ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا۟ وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ 42
Translations
[They are] those who endured patiently and upon their Lord relied.
Transliteration
Alladhīna sabaru wa 'alā rabbihim yatawakkhalūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who possess two essential qualities: patience (sabr) in facing trials and hardships, and reliance upon their Lord (tawakkul). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, these believers demonstrate unwavering faith by enduring difficulties with steadfastness while placing their complete trust in Allah's wisdom and support. This ayah emphasizes that true faith manifests through both active perseverance and passive submission to Allah's will.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Nahl, which discusses divine blessings and the characteristics of believers. It comes during a section addressing those who face persecution and hardship, particularly relevant to the Meccan period when early Muslims endured significant opposition. The ayah provides encouragement to believers to maintain their patience and trust in Allah despite external challenges.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest treasure is patience' (At-Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Whoever relies upon Allah, He will be sufficient for him' (At-Tirmidhi 2347), which directly complements the theme of tawakkul in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims today should recognize that true strength lies not in the absence of difficulties but in maintaining patience and unwavering trust in Allah during trials. This ayah teaches that combining active perseverance with complete reliance on the Divine creates spiritual resilience and peace of heart.