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
وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ شَهِيدًا عَلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ۚ وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ تِبْيَـٰنًا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ
And [mention] the Day when We will resurrect among every nation a witness over them from themselves [i.e., their prophet]. And We will bring you, [O Muḥammad], as a witness over these [i.e., your nation]. And We have sent down to you the Book as clarification for all things and as guidance and mercy and good tidings for the Muslims.
وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ قَصْدُ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمِنْهَا جَآئِرٌ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ لَهَدَىٰكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
And upon Allāh is the direction of the [right] way, and among them [i.e., the various paths] are those deviating. And if He willed, He could have guided you all.
وَأَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ ۙ لَا يَبْعَثُ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَمُوتُ ۚ بَلَىٰ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And they swear by Allāh their strongest oaths [that] Allāh will not resurrect one who dies. But yes - [it is] a true promise [binding] upon Him, but most of the people do not know.
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ لَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا عَبَدْنَا مِن دُونِهِۦ مِن شَىْءٍ نَّحْنُ وَلَآ ءَابَآؤُنَا وَلَا حَرَّمْنَا مِن دُونِهِۦ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ فَعَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ فَهَلْ عَلَى ٱلرُّسُلِ إِلَّا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
And those who associate others with Allāh say, "If Allāh had willed, we would not have worshipped anything other than Him, neither we nor our fathers, nor would we have forbidden anything through other than Him." Thus did those do before them. So is there upon the messengers except [the duty of] clear notification?