قُل لَّن يُصِيبَنَآ إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَىٰنَا ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ 51
Translations
Say, "Never will we be struck except by what Allāh has decreed for us; He is our protector." And upon Allāh let the believers rely.
Transliteration
Qul lan yuseebana illa ma kataba Allahu lana huwa mawlana wa'ala Allahi falyatawakkali al-mu'minun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah teaches absolute trust in Allah's divine decree and predetermined will. The Prophet (ﷺ) is commanded to declare that nothing can befall the believers except what Allah has written for them, and that Allah alone is their protector and guardian. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize this as a foundation of Islamic faith—that all affairs are in Allah's hands, and believers should place their complete reliance (tawakkul) upon Him alone, not upon material means or human power.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah At-Tawbah (9), a Medinan chapter revealed after the Battle of Uhud and in the context of early Muslim warfare and trials. The broader context concerns believers facing hardship and loss, and this ayah provides spiritual fortitude by reminding them of divine sovereignty over all circumstances, whether victory or defeat.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The greatest thing to which a servant can attain is tawakkul (reliance) upon Allah' (Ibn al-Qayyim's compilation). Also relevant: 'Whoever places his trust in Allah, He will suffice him' (Tirmidhi 2347, on the authority of Ibn Abbas).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to develop unwavering trust in Allah's wisdom and plan, understanding that no harm or benefit can reach them except by His will—a perspective that brings peace in uncertainty and resilience during hardship. It teaches that true security comes not from controlling circumstances, but from surrendering to Allah's providence with complete faith.