وَإِذْ قَالَتْ أُمَّةٌ مِّنْهُمْ لِمَ تَعِظُونَ قَوْمًا ۙ ٱللَّهُ مُهْلِكُهُمْ أَوْ مُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا ۖ قَالُوا۟ مَعْذِرَةً إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ 164
Translations
And when a community among them said, "Why do you advise [or warn] a people whom Allāh is [about] to destroy or to punish with a severe punishment?" they [the advisors] said, "To be absolved before your Lord and perhaps they may fear Him."
Transliteration
Wa-idh qālat ummatum minhum lima ta'izūna qawman Allāhu muhlikus hum aw mu'aẓẓibuhum 'aẓāban shadīdan qālū ma'ẓaratan ilā rabbikum wa-la'allahum yattaqūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes a group from the people of the Sabbath-breakers who questioned those attempting to preach to them, asking why they continued to warn a people whom Allah had already decreed to destroy or severely punish. The preachers responded that their duty was to convey the message to their Lord and to hope that perhaps the people would turn to righteousness. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this demonstrates the importance of continuing to give da'wah (invitation to Islam) regardless of apparent hopelessness, as one cannot know whose hearts Allah will soften.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative regarding the people of the Sabbath (Aṣḥāb al-Sabt) who violated Allah's commandment by fishing on the Sabbath. The context illustrates the dialogue between the righteous minority who attempted to prevent the transgression and those who questioned the futility of their effort. It falls within the broader Meccan theme of testing faith through persecution and the duty of believers to enjoin good.
Related Hadiths
Hadith related to da'wah persistence: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The best jihad is speaking a word of truth before a tyrant' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi, graded hasan). Also relevant is the hadith emphasizing the duty of commanding good: 'Whoever among you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand; if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue; if he is not able to do so, then with his heart' (Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should never cease in their efforts to guide others toward righteousness, for the outcome belongs to Allah alone and one cannot know whose heart He will transform. This teaches us that sincere effort in da'wah is a duty regardless of apparent success, and that our responsibility is to convey the message, not to guarantee results.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوٓا۟ أُوذِينَا مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَأْتِيَنَا وَمِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جِئْتَنَا ۚ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُهْلِكَ عَدُوَّكُمْ وَيَسْتَخْلِفَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ
They said, "We have been harmed before you came to us and after you have come to us." He said, "Perhaps your Lord will destroy your enemy and grant you succession in the land and see how you will do."
فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُ وَأَهْلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَهُۥ كَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْغَـٰبِرِينَ
So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; she was of those who remained [with the evildoers].
وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ أَن قَدْ وَجَدْنَا مَا وَعَدَنَا رَبُّنَا حَقًّا فَهَلْ وَجَدتُّم مَّا وَعَدَ رَبُّكُمْ حَقًّا ۖ قَالُوا۟ نَعَمْ ۚ فَأَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌۢ بَيْنَهُمْ أَن لَّعْنَةُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And the companions of Paradise will call out to the companions of the Fire, "We have already found what our Lord promised us to be true. Have you found what your Lord promised to be true?" They will say, "Yes." Then an announcer will announce among them, "The curse of Allāh shall be upon the wrongdoers
وَٱذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِى نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ ٱلْجَهْرِ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ بِٱلْغُدُوِّ وَٱلْـَٔاصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْغَـٰفِلِينَ
And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in fear without being apparent in speech - in the mornings and the evenings. And do not be among the heedless.