يُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرْحَمُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ تُقْلَبُونَ 21
Translations
He punishes whom He wills and has mercy upon whom He wills, and to Him you will be returned.
Transliteration
Yu'aththibu man yashaa wa yarham man yashaa wa ilayhi tuqlabuun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's absolute sovereignty and divine will—He punishes whom He wills and shows mercy to whom He wills, and all creation will ultimately return to Him for judgment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this divine prerogative is exercised with perfect justice and wisdom, refuting any notion of injustice in Allah's judgment. The ayah serves as both a warning to the arrogant and reassurance to the humble that their fate rests entirely in the hands of the All-Wise.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-'Ankabut is a Meccan surah revealed during a period of intense persecution of early Muslims. This ayah appears within the context of discussing divine power and the futility of human schemes against Allah's will, reminding believers during hardship that ultimate authority belongs only to Allah and that He alone determines outcomes.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Everyone will find easy the deeds of his destiny for which he was created' (Sahih Bukhari 4776). Additionally, 'Nothing will avail a slave on the Day of Resurrection except his deeds' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2341), highlighting the balance between divine will and human accountability.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to place complete trust in Allah's wisdom while maintaining sincere effort in righteous deeds, understanding that ultimate outcomes rest with Allah alone. It cultivates humility by reminding us that neither privilege nor hardship is permanent, and all will face divine judgment based on divine justice beyond human comprehension.
Related Ayahs
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ لَنُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَحْسَنَ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
And those who believe and do righteous deeds - We will surely remove from them their misdeeds and will surely reward them according to the best of what they used to do.
وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ حُسْنًا ۖ وَإِن جَـٰهَدَاكَ لِتُشْرِكَ بِى مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَآ ۚ إِلَىَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
And We have enjoined upon man goodness to parents. But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. To Me is your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.
وَمَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا لَهْوٌ وَلَعِبٌ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ لَهِىَ ٱلْحَيَوَانُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ
And this worldly life is not but diversion and amusement. And indeed, the home of the Hereafter - that is the [eternal] life, if only they knew.
أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ
Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried?