كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَأَغْلِبَنَّ أَنَا۠ وَرُسُلِىٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ 21
Translations
Allāh has written [i.e., decreed], "I will surely overcome, I and My messengers." Indeed, Allāh is Powerful and Exalted in Might.
Transliteration
Kataba Allahu la-aghribanna ana wa rusuli. Inna Allaha qawiyyun azizun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents Allah's divine decree and promise that He and His messengers will certainly prevail and triumph over their enemies. Ibn Kathir explains this as a reassurance to the believers about the ultimate victory of truth over falsehood, while Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this victory refers both to spiritual triumph in hearts and minds as well as material dominion. The statement 'Allah has written' (Kataba) denotes an immutable divine decree, with 'qawiyyun' (mighty) and 'azizun' (invincible) affirming Allah's absolute power to fulfill His promise.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Mujadila, a Medinan chapter dealing with disputes and social justice within the Muslim community. The ayah serves as a broader theological statement of encouragement to believers facing opposition, emphasizing that despite worldly challenges, the ultimate victory belongs to Allah's deen and His messengers. This context relates to the surah's broader themes of divine justice and the triumph of truth.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim (2889) where the Prophet ﷺ said: 'This knowledge will be carried by the just ones of every generation, expelling the distortions of the extremists,' relates to the concept of divine victory through righteous guidance. Additionally, the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah about the promise of Allah's aid to those who assist His deen reflects this ayah's theme of divine support.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should find solace in the certainty that truth ultimately prevails over falsehood, regardless of present hardships or opposition. This ayah teaches that reliance on Allah's promise and alignment with His guidance guarantees ultimate success, encouraging steadfastness in faith and righteous action.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّمَا ٱلنَّجْوَىٰ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ لِيَحْزُنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَلَيْسَ بِضَآرِّهِمْ شَيْـًٔا إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
Private conversation is only from Satan that he may grieve those who have believed, but he will not harm them at all except by permission of Allāh. And upon Allāh let the believers rely.
يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوٓا۟ ۚ أَحْصَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ وَنَسُوهُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
On the Day when Allāh will resurrect them all and inform them of what they did. Allāh had enumerated it, while they forgot it; and Allāh is, over all things, Witness.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمْ تَفَسَّحُوا۟ فِى ٱلْمَجَـٰلِسِ فَٱفْسَحُوا۟ يَفْسَحِ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِذَا قِيلَ ٱنشُزُوا۟ فَٱنشُزُوا۟ يَرْفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ دَرَجَـٰتٍ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
O you who have believed, when you are told, "Space yourselves" in assemblies, then make space; Allāh will make space for you. And when you are told, "Arise," then arise; Allāh will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allāh is Aware of what you do.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا تَنَـٰجَيْتُمْ فَلَا تَتَنَـٰجَوْا۟ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَتَنَـٰجَوْا۟ بِٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِىٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
O you who have believed, when you converse privately, do not converse about sin and aggression and disobedience to the Messenger but converse about righteousness and piety. And fear Allāh, to whom you will be gathered.