وَلَمَنِ ٱنتَصَرَ بَعْدَ ظُلْمِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَا عَلَيْهِم مِّن سَبِيلٍ 41
Translations
And whoever retaliates after having been wronged - those have not upon them any cause [for blame].
Transliteration
Wa-laman intasara ba'da zulmihi fa-ula'ika ma 'alayhim min sabeel
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah permits those who have been wronged to seek retribution against their oppressors, and states that there is no blame (sabeel/way of blame) upon such people for defending themselves. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as establishing the right of self-defense and justice after experiencing injustice, while contextualizing it within the broader Islamic framework of measured response and eventual forgiveness discussed in the preceding ayah (42:40).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ash-Shuraa, revealed in Mecca during a period of persecution against Muslims. The surah addresses conflict resolution and the proper response to wrongdoing. This specific ayah follows the principle of pardoning (42:40) and presents the alternative—that those who do seek redress after being wronged are not blameworthy, reflecting the practical balance between patience and justice in Islamic law.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895), emphasizing restraint. Additionally, 'There is no might nor power except by Allah' reflects the Islamic approach of seeking Allah's aid before retaliation (Sahih Bukhari 6384).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Muslims have the right to defend themselves and seek justice when wronged, yet this right exists within a framework where forgiveness and patience are prioritized as superior. For modern readers, it offers guidance that self-defense and standing against injustice are not only permissible but sometimes necessary, provided they remain measured and guided by Islamic principles.