وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ 31
Translations
And you will not cause failure [to Allāh] upon the earth. And you have not besides Allāh any protector or helper.
Transliteration
Wa mā antum bi-mu'jizīna fī al-arḍ wa mā lakum min dūni Allāh min waliyy wa lā naṣīr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes that no one can escape or evade Allah's authority and decree on earth, and that without Allah's protection and support, people have neither a guardian (wali) nor a helper (nasir). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain this as a warning against false reliance on worldly power, wealth, or alliances, reinforcing the theme that true protection and aid come only from Allah. Al-Qurtubi notes the ayah serves as a reminder of human weakness and divine omnipotence.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ash-Shuraa, a Meccan surah that addresses fundamental Islamic beliefs including tawheed (monotheism) and the reality of the Hereafter. The broader context of this surah deals with divine attributes and the consequences of rejecting Allah's guidance, making this ayah part of the thematic emphasis on Allah's absolute power and the futility of resistance against His will.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Verily, if the whole of mankind gathered together in order that they might benefit you with something, they would not be able to do so, except that which Allah has already recorded for you; and if they gathered together to harm you, they would not be able to do so except that which Allah had already recorded against you.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2516)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that ultimate security and protection come only from Allah, not from material power, political alliances, or personal strength. Modern readers should cultivate tawakkul (trust in Allah) and avoid arrogance or false confidence in worldly resources, recognizing that all human efforts remain dependent on Allah's permission and will.
Related Ayahs
قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ مَـٰلِكَ ٱلْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِى ٱلْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَنزِعُ ٱلْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَآءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَآءُ ۖ بِيَدِكَ ٱلْخَيْرُ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Say, "O Allāh, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.
نَّحْنُ خَلَقْنَـٰهُمْ وَشَدَدْنَآ أَسْرَهُمْ ۖ وَإِذَا شِئْنَا بَدَّلْنَآ أَمْثَـٰلَهُمْ تَبْدِيلًا
We have created them and strengthened their forms, and when We will, We can change their likenesses with [complete] alteration.
يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ يَعْرُجُ إِلَيْهِ فِى يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُۥٓ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ مِّمَّا تَعُدُّونَ
He arranges [each] matter from the heaven to the earth; then it will ascend to Him in a Day, the extent of which is a thousand years of those which you count.
فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْمَشَـٰرِقِ وَٱلْمَغَـٰرِبِ إِنَّا لَقَـٰدِرُونَ
So I swear by the Lord of [all] risings and settings that indeed We are able