لَعَلَّكَ بَـٰخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ أَلَّا يَكُونُوا۟ مُؤْمِنِينَ 3
Translations
Perhaps, [O Muḥammad], you would kill yourself with grief that they will not be believers.
Transliteration
La'allaka bakhiʿun nafsaka allā yakūnū mu'minīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah consoles the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by telling him not to grieve himself to death over the disbelief of his people, as the matter of faith is ultimately in Allah's hands, not his own effort. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this ayah teaches the Prophet—and by extension all believers—that spiritual success is determined by Allah's will and guidance, and that excessive grief over others' rejection contradicts trust in divine wisdom.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the opening section of Surah Ash-Shu'ara, which addresses the Prophet's deep concern over the Meccan rejection of his message. The surah's broader context deals with the mockery faced by previous prophets and provides solace to Muhammad through their examples, establishing that disbelief is not the Prophet's failure but rather part of the divine test.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 4770): The Prophet said, 'The most difficult people to please are the Jews and the Christians,' emphasizing the reality of persistent disbelief. Additionally, hadith in Tirmidhi relates to the Prophet's compassion (raḥma) for his people, showing the tension between emotional care and spiritual surrender.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should not exhaust themselves with anxiety over others' rejection of faith, as ultimate guidance belongs to Allah alone; instead, one should deliver the message sincerely while trusting in divine wisdom and maintaining emotional resilience through reliance on Allah.