وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ 104
Translations
And indeed, your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.
Transliteration
Wa-inna rabbaka la-huwa al-'Azizu ar-Rahimu
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah, the Lord of the believers, is both Al-'Aziz (the Mighty, the Invincible) and Ar-Rahim (the Merciful). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this declaration emphasizes that Allah's power is absolute and irresistible, yet it is tempered with mercy—He does not punish hastily but gives opportunity for repentance. The pairing of these two divine attributes reassures believers that Allah's judgment is both just and compassionate.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears at the end of Prophet Noah's message to his people (26:104), serving as a refrain repeated throughout Surah Ash-Shu'ara after each prophet's call to monotheism. It provides encouragement to the believers in Mecca that despite the rejection and persecution they faced, their Lord possesses both the power to protect them and the mercy to forgive those who repent.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'My mercy precedes My wrath' (Sahih Bukhari 7405). Additionally, 'Allah is more merciful to His servants than a mother is to her child' (Sahih Muslim 2754), emphasizing the balance between divine might and compassion.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should find solace in understanding that Allah's absolute power is always exercised with mercy and wisdom, and that resistance to His message, though mighty, will ultimately be overcome by His justice balanced with His compassion for the repentant.