وَإِذَآ أَذَقْنَا ٱلنَّاسَ رَحْمَةً مِّنۢ بَعْدِ ضَرَّآءَ مَسَّتْهُمْ إِذَا لَهُم مَّكْرٌ فِىٓ ءَايَاتِنَا ۚ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ أَسْرَعُ مَكْرًا ۚ إِنَّ رُسُلَنَا يَكْتُبُونَ مَا تَمْكُرُونَ 21
Translations
And when We give the people a taste of mercy after adversity has touched them, at once they conspire against Our verses. Say, "Allāh is swifter in strategy." Indeed, Our messengers [i.e., angels] record that which you conspire.
Transliteration
Wa-idha adhaqna al-nasa rahmatan min ba'di darraa massat-hum idha lahum makrun fi ayatina. Quli Allahu asra'u makra. Inna rusulanā yaktubūna mā tamkurūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how people, after experiencing hardship, become ungrateful and resort to plotting against Allah's signs when relief comes. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that this reflects human nature's tendency toward ingratitude and spiritual arrogance in times of ease. Allah responds to their machinations by asserting His supreme power—His plot is swifter and more effective—and reminds them that the angels record all their deeds, emphasizing divine omniscience and accountability.
Revelation Context
Surah Yunus is Meccan and addresses the themes of prophethood, divine mercy, and human ingratitude. This ayah fits within the surah's broader context of illustrating how the Meccan disbelievers responded to the Prophet Muhammad's message and miracles with denial and plotting, demonstrating the cyclical pattern of human response to mercy and hardship.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim (2964) contains a hadith where the Prophet ﷺ said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family,' which relates to themes of mercy and good character. Additionally, Tirmidhi (3259) records that 'When Allah intends good for His servant, He hastens his punishment in this life,' which contextualizes divine wisdom in both hardship and ease.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that adversity and ease are both tests from Allah, and true faith requires gratitude in both states and honesty in our dealings. It should humble us to remember that Allah is fully aware of our intentions and actions, and that no deception or plotting escapes His knowledge, encouraging integrity and sincere reliance on Him.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
O you who have believed, fear Allāh. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow - and fear Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Aware of what you do.
۞ إِلَيْهِ يُرَدُّ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ ۚ وَمَا تَخْرُجُ مِن ثَمَرَٰتٍ مِّنْ أَكْمَامِهَا وَمَا تَحْمِلُ مِنْ أُنثَىٰ وَلَا تَضَعُ إِلَّا بِعِلْمِهِۦ ۚ وَيَوْمَ يُنَادِيهِمْ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآءِى قَالُوٓا۟ ءَاذَنَّـٰكَ مَا مِنَّا مِن شَهِيدٍ
To Him [alone] is attributed knowledge of the Hour. And fruits emerge not from their coverings nor does a female conceive or give birth except with His knowledge. And the Day He will call to them, "Where are My 'partners'?" they will say, "We announce to You that there is [no longer] among us any witness [to that]."
وَإِذَا جَآءُوكُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَقَد دَّخَلُوا۟ بِٱلْكُفْرِ وَهُمْ قَدْ خَرَجُوا۟ بِهِۦ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْتُمُونَ
And when they come to you, they say, "We believe." But they have entered with disbelief [in their hearts], and they have certainly left with it. And Allāh is most knowing of what they were concealing.
نَّحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ ۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِجَبَّارٍ ۖ فَذَكِّرْ بِٱلْقُرْءَانِ مَن يَخَافُ وَعِيدِ
We are most knowing of what they say, and you are not over them a tyrant. But remind by the Qur’ān whoever fears My threat.