حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ٱسْتَيْـَٔسَ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُوا۟ جَآءَهُمْ نَصْرُنَا فَنُجِّىَ مَن نَّشَآءُ ۖ وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُنَا عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ 110
Translations
[They continued] until, when the messengers despaired and were certain that they had been denied, there came to them Our victory, and whoever We willed was saved. And Our punishment cannot be repelled from the people who are criminals.
Transliteration
Hattā idhā istayasa ar-rusulu wa ẓannū anna-hum qad kudhhibū jāa-hum naṣru-nā fa-najjay-nā man nashāu wa-lā yuraddу ba'su-nā 'an al-qawm al-mujrimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the moment when the messengers despaired of their people's response and believed they had been rejected, yet Allah's aid suddenly came to them, and He saved those He willed while His punishment fell upon the criminals. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that this pattern demonstrates Allah's wisdom in delaying victory to test the faith of His messengers and people, and Al-Tabari notes that despair was a test of their conviction before divine assistance arrived. The ayah reassures that Allah's punishment upon the wrongdoers is inevitable and cannot be averted.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Yusuf's broader narrative about patience and divine providence. While not tied to a specific historical moment of revelation, it reflects the Meccan period's emphasis on consoling the Prophet (peace be upon him) during years of persecution, illustrating the timeless pattern that all messengers faced trials before victory. The surah itself emphasizes patience (sabr) as the central virtue, with this ayah exemplifying how even the messengers experienced doubt before relief came.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3641) from Abu Hurairah reports the Prophet saying: 'The most tested people are the prophets, then those nearest to them in righteousness,' illustrating the trials messengers endured as referenced in this ayah. Additionally, Tirmidhi records that the Prophet said patience is 'light' (nūr), connecting to the theme of enduring despair before divine aid.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that feelings of despair or hopelessness in facing injustice do not negate Allah's plan—relief often comes at the darkest moment for those who maintain faith. For modern readers, it emphasizes that delay in receiving aid is not denial, and that steadfastness through trials is essential, as Allah's victory is certain for the faithful while punishment awaits the wrongdoers.