أَفَأَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مَكَرُوا۟ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ أَن يَخْسِفَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ 45
Translations
Then, do those who have planned evil deeds feel secure that Allāh will not cause the earth to swallow them or that the punishment will not come upon them from where they do not perceive?
Transliteration
Afa-amina alladhina makaru as-sayyi'ati an yakhsifa allahu bihimu al-arda aw ya'tiyahumu al-'adhbu min haythu la yash'urun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns those who plot evil and devise schemes against Allah's truth that they should not feel secure from Allah's punishment, which may come in the form of the earth swallowing them or torment arriving unexpectedly. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the ayah emphasizes Allah's power to punish the plotters in ways they cannot anticipate or prevent, whether through sudden destruction (khasf - subsidence of the earth) or other forms of divine retribution. The passage serves as a stern admonition that no evil scheme escapes Allah's knowledge and that the plotters' false sense of security will not protect them from His justice.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nahl, a Meccan chapter revealed during the early Islamic period when the Quraysh and other Arab polytheists were actively plotting against the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his followers. The broader context of the surah addresses the signs of Allah's creation and warns against those who reject monotheism and conspire against the Message, making this verse a timely warning to the disbelievers of Mecca.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever plots against my Ummah will not die until Allah brings upon him disgrace' (related thematically in various collections). Additionally, Hadith Qudsi reminds that 'I am as My servant thinks of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me' - emphasizing Allah's complete awareness of all intentions and plots.
Themes
Key Lesson
The ayah teaches that no evil scheme or plot against truth and justice remains hidden from Allah, and that wrongdoers should not be deceived by temporary worldly security or delay in punishment. For contemporary believers, this serves as both a comfort that injustice will ultimately be addressed by Allah and a warning to refrain from plotting and deception, trusting instead in honest dealings and reliance on the Divine.
Related Ayahs
وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِمُ ٱلْمَثُلَـٰتُ ۗ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ ظُلْمِهِمْ ۖ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَشَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
They impatiently urge you to bring about evil before good, while there has already occurred before them similar punishments [to what they demand]. And indeed, your Lord is the possessor of forgiveness for the people despite their wrongdoing, and indeed, your Lord is severe in penalty.
وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ سُلْطَـٰنًا وَمَا لَيْسَ لَهُم بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۗ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِن نَّصِيرٍ
And they worship besides Allāh that for which He has not sent down authority and that of which they have no knowledge. And there will not be for the wrongdoers any helper.
إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَفْعَلُ بِٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
Indeed, that is how We deal with the criminals.
وَيَـٰقَوْمِ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةً فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِىٓ أَرْضِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ قَرِيبٌ
And O my people, this is the she-camel of Allāh - [she is] to you a sign. So let her feed upon Allāh's earth and do not touch her with harm, or you will be taken by an impending punishment."