وَمَا كَانَ لَهُۥ عَلَيْهِم مِّن سُلْطَـٰنٍ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِمَّنْ هُوَ مِنْهَا فِى شَكٍّ ۗ وَرَبُّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَفِيظٌ 21
Translations
And he had over them no authority except [it was decreed] that We might make evident who believes in the Hereafter from who is thereof in doubt. And your Lord, over all things, is Guardian.
Transliteration
Wa maa kaana lahoo 'alayihim min sultaanin illaa li na'lama man yu'minu bil-aakhirati mimman huwa minhaa fee shakkin wa rabbuka 'alaa kulli shay'in hafeedh
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Satan (Iblis) has no authority over the believers except what Allah permits to distinguish between those who truly believe in the Hereafter and those who doubt it. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this trial serves as a divine test—the whispers and temptations of Satan become a means through which Allah's knowledge of true believers is manifested, while Allah remains the Guardian over all things. Al-Qurtubi notes that this authority is limited by divine wisdom and serves the ultimate purpose of revealing the sincere from the insincere.
Revelation Context
Surah Saba is a Meccan surah addressing polytheism and the denial of the Hereafter. This ayah comes within the broader context of Allah's discussion about Satan's role and limitations, specifically addressing the Quraysh's doubts about resurrection and the afterlife. The passage reassures believers that their struggles against temptation are meaningful trials orchestrated by Allah's perfect knowledge.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'Verily, Satan comes to one of you and says: Who created such and such? Who created such and such? Until he says: Who created your Lord? If this happens to anyone, let him seek refuge with Allah and abandon these thoughts.' (Sahih Bukhari 3276). This hadith relates to how Satan's whispers test belief, echoing the ayah's theme of distinguishing true believers.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should understand that spiritual struggles and temptations are divinely permitted tests that reveal the sincerity of their faith, not signs of abandonment by Allah. This knowledge should strengthen trust in Allah's perfect guardianship and encourage steadfastness, knowing that Allah fully sees and knows the state of every heart.