أَوْ يُوبِقْهُنَّ بِمَا كَسَبُوا۟ وَيَعْفُ عَن كَثِيرٍ 34
Translations
Or He could destroy them for what they earned; but He pardons much.
Transliteration
Aw yuubiqhunna bimaa kasaboo wa ya'fu 'an katheer
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's power to destroy ships and those aboard them either through storms or as punishment for their deeds, while simultaneously demonstrating His mercy by forgiving many sins. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret this as illustrating the balance between divine justice (punishing wrongdoing) and divine mercy (pardoning much), emphasizing that Allah does not punish people for every transgression they commit. The ayah is part of a broader passage (42:32-34) discussing Allah's signs in the creation of ships and His control over the seas.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ash-Shuraa, a Meccan surah that addresses fundamental Islamic concepts including divine oneness, revelation, and Allah's signs in creation. The passage containing this ayah (verses 32-34) specifically discusses ships as signs of Allah's power and wisdom, serving as metaphors for human vulnerability before divine will and the need for trust in Allah.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of divine mercy: The Prophet ﷺ said, 'My mercy precedes My wrath' (Sahih Muslim 2751). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari (7405) where the Prophet ﷺ stated that Allah has one hundred parts of mercy, and He sent down one part to be distributed among creation while keeping ninety-nine parts for the Day of Judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize that while Allah holds us accountable for our actions and can punish transgressions, His mercy vastly exceeds His punishment, encouraging both accountability and optimism in seeking forgiveness. It reminds us that Allah's administration of the universe reflects perfect justice tempered with compassion, and we should strive to embody similar balance in our dealings with others.