Tafsir of An-Nahl 16:41-42

Surah An-Nahl (16): Verses 41-42

[16:41] And those who emigrated for the sake of Allah after they had been wronged, We will surely settle them in this world in a good place, and the reward of the Hereafter is greater, if only they knew.

[16:42] [They are] those who were patient and upon their Lord rely.

It is known that when the Almighty recounted the oath of the disbelievers—swearing by Allah with their strongest oaths to deny the Resurrection and the Hereafter—this indicated their persistence in error, ignorance, and misguidance.

In such a state, it is not unlikely that they would proceed to harm the Muslims, inflict damage upon them, and impose punishments. Consequently, it became incumbent upon the believers to emigrate (Hijra) from those lands and dwellings.

Therefore, the Almighty mentioned the ruling concerning this emigration in this verse, clarifying the good things awaiting these emigrants in this world and the reward in the Hereafter, due to their emigration, patience, and reliance upon Allah. This serves as an encouragement for others to obey Allah Almighty.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that this verse was revealed concerning six Companions: Suhayb, Bilal, Ammar, Khabbab, 'Abis, and Jubayr (a freed slave of Quraysh). They were tortured to make them renounce Islam.

• As for Suhayb, he told them: "I am an old man. If I am for you, I will not benefit you, and if I am against you, I will not harm you." So, he ransomed himself with his wealth. When Abu Bakr saw this, he said: "Profitable trade, O Suhayb!" Umar said: "What a good man Suhayb is! If he did not fear Allah, he would not disobey Him." This is high praise, implying that even if Allah had not created Hellfire, he would have obeyed Him; so, what do you think of him now that He has created it?
• As for the rest of them, they uttered some of the words of disbelief that the people of Mecca desired, renouncing Islam, so their tormentors left them alone. Then they emigrated, and this verse was revealed.

By this verse, Allah the Exalted clarified the high status of emigration and the status of the emigrants. The rationale is clear: because of their emigration, the strength of Islam became manifest, just as their power was reinforced by the support of the Ansar (Helpers in Medina).

The Almighty indicated by His saying, {And those who emigrated for the sake of Allah} that if emigration is not for Allah, it holds no significance and is merely a transition from one land to another.

His saying, {after they had been wronged} means they were oppressed in the hands of the disbelievers because they were being tortured.

Then He said: {We will surely settle them in this world in a good place} ( ḥasanah). There are several interpretations for this:

1. The word ḥasanah (good) is an adjective describing the maṣdar (verbal noun) of the verb nabū’innahum (We will surely settle them). The meaning is: "We will surely grant them a good settling/establishment." In the recitation of Ali (peace be upon him), it is: (nabū’innahum ibwā’atan ḥasanah).
2. We will surely place them in this world in a good station, which is victory over the people of Mecca who wronged them, over all the Arabs, and over the people of the East and the West. It is narrated that Umar, when giving a stipend to one of the emigrants, would say: "Take this, may Allah bless it for you. This is what Allah promised you in this world, and what He has reserved for you in the Hereafter is greater."
3. We will surely settle them in a good dwelling place (mabā’ah ḥasanah), which is Medina, where its people sheltered and supported them. This is the view of Al-Hasan, Ash-Sha'bi, and Qatadah. The meaning is: "We will surely settle them in this world in a good home or a good town, meaning Medina."

Then the Almighty said: {and the reward of the Hereafter is greater}, meaning more immense and more noble.

{if only they knew}: To whom does the pronoun refer? There are two opinions:

1. It refers to the disbelievers. Meaning: If they knew that Allah Almighty gathers for these oppressed people both this world and the Hereafter, they would desire their religion (Islam).
2. It refers to the emigrants. Meaning: If they knew this, they would increase their striving and patience.

Then He said: {They are those who were patient and upon their Lord rely}. Regarding the word {They are those who...} (alladhīna), there are several grammatical possibilities:

1. It is an apposition ( badal) to the preceding phrase {And those who emigrated}.
2. The implied meaning is: "They are those who were patient."
3. The implied meaning is: "Meaning, those who were patient."

Both the second and third interpretations involve praise. The meaning is that they were patient concerning the torment, patient concerning leaving their homeland (which is the sanctuary of Allah), and patient in striving, spending wealth, and sacrificing lives for the sake of Allah. In summary, patience and reliance (Tawakkul) are mentioned here.

Patience is for striving to conquer the lower self (nafs), while reliance is for complete detachment from creation and complete turning toward the Truth. The first (patience) is the beginning of the spiritual journey toward Allah, and the second (reliance) is the end and culmination of this path. And Allah knows best.

[16:43] And We sent not before you except men to whom We revealed [Our message]. So ask the people of the message if you do not know—

[16:44] [We sent them] with clear proofs and written ordinances. And We have sent down to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they may give thought.

[16:45] Then are those who devise evil plans secure that Allah will not cause the earth to swallow them or that the punishment will not come to them from where they do not perceive?

[16:46] Or that He will not seize them in their movements, and they will not escape [Him]?

[16:47] Or that He will not seize them gradually in their comings and goings? Indeed, your Lord is full of kindness and Merciful.