وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ ٱلْغَيْثَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا قَنَطُوا۟ وَيَنشُرُ رَحْمَتَهُۥ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْوَلِىُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُ 28
Translations
And it is He who sends down the rain after they had despaired and spreads His mercy. And He is the Protector, the Praiseworthy.
Transliteration
Wa huwa alladhi yunazzil al-ghayth min ba'da ma qanatoo wa yanshur rahmatahu wa huwa al-waliyy al-hameed
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah as the One who sends down rain after people have lost hope and despaired, and He spreads His mercy widely. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this demonstrates Allah's complete control over provision and His attribute of mercy—just as rain revives dead earth after drought, so too does Allah's mercy revive the hearts of the faithful. Al-Qurtubi notes that this serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual and material sustenance, affirming that Allah alone is the true Protector (al-Waliyy) and Praiseworthy (al-Hameed).
Revelation Context
Surah Ash-Shuraa is a Meccan surah addressing the challenges faced by early Muslims during the Meccan period. This ayah appears within a passage establishing Allah's attributes and His complete dominion over creation, providing reassurance to believers experiencing hardship and despair in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Verily, the best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi). Related thematically: 'When Allah intends good for a people, He sends them a herald' (Ibn Majah), emphasizing divine providence and mercy.
Themes
Key Lesson
When despair overtakes us and circumstances seem hopeless, we must remember that Allah's mercy transcends our expectations and He alone controls all affairs. This ayah teaches believers to maintain hope in Allah's providence and to recognize that periods of hardship are often preludes to relief and blessing.
Related Ayahs
فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ عَنْ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلرَّوْعُ وَجَآءَتْهُ ٱلْبُشْرَىٰ يُجَـٰدِلُنَا فِى قَوْمِ لُوطٍ
And when the fright had left Abraham and the good tidings had reached him, he began to argue [i.e., plead] with Us concerning the people of Lot.
ثُمَّ أَفِيضُوا۟ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَفَاضَ ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Then depart from the place from where [all] the people depart and ask forgiveness of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَن صَلَحَ مِنْ ءَابَآئِهِمْ وَأَزْوَٰجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِهِمْ ۖ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن كُلِّ بَابٍ
Gardens of perpetual residence; they will enter them with whoever were righteous among their forefathers, their spouses and their descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, [saying],
وَإِن كَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن قَبْلِهِۦ لَمُبْلِسِينَ
Although they were, before it was sent down upon them - before that, in despair.