۞ وَلَوْ رَحِمْنَـٰهُمْ وَكَشَفْنَا مَا بِهِم مِّن ضُرٍّ لَّلَجُّوا۟ فِى طُغْيَـٰنِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ 75
Translations
And even if We gave them mercy and removed what was upon them of affliction, they would persist in their transgression, wandering blindly.
Transliteration
Wa law rahimnahum wa kashafna ma bihim min darrin lallajju fi tughyanihim ya'mahun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states that even if Allah were to show mercy to the disbelievers by removing their afflictions and hardships, they would still persist obstinately in their rebellion and transgression, wandering blindly in their misguidance. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain this demonstrates the hardness of the hearts of those who reject Allah's signs—their disbelief is rooted in willful arrogance rather than mere ignorance, such that relief from hardship would not lead them to gratitude or faith, but rather to increased defiance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Mu'minun, which discusses the characteristics of true believers contrasted with the stubbornness of disbelievers. The broader passage (23:70-80) emphasizes how the polytheists of Mecca rejected the Message despite clear signs, and this specific verse illustrates the spiritual reality that removing external hardships would not change their hearts because their obstinacy is internal and willful.
Related Hadiths
The principle relates to Surah Al-A'raf 7:179 and the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'When Allah wishes good for His servant, He gives him understanding of the religion,' indicating that guidance is a blessing from Allah independent of material comfort or hardship.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that material ease or relief from suffering is not a guaranteed path to faith—true belief requires a sincere heart willing to submit to Allah's guidance. For believers, it reminds us that gratitude during hardship and recognition of Allah's mercy during ease are the true tests of our faith, not circumstances alone.
Related Ayahs
وَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ ۚ لَوْ أَنفَقْتَ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا مَّآ أَلَّفْتَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَلَّفَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
And brought together their hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have brought their hearts together; but Allāh brought them together. Indeed, He is Exalted in Might and Wise.
كَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا فِيكُمْ رَسُولًا مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا وَيُزَكِّيكُمْ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُوا۟ تَعْلَمُونَ
Just as We have sent among you a messenger from yourselves reciting to you Our verses and purifying you and teaching you the Book and wisdom and teaching you that which you did not know.
فَرَجَعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ فَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّكُمْ أَنتُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
So they returned to [blaming] themselves and said [to each other], "Indeed, you are the wrongdoers."
وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَـٰهُ مَلَكًا لَّجَعَلْنَـٰهُ رَجُلًا وَلَلَبَسْنَا عَلَيْهِم مَّا يَلْبِسُونَ
And if We had made him [i.e., the messenger] an angel, We would have made him [appear as] a man, and We would have covered them with that in which they cover themselves [i.e., confusion and doubt].