فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ 16
Translations
Effecter of what He intends.
Transliteration
Fa''alun lima yurid
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah is the Doer of whatever He wills, emphasizing His absolute power and sovereignty over all creation. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this statement serves as a powerful rebuttal to those who deny Allah's omnipotence or suggest limitations to His authority. The phrase encapsulates the Islamic doctrine of divine will and power (al-qudrah wa al-mashiah), reassuring believers that nothing occurs outside Allah's knowledge and intentional design.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Buruj is a Meccan surah addressing the polytheists of Mecca who rejected Allah's oneness and questioned His power. This ayah appears in the context of describing the punishment of those who persecuted believers, reinforcing that Allah's judgment is inevitable because He is unrestricted in His actions and nothing can thwart His will.
Related Hadiths
The concept echoes in the hadith: 'The greatest supplication is: 'There is no might or power except with Allah' (La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah)' - reported in various collections. Additionally, the hadith of Jibril in Sahih Muslim discusses divine will as one of the foundational beliefs of Islam.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should place complete trust in Allah's wisdom and power, understanding that all events unfold according to His will, which brings comfort during trials and strengthens faith in ultimate divine justice. This ayah serves as a reminder to abandon reliance on worldly powers and place ultimate hope and fear only with Allah.