وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ يَـٰقَوْمِ إِن كُنتُمْ ءَامَنتُم بِٱللَّهِ فَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلُوٓا۟ إِن كُنتُم مُّسْلِمِينَ 84
Translations
And Moses said, "O my people, if you have believed in Allāh, then rely upon Him, if you should be Muslims [i.e., submitting to Him]."
Transliteration
Wa qala Musa ya qawmi in kuntum amantu billahi fa alayhi tawakkalu in kuntum muslimeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Musa (Moses) exhorts his people to place their trust in Allah alone if they truly believe in Him, and to surrender completely to His will as Muslims. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this statement represents the pinnacle of faith—belief (iman) must be accompanied by reliance (tawakkul) and submission (islam), demonstrating that true faith is inseparable from trust in Allah's divine plan and protection.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Yunus, which is Meccan, and appears in the narrative of Musa and his people at the moment of their exodus from Egypt. The context shows Musa encouraging his followers who feared Pharaoh's pursuing army, reminding them that belief in Allah necessitates complete reliance upon Him rather than fear of earthly threats.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Place your trust in Allah as it should be placed,' emphasizing tawakkul as a fundamental Islamic principle (Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Whoever places their trust in Allah, He will suffice them' (Surah At-Talaq 65:3) reinforces this teaching throughout Islamic tradition.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith in Allah must manifest as complete trust and reliance upon Him in all circumstances, transcending worldly fears and concerns. For believers today, this ayah serves as a reminder that genuine submission to Islam requires surrendering anxieties to Allah and trusting in His wisdom and protection, particularly during trials and difficulties.
Related Ayahs
قُلِ ٱنظُرُوا۟ مَاذَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَمَا تُغْنِى ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتُ وَٱلنُّذُرُ عَن قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Say, "Observe what is in the heavens and the earth." But of no avail will be signs or warners to a people who do not believe.
إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا ۖ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقًّا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ لِيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَهُمْ شَرَابٌ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ وَعَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْفُرُونَ
To Him is your return all together. [It is] the promise of Allāh [which is] truth. Indeed, He begins the [process of] creation and then repeats it that He may reward those who have believed and done righteous deeds, in justice. But those who disbelieved will have a drink of scalding water and a painful punishment for what they used to deny.
الٓر ۚ تِلْكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلْحَكِيمِ
Alif, Lām, Rā. These are the verses of the wise Book.
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۖ قُلْ فَأْتُوا۟ بِسُورَةٍ مِّثْلِهِۦ وَٱدْعُوا۟ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
Or do they say [about the Prophet (ﷺ)], "He invented it?" Say, "Then bring forth a sūrah like it and call upon [for assistance] whomever you can besides Allāh, if you should be truthful."