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
قَدْ جَآءَكُم بَصَآئِرُ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَنْ أَبْصَرَ فَلِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَنْ عَمِىَ فَعَلَيْهَا ۚ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ عَلَيْكُم بِحَفِيظٍ
There has come to you enlightenment from your Lord. So whoever will see does so for [the benefit of] his soul, and whoever is blind [does harm] against it. And [say], "I am not a guardian over you."
بَدِيعُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُۥ وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُۥ صَـٰحِبَةٌ ۖ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
[He is] Originator of the heavens and the earth. How could He have a son when He does not have a companion [i.e., wife] and He created all things? And He is, of all things, Knowing.
وَقَالُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ أَنْعَـٰمٌ وَحَرْثٌ حِجْرٌ لَّا يَطْعَمُهَآ إِلَّا مَن نَّشَآءُ بِزَعْمِهِمْ وَأَنْعَـٰمٌ حُرِّمَتْ ظُهُورُهَا وَأَنْعَـٰمٌ لَّا يَذْكُرُونَ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا ٱفْتِرَآءً عَلَيْهِ ۚ سَيَجْزِيهِم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ
And they say, "These animals and crops are forbidden; no one may eat from them except whom we will," by their claim. And there are those [camels] whose backs are forbidden [by them] and those upon which the name of Allāh is not mentioned - [all of this] an invention of untruth about Him. He will punish them for what they were inventing.
وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥٓ إِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ كُلًّا هَدَيْنَا ۚ وَنُوحًا هَدَيْنَا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِۦ دَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيْمَـٰنَ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُوسُفَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَهَـٰرُونَ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And We gave to him [i.e., Abraham] Isaac and Jacob - all [of them] We guided. And Noah, We guided before; and among his descendants, David and Solomon and Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron. Thus do We reward the doers of good.