قُلْ مَا يَعْبَؤُا۟ بِكُمْ رَبِّى لَوْلَا دُعَآؤُكُمْ ۖ فَقَدْ كَذَّبْتُمْ فَسَوْفَ يَكُونُ لِزَامًۢا 77
Translations
Say, "What would my Lord care for you if not for your supplication?" For you [disbelievers] have denied, so it [i.e., your denial] is going to be adherent.
Transliteration
Qul mā yaʿbāʾu bikum rabbī lawlā duʿāʾukum faqad kadhdhaftum fasawfa yakūnu lizāmā
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) is instructed to tell the disbelievers that Allah would have no concern for them were it not for their supplication (du'a) to Him. This emphasizes that the only value or consideration the disbelievers have before Allah is through their invocation of Him in times of hardship. Since they have rejected this opportunity and denied the truth despite it, the threatened punishment will inevitably befall them (Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret this as referring to both the call to Allah and the rejection of it leading to inescapable consequences).
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Furqan, a Meccan surah that addresses the polytheists of Quraysh who mocked the Prophet and rejected his message. The context addresses their arrogance and negligence of Allah's favors, particularly their abandonment of sincere supplication to Him. It serves as a rebuke to those who only remember Allah in times of distress but reject His guidance in prosperity.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Tirmidhi where the Prophet said, 'Ad-du'a huwa al-ibadah' (Supplication is worship itself), highlighting the spiritual significance of du'a. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about how Allah becomes angry with those who do not supplicate to Him.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that du'a (sincere supplication) is the thread connecting us to Allah's mercy and concern; neglecting it while rejecting guidance severs this connection and makes punishment inevitable. For believers, it emphasizes the critical importance of maintaining constant supplication and remembrance of Allah, not merely in times of crisis but as an ongoing spiritual practice.
Related Ayahs
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
And those who say, "Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us a leader [i.e., example] for the righteous."
وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ ٱلزُّورَ وَإِذَا مَرُّوا۟ بِٱللَّغْوِ مَرُّوا۟ كِرَامًا
And [they are] those who do not testify to falsehood, and when they pass near ill speech, they pass by with dignity.
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ بَشَرًا فَجَعَلَهُۥ نَسَبًا وَصِهْرًا ۗ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ قَدِيرًا
And it is He who has created from water [i.e., semen] a human being and made him [a relative by] lineage and marriage. And ever is your Lord competent [concerning creation].
وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ ٱلظَّالِمُ عَلَىٰ يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى ٱتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ ٱلرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًا
And the Day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret] he will say, "Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way.