إِنَّهُۥ فَكَّرَ وَقَدَّرَ 18
Translations
Indeed, he thought and deliberated.
Transliteration
Innahu fakkara wa qaddara
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to a specific disbeliever (the context suggests Abu Jahl or a similar opponent of Islam) who thought deeply and made plans to oppose the Prophet Muhammad and Islam. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the ayah emphasizes that despite this person's calculations and schemes, they were ultimately futile against Allah's will. Al-Qurtubi notes that the combination of thinking (tafakkur) and planning (taqdīr) represents human effort in opposition to divine truth, which is destined to fail.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Muddaththir, which was revealed early in the Meccan period. The broader passage (74:18-26) describes the punishment awaiting those who reject faith and plot against Allah's message. The specific reference is believed to relate to Meccan polytheists and their schemes against the early Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
The broader theme relates to Hadith Qudsi in Sahih Bukhari where Allah says He will recompense those who oppose His Prophet. Additionally, the Hadith about Abu Jahl's death at Badr (narrated in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim) reflects the ultimate failure of the plans mentioned in this surah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that no matter how carefully humans plan against Allah's religion and truth, their schemes are ultimately powerless against divine will. Believers should trust in Allah's guidance and not fear the machinations of those who oppose Islam, as history repeatedly shows the failure of such opposition.