وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۖ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ 22
Translations
And you will not cause failure [to Allāh] upon the earth or in the heaven. And you have not other than Allāh any protector or any helper.
Transliteration
Wa mā antum bi-mu'jizīn fi-l-arḍ wa lā fi-s-samāʾ wa mā lakum min dūn-il-lāh min waliyy wa lā naṣīr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the absolute powerlessness of creation before Allah's dominion—no one can escape or outrun Allah's decree whether on earth or in the heavens. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse refutes those who believe they possess independence or strength against Allah's will, while Al-Qurtubi notes it serves as a stern warning that no ally or helper exists besides Allah to protect one from His justice and punishment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-'Ankabut, which addresses the trials and persecutions faced by early Muslims. The broader context of the surah deals with testing of faith and the futility of fleeing from Allah's command, making this verse part of a rhetorical challenge to those who imagine they can resist Divine will or find refuge elsewhere.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'No one will enter Paradise except with Allah's mercy,' emphasizing complete dependence on Allah. Also relevant: Sunan At-Tirmidhi contains traditions about the futility of seeking protectors other than Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true security and protection come only through surrendering to Allah's will, not through worldly alliances or personal strength. It should inspire complete reliance on Allah while deterring believers from seeking help or legitimacy from sources other than the Divine.
Related Ayahs
لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ۚ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا إِنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُهْلِكَ ٱلْمَسِيحَ ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُۥ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
They have certainly disbelieved who say that Allāh is Christ, the son of Mary. Say, "Then who could prevent Allāh at all if He had intended to destroy Christ, the son of Mary, or his mother or everyone on the earth?" And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them. He creates what He wills, and Allāh is over all things competent.
وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
While Allāh created you and that which you do?"
قُل لَّآ أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِى ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ ۚ إِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَلَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ
Say, "I possess not for myself any harm or benefit except what Allāh should will. For every nation is a [specified] term. When their time has come, then they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it]."
وَأَنَّا ظَنَنَّآ أَن لَّن نُّعْجِزَ ٱللَّهَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَن نُّعْجِزَهُۥ هَرَبًا
And we have become certain that we will never cause failure to Allāh upon earth, nor can we escape Him by flight.