Surah Ash-Shu'ara — Verse 175

Word Meanings:

• الْعَزِيزُ (Al-ʿAzīz): The Almighty, the All-Powerful, the Invincible One who prevails over all things and is never overcome.
• الرَّحِيمُ (Ar-Raḥīm): The Most Merciful, the One who bestows His mercy and compassion upon His believing servants.

Explanation of the Verse:

O Messenger, know with certainty that your Lord — and no other — is the Almighty, the All-Powerful, who subdues all that exists and prevails over His enemies. He is the One who seizes the wrongdoers with His might and punishes the deniers of His messengers, as He did with the people of Shuʿayb and other nations before them. Yet, alongside His overwhelming power and strength, He is also the Most Merciful to His believing servants — those who repent, turn back to Him, and follow His guidance. His mercy encompasses them in this world and the Hereafter, and His punishment is reserved for those who persist in disbelief and transgression.

This pairing of divine attributes — might and mercy — is a profound source of hope and awe for the believer. It teaches us that Allah’s power is not blind or arbitrary; rather, it is tempered by His boundless mercy, which He showers upon those who seek His forgiveness and obey His commands. So let your heart find peace, O believer, in knowing that the One who holds all strength and authority is also the One who loves to forgive and show compassion. Turn to Him in repentance, and you will find that His mercy is greater than any sin, and His might is your ultimate protection against all harm.