وَلَوْلَآ أَن ثَبَّتْنَـٰكَ لَقَدْ كِدتَّ تَرْكَنُ إِلَيْهِمْ شَيْـًٔا قَلِيلًا 74
Translations
And if We had not strengthened you, you would have almost inclined to them a little.
Transliteration
Wa lawlā an thabbatnāka laqad kidta tarkanu ilayhim shay'an qalīlā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), stating that had Allah not strengthened and firmly established him, he would have nearly inclined toward the polytheists in some small matter. The classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as referring to pressure from the Quraysh to compromise on Islamic principles, whether regarding the message itself or practices. This verse emphasizes divine protection and steadfastness as a gift from Allah, not a result of human effort alone, while simultaneously highlighting the Prophet's unwavering commitment to truth despite external pressures.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Isra, a Meccan surah revealed during a period of intense persecution against the Prophet and early Muslims. The specific context relates to the Quraysh's attempts to negotiate with the Prophet, offering him wealth, power, and compromise on monotheism. The verse reassures the Prophet of Allah's protection while acknowledging the reality of human weakness without divine support.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3392) where the Prophet mentioned the Quraysh's attempts to make him compromise is thematically related. Additionally, the hadith in Muslim (1844) about the importance of steadfastness in faith relates to the concept of thabbit (firmness) mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that remaining firm on Islamic principles despite worldly pressures is a divine blessing requiring continuous reliance on Allah. It reminds believers that human resolve alone is insufficient without Allah's support, encouraging constant supplication for firmness in faith and protection from spiritual compromise.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَآ أَنزَلَ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِلَّا رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ بَصَآئِرَ وَإِنِّى لَأَظُنُّكَ يَـٰفِرْعَوْنُ مَثْبُورًا
[Moses] said, "You have already known that none has sent down these [signs] except the Lord of the heavens and the earth as evidence, and indeed I think, O Pharaoh, that you are destroyed."
وَإِمَّا تُعْرِضَنَّ عَنْهُمُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ رَحْمَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكَ تَرْجُوهَا فَقُل لَّهُمْ قَوْلًا مَّيْسُورًا
And if you [must] turn away from them [i.e., the needy] awaiting mercy from your Lord which you expect, then speak to them a gentle word.
وَأَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
And that those who do not believe in the Hereafter - We have prepared for them a painful punishment.
نَّحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَسْتَمِعُونَ بِهِۦٓ إِذْ يَسْتَمِعُونَ إِلَيْكَ وَإِذْ هُمْ نَجْوَىٰٓ إِذْ يَقُولُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ إِن تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا رَجُلًا مَّسْحُورًا
We are most knowing of how they listen to it when they listen to you and [of] when they are in private conversation, when the wrongdoers say, "You follow not but a man affected by magic."