وَلَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَصَبَرُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا كُذِّبُوا۟ وَأُوذُوا۟ حَتَّىٰٓ أَتَىٰهُمْ نَصْرُنَا ۚ وَلَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَكَ مِن نَّبَإِى۟ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ 34
Translations
And certainly were messengers denied before you, but they were patient over the denial, and they were harmed until Our victory came to them. And none can alter the words [i.e., decrees] of Allāh. And there has certainly come to you some information about the [previous] messengers.
Transliteration
Wa laqad kudhhibat rusulun min qablika fa sabaru ala ma kudhhibu wa udhiu hatta atahum nasruna wa la muabaddila li kalimat illah wa laqad jaaka min nabai il mursalin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah consoles the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by reminding him that previous messengers were also denied and persecuted, yet they remained patient until Allah's help came to them. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that this is a divine promise that the word of Allah cannot be changed—His plan will ultimately prevail. Al-Tabari notes that the ayah provides historical reassurance that persecution of messengers is a pattern, but divine victory is inevitable for those who persevere with faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed during the early Meccan period when the Prophet faced severe opposition and mockery from the Quraysh. It is situated within Surah Al-An'am's broader theme of divine signs and the inevitability of God's justice, serving to strengthen the Prophet's resolve during difficult circumstances.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim (2286) records that the Prophet said: 'The greatest trials (balaas) were given to the Prophets, then those nearest to them in piety,' emphasizing that persecution is a test for the faithful. Additionally, Tirmidhi records that 'No one is tested with a trial harder than prophethood,' affirming the connection between the prophetic mission and trials.
Themes
Key Lesson
For modern believers, this ayah teaches that difficulties and opposition are not signs of failure but are tests that precede divine victory—patience in faith, combined with unwavering belief in Allah's promise, is the path to ultimate triumph. It reminds us that our struggles are shared with the greatest exemplars of human history, and that Allah's plan cannot be altered by human resistance.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذَا جَآءَتْهُمْ ءَايَةٌ قَالُوا۟ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ حَتَّىٰ نُؤْتَىٰ مِثْلَ مَآ أُوتِىَ رُسُلُ ٱللَّهِ ۘ ٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ حَيْثُ يَجْعَلُ رِسَالَتَهُۥ ۗ سَيُصِيبُ ٱلَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُوا۟ صَغَارٌ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَعَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَمْكُرُونَ
And when a sign comes to them, they say, "Never will we believe until we are given like that which was given to the messengers of Allāh." Allāh is most knowing of where [i.e., with whom] He places His message. There will afflict those who committed crimes debasement before Allāh and severe punishment for what they used to conspire.
وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ نَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوٓا۟ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآؤُكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تَزْعُمُونَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], the Day We will gather them all together; then We will say to those who associated others with Allāh, "Where are your 'partners' that you used to claim [with Him]?"
قُلْ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَيْتُ رَبِّى عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ
Say, "Indeed I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day."
وَلَقَدِ ٱسْتُهْزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَحَاقَ بِٱلَّذِينَ سَخِرُوا۟ مِنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
And already were messengers ridiculed before you, but those who mocked them were enveloped by that which they used to ridicule.