وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْأَدْنَىٰ دُونَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْأَكْبَرِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ 21
Translations
And We will surely let them taste the nearer punishment short of the greater punishment that perhaps they will return [i.e., repent].
Transliteration
Wa lanudhiqannahum mina al-adhabi al-adna duna al-adhabi al-akbari laallahum yarji'un
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the lesser punishments and trials that Allah permits in this worldly life—such as hardship, loss, and calamities—as a means to call people back to repentance before the greater punishment of the Hereafter. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that these worldly afflictions serve as merciful warnings and opportunities for spiritual correction, allowing believers to return to obedience before facing the eternal consequences on the Day of Judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah As-Sajdah, a Meccan chapter addressing the disbelievers' rejection of divine signs. The broader context describes how Allah addresses those who turn away from His revelation, warning them that the worldly trials and sufferings they experience are divine reminders calling them to repentance before the final, irreversible punishment arrives.
Related Hadiths
The principle aligns with Sahih Muslim (2999) where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated: 'Amazing is the affair of the believer, for there is good for him in every matter; and this is not the case with anyone else except the believer. For if he is happy, he thanks Allah, thus there is good for him, and if he is afflicted with sorrow, he shows patience, thus there is good for him.' This illustrates how trials in this life can lead to spiritual benefit and return to Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
The challenges and hardships we face in life are merciful divine reminders designed to guide us back to righteousness, not merely punishments; recognizing this transforms our perspective on suffering and encourages us to use worldly difficulties as catalysts for spiritual renewal and genuine repentance.