أَيْنَمَا تَكُونُوا۟ يُدْرِككُّمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ وَلَوْ كُنتُمْ فِى بُرُوجٍ مُّشَيَّدَةٍ ۗ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ حَسَنَةٌ يَقُولُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِۦ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَقُولُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِۦ مِنْ عِندِكَ ۚ قُلْ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَمَالِ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلْقَوْمِ لَا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ حَدِيثًا 78
Translations
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you should be within towers of lofty construction. But if good comes to them, they say, "This is from Allāh"; and if evil befalls them, they say, "This is from you." Say, "All [things] are from Allāh." So what is [the matter] with those people that they can hardly understand any statement?
Transliteration
Aynamā takūnū yudrikkum al-mawtu wa law kuntum fī burūjim mushyaddah. Wa in tusibhum hasanah yaqūlū hādhihī min ʿindi Allāh wa in tusibhum sayyi'ah yaqūlū hādhihī min ʿindik. Qul kullun min ʿindi Allāh. Famāli hā'ulā'i al-qawmi lā yakādūn yafqahūn hadīthā.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes the inevitability of death (which overtakes all people regardless of fortification or protection) and rebukes the hypocrites' inconsistent attribution of events: they ascribe blessings to Allah but blame the Prophet ﷺ for hardships. The verse concludes by affirming that all matters originate from Allah alone, criticizing the hypocrites' inability to understand this fundamental truth. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this as a response to the hypocrites of Madinah who doubted the Prophet's message and showed selective belief based on their preferences.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period addressing the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) of Madinah who outwardly professed Islam but harbored doubt and animosity toward the Prophet ﷺ. It responds to their illogical reasoning wherein they attributed favorable circumstances to Allah while blaming the Prophet for difficulties, revealing their hidden disbelief and lack of sincere understanding.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Bukhari 13). Additionally, the hadith 'The believer's shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1925) relates thematically to the concept that all actions stem from Allah's will and knowledge.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that all circumstances—whether favorable or challenging—come from Allah and are ultimately for wisdom and spiritual growth. This ayah teaches us to maintain consistent faith and gratitude toward Allah rather than succumbing to the hypocrite's tendency to praise Him selectively, while cultivating sincere understanding of His divine wisdom in all affairs.