وَلَوْلَآ أَن ثَبَّتْنَـٰكَ لَقَدْ كِدتَّ تَرْكَنُ إِلَيْهِمْ شَيْـًٔا قَلِيلًا 74
Translations
And if We had not strengthened you, you would have almost inclined to them a little.
Transliteration
Wa lawlā an thabbatnāka laqad kidta tarkanu ilayhim shay'an qalīlā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), stating that had Allah not strengthened and firmly established him, he would have nearly inclined toward the polytheists in some small matter. The classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as referring to pressure from the Quraysh to compromise on Islamic principles, whether regarding the message itself or practices. This verse emphasizes divine protection and steadfastness as a gift from Allah, not a result of human effort alone, while simultaneously highlighting the Prophet's unwavering commitment to truth despite external pressures.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Isra, a Meccan surah revealed during a period of intense persecution against the Prophet and early Muslims. The specific context relates to the Quraysh's attempts to negotiate with the Prophet, offering him wealth, power, and compromise on monotheism. The verse reassures the Prophet of Allah's protection while acknowledging the reality of human weakness without divine support.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3392) where the Prophet mentioned the Quraysh's attempts to make him compromise is thematically related. Additionally, the hadith in Muslim (1844) about the importance of steadfastness in faith relates to the concept of thabbit (firmness) mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that remaining firm on Islamic principles despite worldly pressures is a divine blessing requiring continuous reliance on Allah. It reminds believers that human resolve alone is insufficient without Allah's support, encouraging constant supplication for firmness in faith and protection from spiritual compromise.
Related Ayahs
وَقُلْ جَآءَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْبَـٰطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا
And say, "Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed is falsehood, [by nature], ever bound to depart."
وَإِن كَادُوا۟ لَيَسْتَفِزُّونَكَ مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيُخْرِجُوكَ مِنْهَا ۖ وَإِذًا لَّا يَلْبَثُونَ خِلَـٰفَكَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
And indeed, they were about to provoke [i.e., drive] you from the land [i.e., Makkah] to evict you therefrom. And then [when they do], they will not remain [there] after you, except for a little.
وَقَالُوا۟ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ تَفْجُرَ لَنَا مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ يَنۢبُوعًا
And they say, "We will not believe you until you break open for us from the ground a spring
وَءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُ هُدًى لِّبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ أَلَّا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ مِن دُونِى وَكِيلًا
And We gave Moses the Scripture and made it a guidance for the Children of Israel that you not take other than Me as Disposer of affairs,