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
۞ وَإِذَا صُرِفَتْ أَبْصَـٰرُهُمْ تِلْقَآءَ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلنَّارِ قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا مَعَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And when their eyes are turned toward the companions of the Fire, they say, "Our Lord, do not place us with the wrongdoing people."
يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَٰتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allāh that perhaps they will remember.
فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ لِيُبْدِىَ لَهُمَا مَا وُۥرِىَ عَنْهُمَا مِن سَوْءَٰتِهِمَا وَقَالَ مَا نَهَىٰكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنْ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَا مَلَكَيْنِ أَوْ تَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰلِدِينَ
But Satan whispered to them to make apparent to them that which was concealed from them of their private parts. He said, "Your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become angels or become of the immortal."
إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ ٱلرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِّن دُونِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّسْرِفُونَ
Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. Rather, you are a transgressing people."