وَٱلَّذِينَ يَسْعَوْنَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا مُعَـٰجِزِينَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ مُحْضَرُونَ 38
Translations
And the ones who strive against Our verses to cause [them] failure - those will be brought into the punishment [to remain].
Transliteration
Wal-ladhina yas'aun fi ayatina mu'ajizin, ula'ika fil-adhabi muhdarun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to those who strive to invalidate or nullify Allah's signs and verses through defiance and obstruction, seeking to prevent others from believing in them. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that such people who actively work against Allah's revelations with the intention of rendering them ineffective will be brought forward in the punishment on the Day of Judgment. The word 'mu'ajizin' (معاجزين) carries the sense of trying to frustrate Allah's will or escape His grip, which is impossible, making their punishment inevitable.
Revelation Context
Surah Saba is a Meccan chapter dealing with themes of monotheism, the Qur'an's authenticity, and the fate of those who reject Allah's message. This particular ayah fits within the broader context of the surah's warning against those who actively oppose and mock the divine signs rather than merely disbelieving passively.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever works against my Sunnah is not from me' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, the principle of opposing Allah's signs is condemned in Hadith Qudsi where Allah states: 'Whoever shows enmity to My allies, I declare war upon him' (Sahih Bukhari).
Themes
Key Lesson
Active rejection and mockery of Allah's revelations carries severe consequences; believers should recognize that opposing divine truth is not merely a personal choice but an act of defiance against the Almighty that will be answered with punishment. This serves as a warning to guard one's heart against arrogance and to accept the signs of Allah with humility.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ بَلْ مَكْرُ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذْ تَأْمُرُونَنَآ أَن نَّكْفُرَ بِٱللَّهِ وَنَجْعَلَ لَهُۥٓ أَندَادًا ۚ وَأَسَرُّوا۟ ٱلنَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلْأَغْلَـٰلَ فِىٓ أَعْنَاقِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
Those who were oppressed will say to those who were arrogant, "Rather, [it was your] conspiracy of night and day when you were ordering us to disbelieve in Allāh and attribute to Him equals." But they will [all] confide regret when they see the punishment; and We will put shackles on the necks of those who disbelieved. Will they be recompensed except for what they used to do?
قُلْ مَا سَأَلْتُكُم مِّنْ أَجْرٍ فَهُوَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
Say, "Whatever payment I might have asked of you - it is yours. My payment is only from Allāh, and He is, over all things, Witness."
وَمَا كَانَ لَهُۥ عَلَيْهِم مِّن سُلْطَـٰنٍ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِمَّنْ هُوَ مِنْهَا فِى شَكٍّ ۗ وَرَبُّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَفِيظٌ
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.
لَقَدْ كَانَ لِسَبَإٍ فِى مَسْكَنِهِمْ ءَايَةٌ ۖ جَنَّتَانِ عَن يَمِينٍ وَشِمَالٍ ۖ كُلُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِ رَبِّكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لَهُۥ ۚ بَلْدَةٌ طَيِّبَةٌ وَرَبٌّ غَفُورٌ
There was for [the tribe of] Saba’ in their dwelling place a sign: two [fields of] gardens on the right and on the left. [They were told], "Eat from the provisions of your Lord and be grateful to Him. A good land [have you], and a forgiving Lord."