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 وَرَسُولَهُۥ كُبِتُوا۟ كَمَا كُبِتَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ وَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ ءَايَـٰتٍۭ بَيِّنَـٰتٍ ۚ وَلِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
Indeed, those who oppose Allāh and His Messenger are abased as those before them were abased. And We have certainly sent down verses of clear evidence. And for the disbelievers is a humiliating punishment
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُظَـٰهِرُونَ مِن نِّسَآئِهِمْ ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا قَالُوا۟ فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَتَمَآسَّا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ تُوعَظُونَ بِهِۦ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
And those who pronounce ẓihār from their wives and then [wish to] go back on what they said - then [there must be] the freeing of a slave before they touch one another. That is what you are admonished thereby; and Allāh is Aware of what you do.
لَّن تُغْنِىَ عَنْهُمْ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
Never will their wealth or their children avail them against Allāh at all. Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally
يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوٓا۟ ۚ أَحْصَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ وَنَسُوهُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
On the Day when Allāh will resurrect them all and inform them of what they did. Allāh had enumerated it, while they forgot it; and Allāh is, over all things, Witness.