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
وَٱلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا۟ فِى ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا ظُلِمُوا۟ لَنُبَوِّئَنَّهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً ۖ وَلَأَجْرُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ
And those who emigrated for [the cause of] Allāh after they had been wronged - We will surely settle them in this world in a good place; but the reward of the Hereafter is greater, if only they could know.
فَلَا تَضْرِبُوا۟ لِلَّهِ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
So do not assert similarities to Allāh. Indeed, Allāh knows and you do not know.
وَلَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَهُ ٱلدِّينُ وَاصِبًا ۚ أَفَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ تَتَّقُونَ
And to Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth, and to Him is [due] worship constantly. Then is it other than Allāh that you fear?
فَأَصَابَهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتُ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
So they were struck by the evil consequences of what they did and were enveloped by what they used to ridicule.