ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ شَآقُّوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ ۖ وَمَن يُشَآقِّ ٱللَّهَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ 4
Translations
That is because they opposed Allāh and His Messenger. And whoever opposes Allāh - then indeed, Allāh is severe in penalty.
Transliteration
Dhālika bi-annahum shāqqū Allāha wa-rasūlahu wa-man yushāqq Allāha fa-inna Allāha shadīd al-ʿiqāb
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah declares that the punishment befalling the Banu Nadir (Jewish tribe of Medina) was a direct consequence of their opposition and enmity toward Allah and His Messenger. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that 'shiqāq' (opposition/enmity) represents a fundamental rupture in the covenant between the believers and those who rebel against Allah's authority. The ayah establishes a divine principle: those who set themselves against Allah and His messenger face severe punishment, as Allah's power and retribution are absolute and inescapable.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of Surah Al-Hashr, which details the expulsion of Banu Nadir from Medina in the year 4 AH. The tribe had violated their covenant with the Prophet (peace be upon him) by plotting against him and allying with his enemies. This surah documents the consequences of their betrayal and establishes the principle that opposing Allah and His Messenger leads to destruction.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever opposes me will be opposed by Allah, and whoever opposes Allah will be destroyed.' (Related to the principle in Tirmidhi and other collections). Additionally, the incident of Banu Nadir's expulsion is documented in authentic hadith collections including Sahih Bukhari and Sunan Ibn Majah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a reminder that opposition to divine truth and righteous leadership carries inevitable consequences in this world and the hereafter. For believers, it reinforces the importance of loyalty to Allah and His guidance, while warning against the spiritual and material destruction that results from deliberate rebellion against divine authority.
Related Ayahs
مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلْعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلْعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ ٱلْكَلِمُ ٱلطَّيِّبُ وَٱلْعَمَلُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحُ يَرْفَعُهُۥ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَمْكُرُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ ۖ وَمَكْرُ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ
Whoever desires honor [through power] - then to Allāh belongs all honor. To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it. But they who plot evil deeds will have a severe punishment, and the plotting of those - it will perish.
وَأَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْأَيْكَةِ وَقَوْمُ تُبَّعٍ ۚ كُلٌّ كَذَّبَ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَحَقَّ وَعِيدِ
And the companions of the thicket and the people of Tubbaʿ. All denied the messengers, so My threat was justly fulfilled.
لِّلطَّـٰغِينَ مَـَٔابًا
For the transgressors, a place of return,
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ
Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with ʿAad -