قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَعْجَبِينَ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ رَحْمَتُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَـٰتُهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ 73
Translations
They said, "Are you amazed at the decree of Allāh? May the mercy of Allāh and His blessings be upon you, people of the house. Indeed, He is Praiseworthy and Honorable."
Transliteration
Qalū a-ta'jabīna min amri -llāhi raḥmatu -llāhi wa barakātuhū 'alaykum ahla -l-bayti innahu ḥamīdun majīd
Tafsir (Explanation)
The angels respond to Sarah's amazement at the promise of a son in her old age, reminding her not to be astonished at Allah's power and divine decree. They invoke blessings upon the household of Abraham and Sarah, emphasizing that Allah's mercy and blessings are boundless, and He is worthy of all praise and glory. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this passage demonstrates how Allah's promises transcend human expectations and natural limitations, and the special honor granted to the righteous family of Abraham.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Abraham's guests (the angels) bringing glad tidings of Isaac's birth. Sarah responds with amazement and concern given her advanced age, and the angels reassure her of Allah's complete power over all matters. The broader surah emphasizes divine mercy, prophecy, and the testing of faith.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari narrates that the Prophet Muhammad said, 'The best women are Khadijah, Fatimah, Asiyah (wife of Pharaoh), and Mary (mother of Jesus)' - reflecting the honor given to righteous women of faith similar to Sarah. Additionally, hadiths emphasize the virtue of the Ahl al-Bayt (People of the Household) as recipients of divine blessings.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to never underestimate Allah's ability to fulfill His promises, regardless of apparent human impossibilities, and to maintain unwavering trust in His divine plan. It reminds us that righteous families are recipients of special divine blessings and that our amazement at Allah's miracles should transform into gratitude and submission to His infinite wisdom.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ هُوَ ٱلْقَادِرُ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ۗ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ
Say, "He is the [one] Able to send upon you affliction from above you or from beneath your feet or to confuse you [so you become] sects and make you taste the violence of one another." Look how We diversify the signs that they might understand.
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَلَكَهُۥ يَنَـٰبِيعَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُ بِهِۦ زَرْعًا مُّخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُۥ حُطَـٰمًا ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ
Do you not see that Allāh sends down rain from the sky and makes it flow as springs [and rivers] in the earth; then He produces thereby crops of varying colors; then they dry and you see them turned yellow; then He makes them [scattered] debris. Indeed in that is a reminder for those of understanding.
يَوْمَ تَشَقَّقُ ٱلْأَرْضُ عَنْهُمْ سِرَاعًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ حَشْرٌ عَلَيْنَا يَسِيرٌ
On the Day the earth breaks away from them [and they emerge] rapidly; that is a gathering easy for Us.
ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّجَرِ ٱلْأَخْضَرِ نَارًا فَإِذَآ أَنتُم مِّنْهُ تُوقِدُونَ
[It is] He who made for you from the green tree, fire, and then from it you ignite.