وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ رُسُلًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِمْ فَجَآءُوهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَٱنتَقَمْنَا مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُوا۟ ۖ وَكَانَ حَقًّا عَلَيْنَا نَصْرُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 47
Translations
And We have already sent messengers before you to their peoples, and they came to them with clear evidences; then We took retribution from those who committed crimes, and incumbent upon Us was support of the believers.
Transliteration
Wa-laqad arsalnā min qablika rusulān ilā qawmihim fa-jāāūhum bil-bayyināt fa-ntaqamnā min alladhīna ajramū wa-kāna haqqan alaynā nasru al-mu'minīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah sent messengers before Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to their respective peoples with clear signs and proofs, and those who rejected and committed crimes were punished while the believers were divinely supported. Classical exegetes like Ibn Kathir emphasize this as consolation for the Prophet during persecution in Mecca, assuring him that the pattern of history shows Allah's justice: disbelievers face punishment and believers receive aid. Al-Qurtubi notes that this verse establishes an immutable divine law (Sunnah Allāh) operating throughout human history.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Mecca during a period when the Prophet and early Muslims faced intense opposition and persecution from the Quraysh. This ayah provides historical precedent and psychological comfort, reminding believers that divine support for the righteous is an established pattern. The surah as a whole addresses the Romans' conflict with Persia as a sign of Allah's sovereignty over worldly affairs.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim 2889: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The parable of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is like a body; when one of its limbs aches, the whole body responds.' This relates to the collective support promised to believers. Additionally, Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3025 addresses Allah's aid to those who aid His religion.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers facing opposition should take comfort in the historical certainty that Allah punishes the oppressors and aids the faithful, not through worldly power alone but through divine justice. This teaches reliance on Allah's promise rather than immediate circumstances, encouraging patience during trials knowing that victory—whether in this life or the next—ultimately belongs to those who believe.
Related Ayahs
وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَكَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَلِقَآئِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ مُحْضَرُونَ
But as for those who disbelieved and denied Our verses and the meeting of the Hereafter, those will be brought into the punishment [to remain].
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ وَٱلْإِيمَـٰنَ لَقَدْ لَبِثْتُمْ فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْبَعْثِ ۖ فَهَـٰذَا يَوْمُ ٱلْبَعْثِ وَلَـٰكِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
But those who were given knowledge and faith will say, "You remained the extent of Allāh's decree until the Day of Resurrection, and this is the Day of Resurrection, but you did not used to know."
مَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُۥ ۖ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَلِأَنفُسِهِمْ يَمْهَدُونَ
Whoever disbelieves - upon him is [the consequence of] his disbelief. And whoever does righteousness - they are for themselves preparing,
ظَهَرَ ٱلْفَسَادُ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِى ٱلنَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ ٱلَّذِى عَمِلُوا۟ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He [i.e., Allāh] may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].