مَن كَانَ يَظُنُّ أَن لَّن يَنصُرَهُ ٱللَّهُ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ فَلْيَمْدُدْ بِسَبَبٍ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ثُمَّ لْيَقْطَعْ فَلْيَنظُرْ هَلْ يُذْهِبَنَّ كَيْدُهُۥ مَا يَغِيظُ 15
Translations
Whoever should think that Allāh will not support him [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] in this world and the Hereafter - let him extend a rope to the ceiling, then cut off [his breath], and let him see: will his effort remove that which enrages [him]?
Transliteration
Man kana yazunnu an lan yansurahu Allah fi al-dunya wa al-akhirah fa-lyamdud bi-sabab ila al-sama then li-yaqta fa-lyandhur hal yudhhibanna kaiduh ma yaghith
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses those who doubt Allah's protection and support in both this world and the next, challenging them with a sarcastic rhetorical command: if they believe Allah will not help them, let them try to reach the sky with a rope and then cut it, and see if their effort removes that which angers them. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this is a powerful refutation of disbelief and a demonstration of human powerlessness—no one can truly harm the believer whom Allah protects, and conversely, no effort can benefit one whom Allah abandons. The ayah emphasizes Allah's absolute power and the futility of relying on anything other than His support.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Hajj, a Medinan surah that addresses various aspects of faith, obedience, and Allah's sovereignty. It contextually follows discussions about Allah's power to resurrect and His protection of believers, serving as a warning against doubt in Allah's divine support and a reassurance to the believers facing persecution.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Trust in Allah, but tie your camel' (Tirmidhi), which complements this ayah by showing that while we take practical means, our trust and protection ultimately rest with Allah. Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim about Allah's support for those who support His deen reinforces the theme of divine assistance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Allah's protection is absolute and that doubting His support is not only foolish but logically absurd—no human effort can succeed without Allah's will. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder to place complete trust in Allah during trials and to recognize that genuine security comes only from divine favor, not from worldly means or personal scheming.