وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِرُسُلِهِمْ لَنُخْرِجَنَّكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِنَآ أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِى مِلَّتِنَا ۖ فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ 13
Translations
And those who disbelieved said to their messengers, "We will surely drive you out of our land, or you must return to our religion." So their Lord inspired to them, "We will surely destroy the wrongdoers.
Transliteration
Wa qāla alladhīna kafarū li rusulihim lanukhrijannakum min ardina aw litaʿūdunna fī millatinā faawḥā ilayihim rabbuhum lanuhlikannal-zālimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers threatened the messengers with expulsion from their lands or forced return to their religion, but Allah revealed to the messengers that He would certainly destroy the oppressors. This ayah demonstrates the recurring pattern of rejection faced by all messengers and Allah's promise of ultimate victory for His prophets and their followers. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this divine promise provided reassurance to the messengers during persecution, establishing a consistent divine pattern throughout history.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ibrahim, a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of the Prophet Muhammad's mission when Muslims faced severe persecution in Mecca. The surah addresses the historical pattern of how nations rejected their messengers, providing comfort to the Prophet and believers during trials. The ayah specifically reflects the threats made against the early Muslim community and mirrors the threats made to previous prophets and their peoples throughout history.
Related Hadiths
The theme connects to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Strange are the ways of a believer for there is nothing picked up from worldly treasures and calamities but is a source of ease for him. So he should be thankful in afflictions and resigned in prosperity.' Additionally, Surah Al-Ankabut 29:10 reinforces this theme: 'And when harm touches those who have believed, their supplication to their Lord increases in hope and in invocation.'
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers facing persecution or opposition for their faith should remember that Allah's promise to destroy the oppressors is certain and unchangeable—a timeless reassurance that truth ultimately prevails over falsehood. This ayah teaches resilience and trust in Divine wisdom, reminding us that hardship in the path of faith is temporary while Allah's justice is eternal.