أَفَمَنْ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ كَلِمَةُ ٱلْعَذَابِ أَفَأَنتَ تُنقِذُ مَن فِى ٱلنَّارِ 19
Translations
Then, is one who has deserved the decree of punishment [to be guided]? Then, can you save one who is in the Fire?
Transliteration
Afaman haqqa alayhi kalimatu al-adhabi afaanta tunqidhu man fi al-nar
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah poses a rhetorical question challenging the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarding those upon whom the word of punishment has been decreed—can he rescue them from the Fire? According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this addresses the reality that Allah's decree of punishment upon certain individuals is absolute, and no one, not even the Prophet, has the power to alter Allah's judgment or save the condemned from Hell. The ayah emphasizes divine justice and the futility of human intervention against Allah's predetermined decree for those who have earned His punishment through their rejection and disbelief.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah Az-Zumar, which addresses the themes of tawhid (monotheism), the Day of Judgment, and divine decree. The broader context discusses the different categories of people—believers, disbelievers, and those in between—and their ultimate destinations. This particular verse responds to those who might mistakenly believe the Prophet has power to save anyone from punishment regardless of their deeds and faith.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of divine decree: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Everyone will be facilitated toward that for which he was created' (Sahih Bukhari 6594). Also relevant: 'The most cautious of my ummah regarding what Allah has forbidden is the most knowledgeable about what Allah has permitted' (Tirmidhi), illustrating how knowledge of divine law leads to understanding of Allah's justice.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that while the Prophet is honored as an intercessor, ultimate salvation depends on one's own faith, repentance, and righteous deeds—no external person can save another from the consequences of rejecting Allah's guidance. It should inspire believers to take responsibility for their spiritual state and not rely on false hopes of intercession without personal effort toward obedience and faith.
Related Ayahs
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ ۚ قُلْ أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَنِىَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ هَلْ هُنَّ كَـٰشِفَـٰتُ ضُرِّهِۦٓ أَوْ أَرَادَنِى بِرَحْمَةٍ هَلْ هُنَّ مُمْسِكَـٰتُ رَحْمَتِهِۦ ۚ قُلْ حَسْبِىَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ عَلَيْهِ يَتَوَكَّلُ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ
And if you asked them, "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they would surely say, "Allāh." Say, "Then have you considered what you invoke besides Allāh? If Allāh intended me harm, are they removers of His harm; or if He intended me mercy, are they withholders of His mercy?" Say, "Sufficient for me is Allāh; upon Him [alone] rely the [wise] reliers."
وَلَوْ أَنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَمِثْلَهُۥ مَعَهُۥ لَٱفْتَدَوْا۟ بِهِۦ مِن سُوٓءِ ٱلْعَذَابِ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۚ وَبَدَا لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يَكُونُوا۟ يَحْتَسِبُونَ
And if those who did wrong had all that is in the earth entirely and the like of it with it, they would [attempt to] ransom themselves thereby from the worst of the punishment on the Day of Resurrection. And there will appear to them from Allāh that which they had not taken into account.
لَـٰكِنِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ رَبَّهُمْ لَهُمْ غُرَفٌ مِّن فَوْقِهَا غُرَفٌ مَّبْنِيَّةٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ
But those who have feared their Lord - for them are chambers, above them chambers built high, beneath which rivers flow. [This is] the promise of Allāh. Allāh does not fail in [His] promise.
أَمِ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ شُفَعَآءَ ۚ قُلْ أَوَلَوْ كَانُوا۟ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يَعْقِلُونَ
Or have they taken other than Allāh as intercessors? Say, "Even though they do not possess [power over] anything, nor do they reason?"