وَمَا كَانَ لَهُۥ عَلَيْهِم مِّن سُلْطَـٰنٍ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِمَّنْ هُوَ مِنْهَا فِى شَكٍّ ۗ وَرَبُّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَفِيظٌ 21
Translations
And he had over them no authority except [it was decreed] that We might make evident who believes in the Hereafter from who is thereof in doubt. And your Lord, over all things, is Guardian.
Transliteration
Wa maa kaana lahoo 'alayihim min sultaanin illaa li na'lama man yu'minu bil-aakhirati mimman huwa minhaa fee shakkin wa rabbuka 'alaa kulli shay'in hafeedh
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Satan (Iblis) has no authority over the believers except what Allah permits to distinguish between those who truly believe in the Hereafter and those who doubt it. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this trial serves as a divine test—the whispers and temptations of Satan become a means through which Allah's knowledge of true believers is manifested, while Allah remains the Guardian over all things. Al-Qurtubi notes that this authority is limited by divine wisdom and serves the ultimate purpose of revealing the sincere from the insincere.
Revelation Context
Surah Saba is a Meccan surah addressing polytheism and the denial of the Hereafter. This ayah comes within the broader context of Allah's discussion about Satan's role and limitations, specifically addressing the Quraysh's doubts about resurrection and the afterlife. The passage reassures believers that their struggles against temptation are meaningful trials orchestrated by Allah's perfect knowledge.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'Verily, Satan comes to one of you and says: Who created such and such? Who created such and such? Until he says: Who created your Lord? If this happens to anyone, let him seek refuge with Allah and abandon these thoughts.' (Sahih Bukhari 3276). This hadith relates to how Satan's whispers test belief, echoing the ayah's theme of distinguishing true believers.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should understand that spiritual struggles and temptations are divinely permitted tests that reveal the sincerity of their faith, not signs of abandonment by Allah. This knowledge should strengthen trust in Allah's perfect guardianship and encourage steadfastness, knowing that Allah fully sees and knows the state of every heart.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُنَا بَيِّنَـٰتٍ قَالُوا۟ مَا هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا رَجُلٌ يُرِيدُ أَن يَصُدَّكُمْ عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَقَالُوا۟ مَا هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ إِفْكٌ مُّفْتَرًى ۚ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمْ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ
And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, they say, "This is not but a man who wishes to avert you from that which your fathers were worshipping." And they say, "This is not except a lie invented." And those who disbelieve say of the truth when it has come to them, "This is not but obvious magic."
وَيَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ هُوَ ٱلْحَقَّ وَيَهْدِىٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ
And those who have been given knowledge see that what is revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, and it guides to the path of the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy.
وَمَآ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُكُم بِٱلَّتِى تُقَرِّبُكُمْ عِندَنَا زُلْفَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ جَزَآءُ ٱلضِّعْفِ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَهُمْ فِى ٱلْغُرُفَـٰتِ ءَامِنُونَ
And it is not your wealth or your children that bring you nearer to Us in position, but it is [by being] one who has believed and done righteousness. For them there will be the double reward for what they did, and they will be in the upper chambers [of Paradise], safe [and secure].
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا كَآفَّةً لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. But most of the people do not know.