وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا فِى قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّبِىٍّ إِلَّآ أَخَذْنَآ أَهْلَهَا بِٱلْبَأْسَآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَضَّرَّعُونَ 94
Translations
And We sent to no city a prophet [who was denied] except that We seized its people with poverty and hardship that they might humble themselves [to Allāh].
Transliteration
Wa mā arsalnā fī qaryatin min nabiyyin illā akhazhnā ahlahā bil-ba'sā'i wa-d-darrā'i la'allahum yaddarraa'ūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes a divine pattern: whenever Allah sent a prophet to a community, He tested that community with hardship and adversity so that they might turn to Him in humble supplication (du'ā). Ibn Kathir notes this reflects Allah's wisdom in using trials as a means of spiritual awakening and repentance. Al-Tabari emphasizes that these afflictions are merciful interventions designed to guide people back to their Lord before more severe punishment befalls them.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the middle section of Surah Al-A'raf, which discusses the histories of various prophets and their peoples. It provides a general principle about the testing of communities throughout history, illustrating the consistent divine methodology in calling people to monotheism and righteousness. The context emphasizes that hardship is not arbitrary punishment but a means of spiritual reform.
Related Hadiths
The principle aligns with the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet ﷺ said: 'The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allah loves a people, He tests them.' Additionally, in Sunan Ibn Majah, the Prophet stated that trials purify sins and elevate ranks.
Themes
Key Lesson
Trials and difficulties in life are not signs of divine abandonment but rather opportunities for spiritual purification and drawing closer to Allah through sincere supplication. Understanding this divine pattern encourages believers to respond to life's challenges with humility, prayer, and trust in Allah's ultimate wisdom and mercy.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ مِن قَوْمِ فِرْعَوْنَ أَتَذَرُ مُوسَىٰ وَقَوْمَهُۥ لِيُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَيَذَرَكَ وَءَالِهَتَكَ ۚ قَالَ سَنُقَتِّلُ أَبْنَآءَهُمْ وَنَسْتَحْىِۦ نِسَآءَهُمْ وَإِنَّا فَوْقَهُمْ قَـٰهِرُونَ
And the eminent among the people of Pharaoh said, "Will you leave Moses and his people to cause corruption in the land and abandon you and your gods?" [Pharaoh] said, "We will kill their sons and keep their women alive; and indeed, we are subjugators over them."
قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوٓا۟ إِنَّا بِٱلَّذِىٓ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦ كَـٰفِرُونَ
Said those who were arrogant, "Indeed we, in that which you have believed, are disbelievers."
لَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَـٰفٍ ثُمَّ لَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides; then I will surely crucify you all."
ثُمَّ لَـَٔاتِيَنَّهُم مِّنۢ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَآئِلِهِمْ ۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَـٰكِرِينَ
Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You]."