وَقَدْ مَكَرُوا۟ مَكْرَهُمْ وَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَكْرُهُمْ وَإِن كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ ٱلْجِبَالُ 46
Translations
And they had planned their plan, but with Allāh is [recorded] their plan, even if their plan had been [sufficient] to do away with the mountains.
Transliteration
Wa qad makaroo makrahum wa 'inda Allahi makruhum wa in kana makruhum litazula minhu al-jibal
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that despite the disbelievers' plots and schemes against the Prophet Muhammad and Islam, Allah is fully aware of their machinations and they cannot escape His knowledge or power. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that the phrase 'even if their plot were such as to cause the mountains to move away' emphasizes the futility of their schemes—even if their plotting were powerful enough to move mountains, it would still be insignificant before Allah's might and wisdom. The verse reassures believers that no human plot can thwart Allah's plan or protection of His Message.
Revelation Context
Surah Ibrahim is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam when the Quraysh were intensely plotting against the Prophet and the nascent Muslim community. This ayah appears in the latter part of the surah within a passage addressing the disbelievers' arrogance and their futile machinations against Allah's religion, providing comfort to believers facing persecution.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to Sahih Bukhari (3633) where the Prophet said, 'Verily, Allah has made for every prophet enemies from among the wicked.' Additionally, the concept of Allah's protection over His plan is reinforced in Surah Al-Maaidah (5:3) regarding the completion of the deen, supporting the broader message that human plots cannot prevent Allah's will.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should have unwavering confidence that Allah's awareness and power far exceed any human scheming or opposition they may face. This ayah teaches resilience in faith by reminding us that plots against Allah's religion ultimately fail, regardless of their apparent strength or sophistication.
Related Ayahs
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلطَّيْرُ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ ۖ كُلٌّ قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهُۥ وَتَسْبِيحَهُۥ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ
Do you not see that Allāh is exalted by whomever is within the heavens and the earth and [by] the birds with wings spread [in flight]? Each [of them] has known his [means of] prayer and exalting [Him], and Allāh is Knowing of what they do.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا تَنَـٰجَيْتُمْ فَلَا تَتَنَـٰجَوْا۟ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَتَنَـٰجَوْا۟ بِٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِىٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
O you who have believed, when you converse privately, do not converse about sin and aggression and disobedience to the Messenger but converse about righteousness and piety. And fear Allāh, to whom you will be gathered.
أَمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّا لَا نَسْمَعُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوَىٰهُم ۚ بَلَىٰ وَرُسُلُنَا لَدَيْهِمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private conversations? Yes, [We do], and Our messengers [i.e., angels] are with them recording.
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ فَإِذَآ أُوذِىَ فِى ٱللَّهِ جَعَلَ فِتْنَةَ ٱلنَّاسِ كَعَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَئِن جَآءَ نَصْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّا كُنَّا مَعَكُمْ ۚ أَوَلَيْسَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِمَا فِى صُدُورِ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And of the people are some who say, "We believe in Allāh," but when one [of them] is harmed for [the cause of] Allāh, he considers the trial [i.e., harm] of the people as [if it were] the punishment of Allāh. But if victory comes from your Lord, they say, "Indeed, We were with you." Is not Allāh most knowing of what is within the breasts of the worlds [i.e., all creatures]?