Surah Az-Zukhruf — Verse 5

Word Meanings:

• Afa-nadribu `ankumu – "Should We turn away from you" or "Should We withhold from you."
• Adh-Dhikr – "The Reminder," referring to the Qur'an and the divine revelation.
• Safhan – "Turning aside," "averting," or "overlooking," implying complete abandonment or disregard.
• An kuntum – "Because you are" or "since you have been."
• Musrifeen – "Those who exceed all bounds," i.e., those who persist in transgression, extravagance in sin, and stubborn disbelief.

Tafsir (Explanation):

This verse poses a profound rhetorical question to the disbelievers of Makkah: *"Should We then turn the Reminder (the Qur'an) away from you entirely, and withhold it, simply because you are a people who have exceeded all bounds in sin and disbelief?"*

The implied answer is a decisive "No!" — Allah, in His infinite mercy and wisdom, does not abandon His creation merely because they are rebellious. On the contrary, His mercy demands the opposite: He continues to send down the Qur'an, again and again, calling them to guidance, even as they persist in their transgression. This is not a sign of weakness, but a testament to His boundless compassion and His desire that they return to Him.

The verse uses the style of an interrogative denial (*istifham bi-ma'na al-inkar*), which strongly rejects any notion that Allah would give up on humanity. It is as if Allah is saying: "Do you think that your sinfulness would make Us turn away from you? Never! We will keep sending you the Reminder, because your salvation is dear to Us, and Our mercy precedes Our wrath."

This carries a powerful lesson for every believer and seeker of truth: No matter how far you have strayed, no matter how deep your sins, the door of divine mercy is never closed. The Qur'an is not a reward for the righteous only; it is a healing and a mercy for all who are willing to listen. Allah does not punish stubbornness by withdrawing His guidance — rather, He increases His reminders, hoping that one day the heart will soften and turn back to Him.

So, do not despair of Allah's mercy, and do not think that your past mistakes disqualify you from His guidance. The very fact that you are reading these words is a sign that He has not turned away from you. Embrace the Qur'an, for it is His rope extended to you — a lifeline of light in the darkness of this world.