وَرَبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ إِذْ قَامُوا۟ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ لَن نَّدْعُوَا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَـٰهًا ۖ لَّقَدْ قُلْنَآ إِذًا شَطَطًا 14
Translations
And We bound [i.e., made firm] their hearts when they stood up and said, "Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. Never will we invoke besides Him any deity. We would have certainly spoken, then, an excessive transgression.
Transliteration
Wa rabbatna 'ala qulubihim idh qamuu faqaalu rabbuna rabbu as-samawati wal-ardi lan nad'uwa min duhih ilahan laqad qulna idhan shataata
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah strengthened the hearts of the young men (Ashab al-Kahf) when they stood up to declare their monotheistic faith, proclaiming that their Lord is the Lord of the heavens and earth, and that they would never call upon any deity besides Him. The phrase 'we would then speak aberration' conveys that to associate partners with Allah would be grave injustice and deviation from truth. Ibn Kathir notes that this ayah emphasizes how Allah fortified their resolve and courage to face persecution from their polytheistic society, making their declaration of tawhid (monotheism) a firm and unwavering commitment despite social pressure.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the story of Ashab al-Kahf (the Companions of the Cave), a Meccan surah narrative revealed to provide the Prophet Muhammad and believers with examples of steadfast faith under persecution. The context describes these young men's courageous stand against idolatry in their community, serving as an inspiration for the early Muslims facing similar trials in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of the 10 persons promised Paradise (Sahih Tirmidhi) relates thematically to steadfast believers who maintain tawhid. Additionally, hadiths on the virtue of standing firm in faith during persecution are relevant, such as those in Sahih Bukhari concerning the believers' trials in Mecca.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that Allah provides spiritual strength to those who sincerely commit to monotheism and are willing to stand against social pressure and persecution for their beliefs. It reminds us that unwavering faith in Allah's oneness and refusal to compromise our religious principles, despite worldly opposition, is a profound act of worship and is supported by Allah's divine aid.
Related Ayahs
أَوَلَمْ يَنظُرُوا۟ فِى مَلَكُوتِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىْءٍ وَأَنْ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونَ قَدِ ٱقْتَرَبَ أَجَلُهُمْ ۖ فَبِأَىِّ حَدِيثٍۭ بَعْدَهُۥ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Do they not look into the realm of the heavens and the earth and everything that Allāh has created and [think] that perhaps their appointed time has come near? So in what statement [i.e., message] hereafter will they believe?
رَّبُّ ٱلْمَشْرِقِ وَٱلْمَغْرِبِ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَٱتَّخِذْهُ وَكِيلًا
[He is] the Lord of the East and the West; there is no deity except Him, so take Him as Disposer of [your] affairs.
۞ وَإِلَىٰ مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا ۚ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ ۖ وَلَا تَنقُصُوا۟ ٱلْمِكْيَالَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ ۚ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰكُم بِخَيْرٍ وَإِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ مُّحِيطٍ
And to Madyan [We sent] their brother Shuʿayb. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. And do not decrease from the measure and the scale. Indeed, I see you in prosperity, but indeed, I fear for you the punishment of an all-encompassing Day.
مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْلِيَآءَ كَمَثَلِ ٱلْعَنكَبُوتِ ٱتَّخَذَتْ بَيْتًا ۖ وَإِنَّ أَوْهَنَ ٱلْبُيُوتِ لَبَيْتُ ٱلْعَنكَبُوتِ ۖ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ
The example of those who take allies other than Allāh is like that of the spider who takes [i.e., constructs] a home. And indeed, the weakest of homes is the home of the spider, if they only knew.