أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلِكُم ۖ مَّسَّتْهُمُ ٱلْبَأْسَآءُ وَٱلضَّرَّآءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ نَصْرَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ 214
Translations
Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said, "When is the help of Allāh?" Unquestionably, the help of Allāh is near.
Transliteration
Am hasabtum an tadkhuloo al-jannata wa-lamma ya'tikum mathalu alladhina khalaw min qablikum massat-humu al-ba'sa'u wa-al-darra'u wa-zulzilū hattā yaqūla al-rasūlu wa-alladhīna āmanū ma'ahū matā nasru alläh? Alā inna nasra alläh qarīb.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah challenges the believers with a rhetorical question, asserting that entry into Paradise is not without trials and tribulations. The verse establishes that previous nations experienced severe hardships (poverty, illness, and earthquakes) until even the Prophets and believers questioned when Allah's help would come, emphasizing that Allah's aid is indeed near. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this ayah was revealed to prepare the early Muslim community for the trials they would face, teaching them that difficulty is a prerequisite for spiritual elevation and divine assistance.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period as the Muslim community faced early persecution and hardships in Medina. It addresses the early believers who may have expected immediate ease and comfort after migration (hijrah), reminding them that the path to Paradise requires patience through trials—a theme consistent with the broader context of Surah Al-Baqarah, which deals with guidance for the Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allah loves a people, He tests them. Whoever is patient, has patience; and whoever is angry, has anger' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2396). Also relevant is: 'No calamity befalls a Muslim but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it, even if it is the prick of a thorn' (Sahih Bukhari 5640).
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith requires perseverance through hardship and trials—these are not signs of Allah's displeasure but rather opportunities for spiritual growth and purification. Believers should maintain hope in Allah's promise of victory, knowing that relief and divine aid come to those who remain steadfast despite difficulties.