وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُۥٓ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ 17
Translations
And if Allāh should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him. And if He touches you with good - then He is over all things competent.
Transliteration
Wa-in yamsaska Allahu bidurrin fala kashifa lahu illa huwa wa-in yamsaska bikhayrin fahuwa ala kulli shay-in qadeer
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the absolute sovereignty of Allah (SWT) over all harm and benefit that befalls creation—no one can remove harm except Him, and no one can withhold His favor. Ibn Kathir emphasizes this demonstrates complete reliance (tawakkul) upon Allah, while Al-Tabari notes it negates any intermediary power independent of Allah's will. The ayah affirms that Allah's power is unlimited and encompasses all things, reinforcing the fundamental Islamic doctrine of Tawhid (divine oneness).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-An'am (Meccan period) as part of a broader discourse refuting polytheism and idol-worship. It responds to the pagan Arabs who attributed power to their idols and false deities, establishing that only Allah possesses the ability to harm or benefit. The ayah sits within a section addressing the futility of associating partners with Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Know that if the whole nation were to gather together to benefit you with something, they would not benefit you except with something that Allah has already written for you, and if they gather together to harm you with something, they would not harm you except with something that Allah has already written against you' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2516). Additionally, the Prophet taught the supplication: 'La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah' (There is no power or might except with Allah), emphasizing dependence on Allah alone.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true security and peace come from recognizing that only Allah controls all affairs—therefore, Muslims should place their complete trust in Him rather than fearing created beings or secondary causes. In modern life, this encourages reliance on Allah in hardship while maintaining effort (sabab), understanding that outcomes ultimately rest with the Divine.