أَفَأَمِنُوا۟ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ 99
Translations
Then, did they feel secure from the plan of Allāh? But no one feels secure from the plan of Allāh except the losing people.
Transliteration
Afa-aminuu makra Allahi fala ya'manu makra Allahi illa al-qawmu al-khasiroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns against false security and complacency regarding Allah's plan and divine punishment. The verse rhetorically asks if the disbelievers feel safe from Allah's strategy (makr), then asserts that only the losers—those who have forfeited their faith and salvation—would feel such false security. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, 'makr' (strategy/plan) here refers to Allah's punishment and trial, and the ayah teaches that spiritual heedlessness and rejection of truth inevitably leads to ruin.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-A'raf, which addresses the arrogance of disbelievers who rejected the Prophet Muhammad's message despite clear signs. The verse fits within the broader theme of the surah warning against those who become heedless of Allah's power and accountability on the Day of Judgment. It follows verses discussing the fate of previous nations who ignored divine warnings.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah, and to feel secure from the plan of Allah (la ya'manu makra Allahi)' (referenced in various compilations addressing divine justice). Additionally, Hadith Qudsi relates that Allah said: 'I am as My servant thinks I am,' emphasizing the danger of spiritual complacency.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should never become complacent in their faith or assume they are beyond Allah's accountability; true security comes only through sincere obedience and mindfulness of Allah, not through arrogance or heedlessness of His signs.
Related Ayahs
فَبِظُلْمٍ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ طَيِّبَـٰتٍ أُحِلَّتْ لَهُمْ وَبِصَدِّهِمْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَثِيرًا
For wrongdoing on the part of the Jews, We made unlawful for them [certain] good foods which had been lawful to them, and for their averting from the way of Allāh many [people],
ثُمَّ دَمَّرْنَا ٱلْـَٔاخَرِينَ
Then We destroyed the others.
إِنَّهَا شَجَرَةٌ تَخْرُجُ فِىٓ أَصْلِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire,
لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَجَابُوا۟ لِرَبِّهِمُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لَهُۥ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَمِثْلَهُۥ مَعَهُۥ لَٱفْتَدَوْا۟ بِهِۦٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ سُوٓءُ ٱلْحِسَابِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ
For those who have responded to their Lord is the best [reward], but those who did not respond to Him - if they had all that is in the earth entirely and the like of it with it, they would [attempt to] ransom themselves thereby. Those will have the worst account, and their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place.