لِّلْكَـٰفِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ دَافِعٌ 2
Translations
To the disbelievers; of it there is no preventer.
Transliteration
Lil-kaafireena laysa lahu dafi'un
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the punishment coming upon the disbelievers, stating that there is no one who can ward it off or prevent it. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this speaks to the inevitability and inescapability of Allah's torment for those who reject His signs; no power, intercession, or refuge can protect them from what Allah has decreed. The context emphasizes Divine justice and the certainty of retribution for those who persist in disbelief.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ma'arij is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam when the polytheists of Mecca were mocking the Prophet (peace be upon him) and denying the Day of Judgment. This particular ayah is part of a passage describing the ascending angels and the fate awaiting disbelievers, serving as a stern warning to those who reject the message of Tawheed.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The strongest fortress of a believer is asking Allah (Du'a), and the greatest comfort in this life and the next is the remembrance of Allah.' (Tirmidhi) - This contrasts with those who have no refuge from punishment. Additionally, the hadith on the Day of Judgment emphasizes that no intercession will benefit the disbelievers except by Allah's permission (Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Divine punishment for disbelief is certain and inescapable, serving as a motivation to embrace faith and obedience. For the believer, it reinforces trust in Allah's justice and the assurance that those who reject Him will face consequences, providing comfort in the face of worldly persecution by disbelievers.
Related Ayahs
فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُنذَرِينَ
Then look how was the end of those who were warned -
فَأَصَابَهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتُ مَا كَسَبُوا۟ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مِنْ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ سَيُصِيبُهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتُ مَا كَسَبُوا۟ وَمَا هُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ
And the evil consequences of what they earned struck them. And those who have wronged of these [people] will be struck [i.e., afflicted] by the evil consequences of what they earned; and they will not cause failure.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَآ أَخَذَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ وَهِىَ ظَـٰلِمَةٌ ۚ إِنَّ أَخْذَهُۥٓ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ
And thus is the seizure of your Lord when He seizes the cities while they are committing wrong. Indeed, His seizure is painful and severe.
فَأَتْبَعَهُمْ فِرْعَوْنُ بِجُنُودِهِۦ فَغَشِيَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْيَمِّ مَا غَشِيَهُمْ
So Pharaoh pursued them with his soldiers, and there covered them from the sea that which covered them,