhum illa tughliyanan kabira
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Night Journey (Isra) when Allah informed the Prophet Muhammad that His knowledge encompasses all people. The vision he was shown was a trial (fitnah) for mankind—a test of their faith and acceptance. The 'cursed tree' mentioned refers to the tree of Zaqqum from Hell (described in Surah 37), which serves as a warning. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Allah uses these divine signs and warnings to test believers, yet ironically, the disbelievers only increase in transgression and arrogance rather than turning to guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Isra, which addresses the miraculous Night Journey of the Prophet from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension (Mir'aj). The surah responds to the Meccan polytheists' mockery and disbelief regarding this supernatural event. The ayah reassures the Prophet that although many reject these signs, Allah's knowledge and control remain absolute, and these trials ultimately serve divine wisdom.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim contain detailed accounts of the Isra and Mi'raj. A relevant hadith describes the Prophet's account of witnessing the tree of Zaqqum in Hell during the Mi'raj, confirming the warning aspect of this vision. Another relevant hadith from Tirmidhi addresses how signs (ayat) increase believers in faith but increase disbelievers in transgression.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that divine signs and warnings are tests of character—they humble the faithful but harden the hearts of those who reject truth. Believers should recognize that Allah's knowledge encompasses all affairs, and that apparent trials contain divine wisdom and mercy, even when others mock or disbelieve.
Related Ayahs
أَوْ يَكُونَ لَكَ بَيْتٌ مِّن زُخْرُفٍ أَوْ تَرْقَىٰ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَلَن نُّؤْمِنَ لِرُقِيِّكَ حَتَّىٰ تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنَا كِتَـٰبًا نَّقْرَؤُهُۥ ۗ قُلْ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّى هَلْ كُنتُ إِلَّا بَشَرًا رَّسُولًا
Or you have a house of ornament [i.e., gold] or you ascend into the sky. And [even then], we will not believe in your ascension until you bring down to us a book we may read." Say, "Exalted is my Lord! Was I ever but a human messenger?"
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."
نَّحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَسْتَمِعُونَ بِهِۦٓ إِذْ يَسْتَمِعُونَ إِلَيْكَ وَإِذْ هُمْ نَجْوَىٰٓ إِذْ يَقُولُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ إِن تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا رَجُلًا مَّسْحُورًا
We are most knowing of how they listen to it when they listen to you and [of] when they are in private conversation, when the wrongdoers say, "You follow not but a man affected by magic."
سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِۦ لَيْلًا مِّنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا ٱلَّذِى بَـٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
Exalted is He who took His Servant [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] by night from al-Masjid al-Ḥarām to al-Masjid al-Aqṣā, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.