فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمْ كَيْدٌ فَكِيدُونِ 39
Translations
So if you have a plan, then plan against Me.
Transliteration
Fa-in kana lakum kaydun fa-keedun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is Allah's challenge to the disbelievers, essentially saying 'If you have any power or cunning plot against me, then plot against me.' According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse demonstrates Allah's absolute sovereignty and His challenge to those who reject His message—their schemes are futile against His will. The ayah emphasizes that all plots and stratagems ultimately fail before Allah's divine power, and believers need not fear the machinations of their enemies.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the end of Surah Al-Mursalat, which is a Meccan surah focused on the Day of Judgment and the consequences of rejecting Allah's messengers. The broader context depicts a scene on the Day of Judgment where disbelievers are being addressed, making this a powerful rhetorical challenge that underscores the futility of opposing Allah's message.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly quotes this ayah, Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever plots against the Muslims, Allah will destroy him,' which aligns thematically with the ayah's message about the failure of plots against Allah's religion.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reassures believers that no scheme or plot against Islam and its followers can ultimately succeed, as Allah is all-powerful and aware of all intentions. It encourages Muslims to trust in Allah's protection and not to fear the machinations of enemies, whether in their time or in modern times.
Related Ayahs
۞ قُلْ كُونُوا۟ حِجَارَةً أَوْ حَدِيدًا
Say, "Be you stones or iron
وَمَا ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍ
And that is for Allāh not difficult.
إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ
If He wills, He can do away with you and bring forth a new creation.
قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ مَـٰلِكَ ٱلْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِى ٱلْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَنزِعُ ٱلْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَآءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَآءُ ۖ بِيَدِكَ ٱلْخَيْرُ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Say, "O Allāh, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.