قَالَ قَدْ أُجِيبَت دَّعْوَتُكُمَا فَٱسْتَقِيمَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعَآنِّ سَبِيلَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 89
Translations
[Allāh] said, "Your supplication has been answered." So remain on a right course and follow not the way of those who do not know."
Transliteration
Qala qad ujibat da'watukuma fastaqima wa la tattabi'anni sabila alladhina la ya'lamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah responds to the supplications of Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron) by affirming that their prayers have been answered, and commands them to remain steadfast on the right path and not to follow the way of those who lack knowledge—referring to Pharaoh and his people. Ibn Kathir notes this occurred after Musa and Harun invoked Allah against Pharaoh's sorcerers, and Al-Tabari emphasizes that this ayah establishes the principle that sincere supplication to Allah is always answered, though the answer may come in forms beyond our immediate expectation.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Surah Yunus recounting the story of Musa and Harun confronting Pharaoh. It follows their prayer against the sorcerers of Pharaoh (10:81-82) and represents Allah's direct confirmation of acceptance. The broader context addresses the conflict between truth and falsehood, and divine support for the messengers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The supplication of any one of you is answered as long as he does not grow impatient and say: I supplicated but it was not answered' (Sahih Muslim 2735). Additionally, 'When the servant makes supplication and does not commit sin or sever the ties of kinship, Allah gives him one of three things: either his supplication is answered in this world, or it is kept for him in the Hereafter, or an equivalent evil is averted from him' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3573).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that sincere supplication to Allah is never wasted and will be answered according to Allah's wisdom, while emphasizing the necessity of remaining firm upon the straight path and avoiding the ways of those who reject knowledge and truth. For modern readers, it reinforces that steadfastness combined with sincere du'a (supplication) forms the foundation of spiritual success and resistance against falsehood.