فَإِن زَلَلْتُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْكُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ 209
Translations
But if you slip [i.e., deviate] after clear proofs have come to you, then know that Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
Transliteration
Fa-in zalaltum min ba'da ma ja'atkumu al-bayyinat fa'lamu anna Allaha 'azizun hakimun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns the believers that if they deviate or slip away from the clear signs and proofs that have come to them, they should know that Allah is the Mighty and the All-Wise, whose punishment and wisdom cannot be escaped. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that 'zalaltum' (you have slipped/strayed) refers to turning away from guidance despite its clarity, and that Allah's attributes of 'aziz (mighty/invincible) and hakim (all-wise) underscore that He will certainly take account and His judgment is perfect. The ayah serves as both a warning against negligence and a reminder that rejection of clear truth brings inevitable consequences.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan context of Surah Al-Baqarah, which addresses the believers and hypocrites of Medina. It follows discussions about those who received clear signs yet chose to disbelieve or turn away. The verse is part of a broader passage warning against deviation after clear guidance has been established, relevant to the early Muslim community facing challenges to faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), emphasizing the importance of holding firm to the clear signs. Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever turns away from my Sunnah does not belong to me' (Sahih Bukhari 5063) relates thematically to the warning against straying from established guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
Once the truth and clear signs of guidance have reached us, turning away from them is a grave matter with certain consequences, for we cannot escape Allah's perfect wisdom and power. This ayah calls us to steadfast adherence to Islamic guidance and careful introspection about our commitment to the Deen after receiving its proofs.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذْ قَتَلْتُمْ نَفْسًا فَٱدَّٰرَْٰٔتُمْ فِيهَا ۖ وَٱللَّهُ مُخْرِجٌ مَّا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ
And [recall] when you slew a man and disputed over it, but Allāh was to bring out that which you were concealing.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
But they who believe and do righteous deeds - those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally.
فَأَزَلَّهُمَا ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ عَنْهَا فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِ ۖ وَقُلْنَا ٱهْبِطُوا۟ بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَـٰعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ
But Satan caused them to slip out of it and removed them from that [condition] in which they had been. And We said, "Go down, [all of you], as enemies to one another, and you will have upon the earth a place of settlement and provision for a time."
أَوْ كَصَيِّبٍ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَـٰتٌ وَرَعْدٌ وَبَرْقٌ يَجْعَلُونَ أَصَـٰبِعَهُمْ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِم مِّنَ ٱلصَّوَٰعِقِ حَذَرَ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ مُحِيطٌۢ بِٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Or [it is] like a rainstorm from the sky within which is darkness, thunder and lightning. They put their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps in dread of death. But Allāh is encompassing of the disbelievers.