وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَأَنتَ فِيهِمْ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ مُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ 33
Translations
But Allāh would not punish them while you, [O Muḥammad], are among them, and Allāh would not punish them while they seek forgiveness.
Transliteration
Wa mā kāna Allāhu li-yu'adhdhībahum wa anta fīhim. Wa mā kāna Allāhu mu'adhdhībahum wa hum yastaghfirūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes two reasons why Allah would not punish the Meccan disbelievers: first, because the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was present among them, and second, because they were seeking forgiveness from Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that the presence of the Prophet as a mercy to mankind was a protection for his people, and that sincere repentance and istighfar (seeking forgiveness) are barriers against divine punishment. This reflects Allah's mercy and His desire for human redemption before judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Anfal (Chapter 8), a Medinan surah dealing with the Battle of Badr and its lessons. The broader context discusses Allah's judgment and protection of believers. While there is no specific singular asbab al-nuzul recorded, the ayah relates to the general theme of how Allah's punishment is withheld due to the Prophet's intercession and people's repentance.
Related Hadiths
The concept is supported by a hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Verily, Allah delays the punishment of the people of the earth as long as the Hour has not come, but when He intends to create the Hour, He does not delay it for an hour.' Related also is the hadith in Tirmidhi about the virtue of seeking forgiveness (istighfar) and its power to avert punishment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that sincere repentance and seeking Allah's forgiveness are powerful shields against divine punishment, and reminds us that Allah's mercy precedes His wrath. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of continuous istighfar and returning to Allah with a sincere heart as a means of spiritual protection and redemption.