كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَأَغْلِبَنَّ أَنَا۠ وَرُسُلِىٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ 21
Translations
Allāh has written [i.e., decreed], "I will surely overcome, I and My messengers." Indeed, Allāh is Powerful and Exalted in Might.
Transliteration
Kataba Allahu la-aghribanna ana wa rusuli. Inna Allaha qawiyyun azizun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents Allah's divine decree and promise that He and His messengers will certainly prevail and triumph over their enemies. Ibn Kathir explains this as a reassurance to the believers about the ultimate victory of truth over falsehood, while Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this victory refers both to spiritual triumph in hearts and minds as well as material dominion. The statement 'Allah has written' (Kataba) denotes an immutable divine decree, with 'qawiyyun' (mighty) and 'azizun' (invincible) affirming Allah's absolute power to fulfill His promise.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Mujadila, a Medinan chapter dealing with disputes and social justice within the Muslim community. The ayah serves as a broader theological statement of encouragement to believers facing opposition, emphasizing that despite worldly challenges, the ultimate victory belongs to Allah's deen and His messengers. This context relates to the surah's broader themes of divine justice and the triumph of truth.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim (2889) where the Prophet ﷺ said: 'This knowledge will be carried by the just ones of every generation, expelling the distortions of the extremists,' relates to the concept of divine victory through righteous guidance. Additionally, the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah about the promise of Allah's aid to those who assist His deen reflects this ayah's theme of divine support.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should find solace in the certainty that truth ultimately prevails over falsehood, regardless of present hardships or opposition. This ayah teaches that reliance on Allah's promise and alignment with His guidance guarantees ultimate success, encouraging steadfastness in faith and righteous action.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُحَآدُّونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ فِى ٱلْأَذَلِّينَ
Indeed, the ones who oppose Allāh and His Messenger - those will be among the most humbled.
۞ أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوْا۟ قَوْمًا غَضِبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مَّا هُم مِّنكُمْ وَلَا مِنْهُمْ وَيَحْلِفُونَ عَلَى ٱلْكَذِبِ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
Have you not considered those who make allies of a people with whom Allāh has become angry? They are neither of you nor of them, and they swear to untruth while they know [they are lying].
فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَتَمَآسَّا ۖ فَمَن لَّمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَإِطْعَامُ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِينًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِتُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۚ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَلِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And he who does not find [a slave] - then a fast for two months consecutively before they touch one another; and he who is unable - then the feeding of sixty poor persons. That is for you to believe [completely] in Allāh and His Messenger; and those are the limits [set by] Allāh. And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمْ تَفَسَّحُوا۟ فِى ٱلْمَجَـٰلِسِ فَٱفْسَحُوا۟ يَفْسَحِ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِذَا قِيلَ ٱنشُزُوا۟ فَٱنشُزُوا۟ يَرْفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ دَرَجَـٰتٍ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
O you who have believed, when you are told, "Space yourselves" in assemblies, then make space; Allāh will make space for you. And when you are told, "Arise," then arise; Allāh will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allāh is Aware of what you do.