أَوْ يَأْخُذَهُمْ فِى تَقَلُّبِهِمْ فَمَا هُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ 46
Translations
Or that He would not seize them during their [usual] activity, and they could not cause failure [i.e., escape from Him]?
Transliteration
Aw ya'khuzuhum fee taqallubihim fama hum bimu'jizeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's ability to seize the disbelievers during their movements and activities in daily life, and they will be unable to escape or resist His punishment. Ibn Kathir explains that this demonstrates Allah's omnipotence and the futility of attempts to evade divine justice, whether the punishment comes suddenly or gradually. The ayah emphasizes that no place, time, or circumstance can provide refuge from Allah's decree for those who reject His signs.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nahl, which addresses the themes of divine mercy, provision, and warnings against disbelief and polytheism. The broader context (16:45-46) discusses various ways Allah may seize wrongdoers—whether through sudden punishment, gradual punishment during their daily movements, or other means—reinforcing that divine punishment is inescapable.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself,' emphasizing God's justice and oversight. Additionally, Surah An-Nahl's theme connects to the hadith about divine punishment in At-Tirmidhi regarding those who turn away from Allah's signs.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah is aware of all our movements and circumstances, encouraging constant consciousness of His presence (taqwa) and discouraging any sense of security in wrongdoing. It serves as a powerful deterrent against sin and a reassurance that divine justice ultimately prevails, whether in this life or the hereafter.
Related Ayahs
إِن تَحْرِصْ عَلَىٰ هُدَىٰهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى مَن يُضِلُّ ۖ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّـٰصِرِينَ
[Even] if you should strive for their guidance, [O Muḥammad], indeed, Allāh does not guide those He sends astray, and they will have no helpers.
إِنَّهُۥ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ سُلْطَـٰنٌ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
Indeed, there is for him no authority over those who have believed and rely upon their Lord.
وَلِلَّهِ غَيْبُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَمَآ أَمْرُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ إِلَّا كَلَمْحِ ٱلْبَصَرِ أَوْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
And to Allāh belongs the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth. And the command for the Hour is not but as a glance of the eye or even nearer. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَكُمْ دَخَلًۢا بَيْنَكُمْ فَتَزِلَّ قَدَمٌۢ بَعْدَ ثُبُوتِهَا وَتَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلسُّوٓءَ بِمَا صَدَدتُّمْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَلَكُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
And do not take your oaths as [means of] deceit between you, lest a foot slip after it was [once] firm, and you would taste evil [in this world] for what [people] you diverted from the way of Allāh, and you would have [in the Hereafter] a great punishment.