Surah 29:2

"Do the people think that they will be left (in such a position) that they (can) say, ‘We believe,’ but (that) they will not be tested?"

Islamic Commentaries (1)Manuscripts (37)

The Believers are tested so that it may be known Who is Sincere and Who is Lying Verses 29:1-4

Show Full Scripture Context (29:1-4) — 4 Verses

Verse 1

الٓمٓ

Alif Lām Mīm.

Verse 2

أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتۡرَكُوٓاْ أَن يَقُولُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمۡ لَا يُفۡتَنُونَ

Do the people think that they will be left (in such a position) that they (can) say, ‘We believe,’ but (that) they will not be tested?

Verse 3

وَلَقَدۡ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۖ فَلَيَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُواْ وَلَيَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱلۡكَٰذِبِينَ

Certainly We tested those who were before them, and God will indeed know those who are truthful, and He will indeed know the liars.

Verse 4

أَمۡ حَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ أَن يَسۡبِقُونَاۚ سَآءَ مَا يَحۡكُمُونَ

Or do those who do evil deeds think that they will escape Us? Evil is what they judge!

In the beginning of the Tafsir of Surat Al-Baqarah, we discussed the letters which appear at the beginning of some Surahs.

Quoted Scripture

"Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested."

This is a rebuke in the form of a question, meaning that Allah will inevitably test His believing servants according to their level of faith, as it recorded in the authentic Hadith.

is the view of Ibn 'Abbas and others concerning phrases such as the Ayah,

{only that We know} (2:143). Meaning, only to see - because seeing has to do with what is there, but knowledge is broader than seeing, since it includes what is not present as well as what is.

The Evildoers cannot escape from Allah

Allah said:

Quoted Scripture

"Or think those who do evil deeds that they can outstrip Us? Evil is that which they judge!"

means, those who are not believers should not think that they will escape such trials and tests, for ahead of them lies a greater and more severe punishment. Allah says:

Quoted Scripture

"Or think those who do evil deeds that they can outstrip Us"

meaning, “escape” from Us.

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.

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