Surah 37

Surah 37:171

"Certainly Our word has (already) gone forth to Our servants, the envoys."
The Promise of Victory and the Command to turn away from Idolators Verses 37:171-179
Show Full Scripture Context (37:171-179) — 9 Verses
Verse 171

وَلَقَدۡ سَبَقَتۡ كَلِمَتُنَا لِعِبَادِنَا ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ

Certainly Our word has (already) gone forth to Our servants, the envoys.

Verse 172

إِنَّهُمۡ لَهُمُ ٱلۡمَنصُورُونَ

Surely they – they indeed are the ones who will be helped.

Verse 173

وَإِنَّ جُندَنَا لَهُمُ ٱلۡغَٰلِبُونَ

Surely Our army – they indeed are the victors.

Verse 174

فَتَوَلَّ عَنۡهُمۡ حَتَّىٰ حِينٖ

So turn away from them for a time,

Verse 175

وَأَبۡصِرۡهُمۡ فَسَوۡفَ يُبۡصِرُونَ

and observe them. Soon they will observe!

Verse 176

أَفَبِعَذَابِنَا يَسۡتَعۡجِلُونَ

Do they seek to hurry Our punishment?

Verse 177

فَإِذَا نَزَلَ بِسَاحَتِهِمۡ فَسَآءَ صَبَاحُ ٱلۡمُنذَرِينَ

When it comes down in their (own) courtyard, (how) evil the morning will be for those who were warned!

Verse 178

وَتَوَلَّ عَنۡهُمۡ حَتَّىٰ حِينٖ

So turn from away them for a time,

Verse 179

وَأَبۡصِرۡ فَسَوۡفَ يُبۡصِرُونَ

and observe (them). Soon they will observe!

Allah says, "And, verily, Our Word has gone forth of old for Our servants, the Messengers," meaning, it has already been stated in the first decree that the Messengers and their followers will ultimately prevail in this world and the Hereafter. This is like the Ayah: Allah has decreed: "Verily, it is I and My Messengers who shall be the victorious." Verily, Allah is All-Powerful, Almighty., and Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe in this world's life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth.. "And, verily, Our Word has gone forth of old for Our servants, the Messengers, that they verily would be made triumphant," meaning, 'in this world and in the Hereafter, as We have already stated that they would prevail over their people who disbelieved in them and went against them, and how Allah destroyed the disbelievers and saved His believing servants.' "And that Our hosts they verily would be the victors." means, that they would ultimately prevail. "So turn away from them for a while," means, 'bear their annoyance with patience and wait until an appointed time, when We shall cause you to prevail and will grant you victory.' "And watch them and they shall see!" means, 'watch them and see what will happen to them by way of punishment for their opposition towards you and their disbelief in you.' Allah said, as a threat and a warning, "and they shall see!". Then Allah says: "Do they seek to hasten on Our torment?" meaning, 'they seek to hasten on the punishment because they disbelieve in you, and Allah is angry with them because of that and will make them suffer the consequences, and because of their disbelief and stubbornness, He will hasten on the punishment.' "Then, when it descends in their courtyard, evil will be the morning for those who had been warned!" means, when the punishment comes down to the place where they are, terrible will be the day of their punishment and destruction. As-Suddi said: "Then, when it descends in their courtyard," means, in their homes; "evil will be the morning for those who had been warned!" means, how terrible that morning will be for them. It was reported in the Two Sahihs that Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "On the morning of Khaybar, when the people came out with their tools (to go about their daily work) and saw the (Muslim) army, they went back and said, 'Muhammad by Allah! Muhammad and the army!' The Prophet said: "Allahu Akbar! Khaybar has been destroyed. Then, when it descends in the courtyard of any people, evil will be the morning for those who had been warned!"" "So turn away from them for a while, and watch and they shall see!" This is a reiteration of the command stated above. And Allah knows best.

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.