وَإِن كَادُوا۟ لَيَسْتَفِزُّونَكَ مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيُخْرِجُوكَ مِنْهَا ۖ وَإِذًا لَّا يَلْبَثُونَ خِلَـٰفَكَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا 76
Translations
And indeed, they were about to provoke [i.e., drive] you from the land [i.e., Makkah] to evict you therefrom. And then [when they do], they will not remain [there] after you, except for a little.
Transliteration
Wa-in kadu layastafizzunaka mina al-ardi liyukhrijuka minha wa-iza la yalathun khalafaka illa qalilan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Quraysh's intense efforts to expel the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from Mecca through persecution, intimidation, and plots. The verse assures the Prophet that had they succeeded in their goal, they would not have remained long after his departure, as Allah's punishment would have swiftly overtaken them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a divine promise of protection for the Prophet and a warning to his enemies that their transgression would lead to their swift destruction.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Mecca during the period of intense persecution of the Muslims by the Quraysh. It addresses the relentless efforts of the Meccan polytheists to force the Prophet out of his homeland, providing him divine reassurance during a time of severe hardship and threat to his life and mission.
Related Hadiths
The persecution of the Prophet is documented in numerous hadiths. Related to divine protection, Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet said, 'Whoever leaves his homeland in the path of Allah will find the earth spacious,' affirming that leaving one's land for Allah's cause brings divine reward and protection.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that persecution and opposition from enemies, however intense, cannot succeed against those whom Allah protects, and that wrongdoers ultimately face swift divine retribution. For modern readers, it reinforces faith that steadfastness in one's principles and trust in Allah's plan will ultimately lead to triumph, while those who persist in wrongdoing will face inevitable consequences.