قُلْ هَلْ تَرَبَّصُونَ بِنَآ إِلَّآ إِحْدَى ٱلْحُسْنَيَيْنِ ۖ وَنَحْنُ نَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمْ أَن يُصِيبَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِعَذَابٍ مِّنْ عِندِهِۦٓ أَوْ بِأَيْدِينَا ۖ فَتَرَبَّصُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّتَرَبِّصُونَ 52
Translations
Say, "Do you await for us except one of the two best things [i.e., martyrdom or victory] while we await for you that Allāh will afflict you with punishment from Himself or at our hands? So wait; indeed we, along with you, are waiting."
Transliteration
Qul hal tarbassun bina illa ihda al-husnayayn wa nahnu natabassasu bikum an yusibakum allahu bi azabin min indih aw bi aydina fa tarbassau inna ma'akum mutarabbisun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a direct challenge to the hypocrites and disbelievers: the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the believers await only one of two good outcomes—either victory in this world or martyrdom (entering Paradise) in the next. Meanwhile, the believers wait upon Allah's promise that He will punish the disbelievers either through divine punishment or through the believers' own hands. Ibn Kathir notes this demonstrates the unwavering certainty of the believers in Allah's victory and their readiness for any outcome. Al-Tabari emphasizes the rhetorical power of this statement in exposing the hopelessness of the disbelievers' position.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period during the context of Surah At-Tawbah, which addresses the issue of hypocrites (munafiqun) and wavering believers who hesitated in supporting the Prophet's military campaigns. The ayah directly confronts those who harbored doubt about the believers' cause, asserting the absolute confidence believers have in Allah's promise of eventual victory regardless of circumstance.
Related Hadiths
The concept is reflected in the hadith where the Prophet said, 'For every soul, there is a fixed term; when its term comes, it cannot be delayed nor advanced by even a single moment' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, Anas ibn Malik reported the Prophet's statement about the believer always being in a good state—whether in ease or hardship (Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to maintain unwavering faith that all outcomes are ultimately good when placed in Allah's hands—whether worldly success or eternal reward—and to recognize that hesitation or doubt reflects spiritual weakness. For modern Muslims, it encourages steadfastness in purpose and freedom from fear when acting upon Islamic principles.
Related Ayahs
يُبَشِّرُهُمْ رَبُّهُم بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنْهُ وَرِضْوَٰنٍ وَجَنَّـٰتٍ لَّهُمْ فِيهَا نَعِيمٌ مُّقِيمٌ
Their Lord gives them good tidings of mercy from Him and approval and of gardens for them wherein is enduring pleasure.
فَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُهُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُم بِهَا فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ
So let not their wealth or their children impress you. Allāh only intends to punish them through them in worldly life and that their souls should depart [at death] while they are disbelievers.
مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يَعْمُرُوا۟ مَسَـٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ شَـٰهِدِينَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِم بِٱلْكُفْرِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ وَفِى ٱلنَّارِ هُمْ خَـٰلِدُونَ
It is not for the polytheists to maintain the mosques of Allāh [while] witnessing against themselves with disbelief. [For] those, their deeds have become worthless, and in the Fire they will abide eternally.
ٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ أَوْ لَا تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ إِن تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً فَلَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
Ask forgiveness for them, [O Muḥammad], or do not ask forgiveness for them. If you should ask forgiveness for them seventy times - never will Allāh forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allāh and His Messenger, and Allāh does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.