أَوْ يُوبِقْهُنَّ بِمَا كَسَبُوا۟ وَيَعْفُ عَن كَثِيرٍ 34
Translations
Or He could destroy them for what they earned; but He pardons much.
Transliteration
Aw yuubiqhunna bimaa kasaboo wa ya'fu 'an katheer
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's power to destroy ships and those aboard them either through storms or as punishment for their deeds, while simultaneously demonstrating His mercy by forgiving many sins. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret this as illustrating the balance between divine justice (punishing wrongdoing) and divine mercy (pardoning much), emphasizing that Allah does not punish people for every transgression they commit. The ayah is part of a broader passage (42:32-34) discussing Allah's signs in the creation of ships and His control over the seas.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ash-Shuraa, a Meccan surah that addresses fundamental Islamic concepts including divine oneness, revelation, and Allah's signs in creation. The passage containing this ayah (verses 32-34) specifically discusses ships as signs of Allah's power and wisdom, serving as metaphors for human vulnerability before divine will and the need for trust in Allah.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of divine mercy: The Prophet ﷺ said, 'My mercy precedes My wrath' (Sahih Muslim 2751). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari (7405) where the Prophet ﷺ stated that Allah has one hundred parts of mercy, and He sent down one part to be distributed among creation while keeping ninety-nine parts for the Day of Judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize that while Allah holds us accountable for our actions and can punish transgressions, His mercy vastly exceeds His punishment, encouraging both accountability and optimism in seeking forgiveness. It reminds us that Allah's administration of the universe reflects perfect justice tempered with compassion, and we should strive to embody similar balance in our dealings with others.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِى ٱلنَّارِ لِخَزَنَةِ جَهَنَّمَ ٱدْعُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ يُخَفِّفْ عَنَّا يَوْمًا مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ
And those in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell, "Supplicate your Lord to lighten for us a day from the punishment."
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكَ لَيَبْعَثَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَن يَسُومُهُمْ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَسَرِيعُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And [mention] when your Lord declared that He would surely [continue to] send upon them until the Day of Resurrection those who would afflict them with the worst torment. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.
لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَجَابُوا۟ لِرَبِّهِمُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لَهُۥ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَمِثْلَهُۥ مَعَهُۥ لَٱفْتَدَوْا۟ بِهِۦٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ سُوٓءُ ٱلْحِسَابِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ
For those who have responded to their Lord is the best [reward], but those who did not respond to Him - if they had all that is in the earth entirely and the like of it with it, they would [attempt to] ransom themselves thereby. Those will have the worst account, and their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place.
وَيَـٰقَوْمِ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةً فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِىٓ أَرْضِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ قَرِيبٌ
And O my people, this is the she-camel of Allāh - [she is] to you a sign. So let her feed upon Allāh's earth and do not touch her with harm, or you will be taken by an impending punishment."