أَمَّن يُجِيبُ ٱلْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ ٱلسُّوٓءَ وَيَجْعَلُكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ أَءِلَـٰهٌ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ 62
Translations
Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there a deity with Allāh? Little do you remember.
Transliteration
Amman yujeebu al-mudtarra iza da'ahu wa yakshifu as-su'a wa yaj'alukum khulafa'a al-ard. A ilahun ma'a Allah. Qalilan ma tathakkarun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a rhetorical argument establishing Allah's unique divine attributes by asking: who responds to the distressed caller, removes harm, and grants you stewardship of the earth except Allah alone? Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this serves as a logical proof (dalil) against polytheism, emphasizing that these attributes of responding to supplication, removing afflictions, and granting authority belong exclusively to Allah. The concluding phrase 'how little you remember' expresses dismay at humanity's negligence in recognizing these signs despite their obviousness.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah An-Naml's broader Meccan context, which focuses on refuting polytheism and establishing monotheism through rational arguments and natural signs. The surah employs rhetorical questions throughout to convince the disbelievers of Allah's uniqueness, and this particular verse fits the pattern of presenting undeniable attributes only Allah possesses.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The supplication (du'a) is the most noble act of worship' (Tirmidhi). Also relevant: 'When one of you is in distress and calls upon Allah, He responds' - a principle affirmed in numerous hadiths about the power of sincere supplication.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that Allah alone deserves worship because He alone answers the desperate cries of His servants and relieves their suffering—a direct, personal relationship accessible to every believer. Modern readers should reflect on their own moments of distress and recognize them as opportunities to affirm tawhid and strengthen their reliance on Allah alone, rather than seeking help from false gods or idols of the contemporary world.
Related Ayahs
إِن تَدْعُوهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُوا۟ دُعَآءَكُمْ وَلَوْ سَمِعُوا۟ مَا ٱسْتَجَابُوا۟ لَكُمْ ۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يَكْفُرُونَ بِشِرْكِكُمْ ۚ وَلَا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثْلُ خَبِيرٍ
If you invoke them, they do not hear your supplication; and if they heard, they would not respond to you. And on the Day of Resurrection they will deny your association. And none can inform you like [one] Aware [of all matters].
ٱللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ وَرَبَّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
Allāh, your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers?"
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ سَرْمَدًا إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَنْ إِلَـٰهٌ غَيْرُ ٱللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُم بِضِيَآءٍ ۖ أَفَلَا تَسْمَعُونَ
Say, "Have you considered: if Allāh should make for you the night continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allāh could bring you light? Then will you not hear?"
إِنِّى وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِىَ لِلَّذِى فَطَرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Indeed, I have turned my face [i.e., self] toward He who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allāh."