وَأَلَّوِ ٱسْتَقَـٰمُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلطَّرِيقَةِ لَأَسْقَيْنَـٰهُم مَّآءً غَدَقًا 16
Translations
And [Allāh revealed] that if they had remained straight on the way, We would have given them abundant rain [i.e., provision].
Transliteration
Wa allaw istaqāmū ʿalā aṭ-ṭarīqah la-asqaynāhum māʾan ghadaqā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is part of Allah's statement about what He would have provided to the people of Mecca if they had remained steadfast upon the straight path and believed in the Message. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the 'way' (aṭ-ṭarīqah) refers to Islamic monotheism and obedience to Allah's commands, and 'abundant water' (māʾan ghadaqā) symbolizes both literal provision and spiritual blessings. The ayah emphasizes that Allah's reward for steadfastness is abundant provision and divine grace in both this life and the hereafter.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Jinn is a Meccan surah addressing the rejection and stubbornness of the Meccan polytheists despite receiving clear signs and the Message from the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). This ayah specifically illustrates the conditional nature of Allah's blessings—had the people of Mecca chosen the path of faith and obedience rather than disbelief and opposition, they would have received unprecedented material and spiritual prosperity.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to Hadith Qudsi in which Allah states: 'Whoever draws near to Me by a handspan, I draw near to him by an armspan' (Sahih Bukhari 7405), emphasizing reciprocal response to obedience. Additionally, the Hadith on provision states that whoever fears Allah, He will make a way out for him and provide from sources he could not imagine (Sunan Ibn Majah 4194).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that prosperity and abundance—whether material or spiritual—are contingent upon steadfastness on the path of faith and obedience to Allah. For believers today, it serves as a reminder that commitment to Islamic principles and ethical conduct opens the doors to divine blessing and sustenance in all dimensions of life.