Surah 39

Surah 39:37

"but whoever God guides – no one (will) lead him astray. Is God not mighty, a taker of vengeance?"
Allah is Sufficient for His Servant Verses 39:36-40
Show Full Scripture Context (39:36-40) — 5 Verses
Verse 36

أَلَيۡسَ ٱللَّهُ بِكَافٍ عَبۡدَهُۥۖ وَيُخَوِّفُونَكَ بِٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦۚ وَمَن يُضۡلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِنۡ هَادٖ

Is God not sufficient for His servant, when they frighten you with (gods) other than Him? Whoever God leads astray has no guide,

Verse 37

وَمَن يَهۡدِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن مُّضِلٍّۗ أَلَيۡسَ ٱللَّهُ بِعَزِيزٖ ذِي ٱنتِقَامٖ

but whoever God guides – no one (will) lead him astray. Is God not mighty, a taker of vengeance?

Verse 38

وَلَئِن سَأَلۡتَهُم مَّنۡ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُۚ قُلۡ أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِنۡ أَرَادَنِيَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ هَلۡ هُنَّ كَٰشِفَٰتُ ضُرِّهِۦٓ أَوۡ أَرَادَنِي بِرَحۡمَةٍ هَلۡ هُنَّ مُمۡسِكَٰتُ رَحۡمَتِهِۦۚ قُلۡ حَسۡبِيَ ٱللَّهُۖ عَلَيۡهِ يَتَوَكَّلُ ٱلۡمُتَوَكِّلُونَ

If indeed you ask them, ‘Who created the heavens and the earth?,’ they will indeed say, ‘God.’ Say: ‘Do you see what you call on instead of God? If God intends any harm for me, will they be removers of His harm? Or if He intends any mercy for me, will they be withholders of His mercy?’ Say: ‘God is enough for me. In Him the trusting put their trust.’

Verse 39

قُلۡ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡمَلُواْ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمۡ إِنِّي عَٰمِلٞۖ فَسَوۡفَ تَعۡلَمُونَ

Say: ‘My people! Do as you are able. Surely I am going to do (what I can). Soon you will know

Verse 40

مَن يَأۡتِيهِ عَذَابٞ يُخۡزِيهِ وَيَحِلُّ عَلَيۡهِ عَذَابٞ مُّقِيمٌ

on whom punishment will come, disgracing him. On him a lasting punishment will descend.’

Allah says: {Is not Allah Sufficient for His servant?} Some of them read it “His servants.” It means that Allah is Sufficient for the one who worships Him and relies upon Him. {Yet they try to frighten you with those besides Him!} means, the idolaters tried to scare the Messenger of Allah with their idols and gods which they called upon besides Allah out of ignorance and misguidance. Allah says: {And whom Allah sends astray, for him there will be no guide. And whomsoever Allah guides, for him there will be no misleader. Is not Allah Almighty, Possessor of Retribution?} meaning, whoever relies on Him and turns to Him, will never be forsaken, for He is the Almighty Who cannot be overwhelmed by another, and there is none more severe than Him in exacting retribution on those who disbelieve in Him, associate others in worship with Him and resist His Messenger.

The Idolators admit that Allah is the Sole Creator because Their gods are incapable
{And verily, if you ask them: "Who created the heavens and the earth?" Surely, they will say: "Allah."} means, the idolators used to recognize that Allah was the Creator of all things, but despite that they still worshipped others besides Him, others who had no power to bring benefit or cause harm. Allah said: {Say: "Tell me then, the things that you invoke besides Allah - if Allah intended some harm for me, could they remove His harm? Or if He (Allah) intended some mercy for me, could they withhold His mercy?"} meaning, they cannot do any of that at all. Here Ibn Abi Hatim recorded a narration from Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, attributing it to the Prophet: «Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you; be mindful of Allah and you will find Him ever with you. Turn to Allah in times of ease and He will turn to you in times of difficulty. If you ask anyone for anything, then ask Allah; if you seek help from anyone, then seek help from Allah. Know that even if the entire nation were to come together to do you some harm that Allah has not decreed for you, they will never be able to harm you, and if they were to come together to do you some good that Allah has not decreed for you, they will never be able to do that. The pages have dried and the pens have been lifted. Strive for the sake of Allah with thankfulness and firm conviction, and know that in patiently persevering with regard to something that you dislike there is much goodness. Victory comes with patience, a way out comes from difficulty and with hardship comes ease.»
{Say: “Sufficient for me is Allah...”} means, ‘Allah is enough for me.’ {in Him I put my trust, and let all those that trust, put their trust in Him.} (12:67). This is like what Hud, peace be upon him, said to his people: {\"All that we say is that some of our gods have seized you with evil.\" He said: \"I call Allah to witness and bear you witness that I am free from that which you ascribe as partners in worship, with Him. So plot against me, all of you, and give me no respite. I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving creature but He has the grasp of its forelock. Verily, my Lord is on the straight path.\"} (11:54-56).
{Say: "O My people! Work according to your way..."} This is a threat and a warning. {I am working} means, ‘according to my way.’ {Then you will come to know} means, you will learn the consequences. {To whom comes a disgracing torment} means, in this world, {and on whom descends an everlasting torment.} means, ongoing and eternal, with no escape, which will come on the Day of Resurrection. We seek refuge with Allah from that.

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Page 392-395)

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.