وَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ 178
Translations
And leave them for a time.
Transliteration
Wa tawalla 'anhum hatta heen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to turn away from the disbelievers until a specified time, meaning to cease calling them to Islam and to withdraw his attention from them temporarily. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this represents a divine instruction to the Prophet not to grieve over their rejection, as their punishment and accountability rest with Allah. The phrase 'until a time' (hatta heen) refers to the Day of Judgment or a time of divine retribution when they will face the consequences of their disbelief.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the end of Surah As-Saffat, which is a Meccan surah emphasizing Divine justice, the reality of the Hereafter, and warnings to those who reject the Message. The context follows discussions of the punishment of previous nations and reaffirms that the Prophet's duty is to convey the message, not to force belief upon people.
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself (16:125) emphasizes 'Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best.' Additionally, Surah Al-Ghashiyah (88:21-22) states that the Prophet's role is only to remind and convey, not to compel belief, which aligns thematically with this instruction to turn away from those who persistently reject.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that persistently forcing guidance upon those who reject it causes unnecessary spiritual distress; instead, one should present the truth clearly and then entrust outcomes to Allah, knowing that He will judge all justly. It also reminds us that our responsibility is to convey the message faithfully, not to control others' responses or outcomes.