وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَضْحَكَ وَأَبْكَىٰ 43
Translations
And that it is He who makes [one] laugh and weep
Transliteration
Wa-annahu huwa adhhaka wa-abka
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah alone is the One who causes laughter and weeping, signifying His complete control over human emotions and states of joy and sorrow. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret this as evidence of Allah's absolute sovereignty over the human heart and psychological conditions, emphasizing that happiness and sadness are ultimately determined by divine will. The verse serves as a reminder that worldly circumstances that bring joy or tears are manifestations of Allah's divine decree and wisdom.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Najm, a Meccan surah that emphasizes the oneness of Allah and refutes polytheism. Within its context, the surah systematically presents Allah's unique attributes and powers that cannot be shared with idols, of which control over human emotions is a profound example that resonates with the Meccan audience's direct experience.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The example of the believer is like a fresh plant; the wind bends it but it returns to its original position, and similarly a believer faces hardship with patience.' (Musnad Ahmad) This complements the ayah's message about divine control over states of joy and sorrow in the believer's life.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize that both moments of joy and sorrow come from Allah, fostering gratitude in happiness and patience in hardship. Understanding that our emotional states are ultimately in Allah's hands should deepen our trust (tawakkul) in Him and free us from attributing our circumstances to mere chance or other beings.