لَيْسَ لَكَ مِنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ شَىْءٌ أَوْ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ أَوْ يُعَذِّبَهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ ظَـٰلِمُونَ 128
Translations
Not for you, [O Muḥammad, but for Allāh], is the decision whether He should [cut them down] or forgive them or punish them, for indeed, they are wrongdoers.
Transliteration
Laysa laka mina al-amri shay'un aw yatuba 'alayhim aw yu'adhdhibhum fa-innahum zalimun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), clarifying that he has no authority to compel belief or determine the fate of those who reject Islam—that authority belongs to Allah alone. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the ayah means the Prophet's role is to convey the message, while Allah's prerogative is to guide whom He wills, accept the repentance of those who turn to Him, or punish those who persist in wrongdoing. The closing phrase 'they are wrongdoers' refers to those who reject guidance despite its clarity.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period within Surah Ali 'Imran, which extensively addresses matters of faith, belief, and the relationship between Allah's will and human responsibility. It comes in the context of discussions about the Battle of Uhud and broader themes of divine will versus human agency, reminding the Muslim community that ultimate judgment and guidance rest with Allah, not with the Prophet or the believers.
Related Hadiths
Related to this ayah is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet said, 'You are not responsible for guiding them, but Allah guides whom He wills.' Also relevant is the principle found in multiple hadith collections that the Prophet's duty was only to convey the message clearly (tabligh), as stated in Surah 16:82.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that while we should strive to convey Islamic teachings with sincerity and wisdom, ultimately hearts and outcomes are in Allah's hands—a reminder that reduces frustration in da'wah and encourages reliance on Allah rather than despondency over others' choices. It also emphasizes that accountability for rejection of truth lies with the rejectors themselves, not with those who convey the message.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمُ ۗ وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ
Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allāh is Islām. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allāh, then indeed, Allāh is swift in [taking] account.
بَلَىٰٓ ۚ إِن تَصْبِرُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ وَيَأْتُوكُم مِّن فَوْرِهِمْ هَـٰذَا يُمْدِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُم بِخَمْسَةِ ءَالَـٰفٍ مِّنَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ مُسَوِّمِينَ
Yes, if you remain patient and conscious of Allāh and they [i.e., the enemy] come upon you [attacking] in rage, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels having marks [of distinction]."
هَـٰٓأَنتُمْ أُو۟لَآءِ تُحِبُّونَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِبُّونَكُمْ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْكِتَـٰبِ كُلِّهِۦ وَإِذَا لَقُوكُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا۟ عَضُّوا۟ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْأَنَامِلَ مِنَ ٱلْغَيْظِ ۚ قُلْ مُوتُوا۟ بِغَيْظِكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
Here you are loving them but they are not loving you, while you believe in the Scripture - all of it. And when they meet you, they say, "We believe." But when they are alone, they bite their fingertips at you in rage. Say, "Die in your rage. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing of that within the breasts."
۞ لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوٓا۟ أَذًى كَثِيرًا ۚ وَإِن تَصْبِرُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ ٱلْأُمُورِ
You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allāh much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allāh - indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of resolve.