Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 214

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Do you think that you will enter Paradise while you have not yet been visited by (difficult) circumstances like those that were faced by the people who passed away before you? They were afflicted by hardship and suffering, and were so shaken down that the prophet, and those who believed with him, started saying: “When (will come) the help of Allah?” (Then, they were comforted by the Prophet who said to them) ‘Behold, the help of Allah is near.’

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Do you think you will be admitted into Paradise without being tested like those before you? They were afflicted with suffering and adversity and were so ˹violently˺ shaken that ˹even˺ the Messenger and the believers with him cried out, “When will Allah’s help come?” Indeed, Allah’s help is ˹always˺ near.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Do you think that you will enter Paradise without being tested like those before you who were tested? They were afflicted with poverty and adversity and were shaken until the messenger and the believers with him said, “When will the help of Allah come?” Indeed, the victory of Allah is near.

A. J. Arberry

Or did you suppose you should enter Paradise without there had come upon you the like of those who passed away before you? They were afflicted by misery and hardship and were so convulsed, that the Messenger and those who believed with him said, 'When comes God's help?' Ah, but surely God's help is nigh.

Abdul Haleem

Do you suppose that you will enter the Garden without first having suffered like those before you? They were afflicted by misfortune and hardship, and they were so shaken that even [their] messenger and the believers with him cried, ‘When will God’s help arrive?’ Truly, God’s help is near.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Deem ye that ye will enter the Garden while ye hath not come upon you the like of that which came upon those who have passed away before you There touched them adversity and distress, and shaken were they, until the apostle and those who believed with him said; when cometh the succour of Allah! Lo! verily Allah's succour is nigh.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? they encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried; "When (will come) the help of Allah?" Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near!

Abul Ala Maududi

Do you think that you will enter Paradise without undergoing such trials as were experienced by the believers before you? They met with adversity and affliction and were so shaken by trials that the Prophet of the time and his followers cried out: "When will Allah's help come"? (Then they were comforted with the good tidings): "Yes, Allah's help is near."

Ahmed Ali

Do you think you will find your way to Paradise even though you have not known what the others before you have gone through? They had suffered affliction and loss, and were shaken and tossed about so that even the Apostle had to cry out with his followers: "When will the help of God arrive?" Remember, the help of God is ever at hand.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Are you under the illusion that you will enter Paradise whereas the suffering, which came to those before you, has not yet come to you? Hardship and adversity befell them and they were shaken, to the extent that the Noble Messenger and the believers along with him said, “When will the help of Allah come?”; pay heed! Allah’s help is surely near.

Ali Quli Qarai

Do you suppose that you will enter paradise though there has not yet come to you the like of [what befell] those who went before you? Stress and distress befell them and they were convulsed until the apostle and the faithful who were with him said, ‘When will Allah’s help [come]?’ Behold! Allah’s help is indeed near!

Ali Ünal

(Given the history of humankind in this world,) do you think that you will enter Paradise while there has not yet come upon you the like of what came upon those who passed away before you? They were visited by such adversities and hardships, and were so shaken as by earthquake that the Messenger and those who believed in his company nearly cried out: "When comes God’s help?" Beware! the help of God is surely near!

Amatul Rahman Omar

Do you think that you will enter Paradise, while there has not yet come upon you the like of that which befell those who passed away before you? Distress and afflictions befell them, and they were made to suffer the violent tremors, so that the Messenger and those who believed along with him spoke out, `When (will come) the help of Allâh?´ (Then they were told), `Behold! surely, the help of Allâh is always nearby.´

English Literal

Or (have) you thought/supposed that you enter the Paradise and (the) example of those who past/expired from before you (E) did not come to you, the misery/hardship and the calamity touched them, and they were shaken until the messenger and those who believed with him say: "When (is) God`s victory/aid?" Is it not (that) God`s victory/aid (is) near/close?"

Faridul Haque

Are you under the illusion that you will enter Paradise whereas the suffering, which came to those before you, has not yet come to you? Hardship and adversity befell them and they were shaken, to the extent that the Noble Messenger and the believers along with him said, "When will the help of Allah come?"; pay heed! Allah’s help is surely near.

Hamid S. Aziz

Did you count on entering Paradise, while there had nothing come to you like that which came to those who passed away before you; they encountered affliction and adversity, and they were made to quake, until the Messenger and those who believed with him said, "When (comes) Allah´s help? Surely, Allah´s help is nigh?"

Hilali & Khan

Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When (will come) the Help of Allah?" Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Or do you think that you will enter the Garden, while there has not yet befallen you the like of what befell those who have passed before you. Distress and affliction befell them and they were shaken violently, so that the Messenger and those who believed with him said: When will the help of Allah come? Now surely the help of Allah is nigh!

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Or do you think that you would enter the garden while yet the state of those who have passed away before you has not come upon you; distress and affliction befell them and they were shaken violently, so that the Apostle and those who believed with him said: When will the help of Allah come? Now surely the help of Allah is nigh!

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Or think ye that ye will enter paradise while yet there hath not come unto you the like of (that which came to) those who passed away before you? Affliction and adversity befell them, they were shaken as with earthquake, till the messenger (of Allah) and those who believed along with him said: When cometh Allah's help? Now surely Allah's help is nigh.

Muhammad Sarwar

Would you think that you could go to Paradise without experiencing the kind of suffering others have experienced before you? Distress and afflictions battered them until the Messenger and the believers said, "When will God send help?" Certainly God's help is near.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Or did you suppose that you would go to Paradise untouched by that endured by those before you! Affliction and adversity befell them; and they were shaken until the Messenger, and those who believed with him, said: 'When will the victory of Allah come' Is it not so that the victory of Allah is near.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When (will come) the help of Allah" Yes! Certainly, the help of Allah is near!

Wahiduddin Khan

Do you think that you will enter Paradise without having suffered like those who passed away before you? Affliction and hardship befell them and so shaken were they that the Messenger and the believers with him would exclaim, "When will God's help come?" Surely the help of God is near.

Talal Itani

Or do you expect to enter Paradise before the example of those who came before you had reached you? Adversity and hardship had afflicted them, and they were so shaken up, that the Messenger and those who believed with him said, “When is God’s victory?” Indeed, God’s victory is near.

Tafsir jalalayn

The following was revealed after the Muslims suffered a trying experience; Or did you suppose that you should enter Paradise without there having come upon you the like of, what came upon, those, believers, who passed away before you?, of trials, so that you may endure as they did; a new sentence begins here, explaining the previous one; They were afflicted by misery, extreme poverty, and hardship, illness, and were so convulsed, by all types of tribulations, that the Messenger and those who believed with him said (read yaqla or yaqlu), not expecting to see any help, on account of the extreme hardship afflicting them, `When will God's help come?', [the help] which we were promised; and God responded to them; Ah, but surely God's help is nigh, in coming.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Victory only comes after succeeding in the Trials

Allah said;

أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُواْ الْجَنَّةَ

Or think you that you will enter Paradise,

before you are tested and tried just like the nations that came before you!

This is why Allah said;

وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْاْ مِن قَبْلِكُم مَّسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاء وَالضَّرَّاء
without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments,

meaning, illnesses, pain, disasters and hardships.

Ibn Mas`ud, Ibn Abbas, Abu Al-Aliyah, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Murrah Al-Hamdani, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, Ar-Rabi, As-Suddi and Muqatil bin Hayyan said that;

الْبَأْسَاء
(Al-Ba'sa') means poverty.

Ibn Abbas said that

وَالضَّرَّاء
(...and Ad-Darra') means ailments.

وَزُلْزِلُواْ

and were so shaken,

for fear of the enemy, and were tested, and put to a tremendous trial.

An authentic Hadith narrated that Khabbab bin Al-Aratt said,

"We said, `O Messenger of Allah! Why do you not invoke Allah to support us Why do you not supplicate to Allah for us' He said;

إِنَّ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ كَانَ أَحَدُهُمْ يُوضَعُ الْمِنْشَارُ عَلى مَفْرَقِ رَأْسِهِ فَيَخْلُصُ إِلى قَدَمَيْهِ لَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ وَيُمْشَطُ بِأَمْشَاطِ الْحَدِيدِ مَا بَيْنَ لَحْمِهِ وَعَظْمِهِ لَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذلِكَ عَنْ دِينِه

The saw would be placed on the middle of the head of one of those who were before you (believers) and he would be sawn until his feet, and he would be combed with iron combs between his skin and bones, yet that would not make him change his religion.

He then said;

وَاللهِ لَيُتِمَّنَّ اللهُ هَذَا الاْاَمْرَ حَتَّى يَسِيرَ الرَّاكِبُ مِنْ صَنْعَاءَ إلى حَضْرَمَوْتَ لَاا يَخَافُ إِلاَّ اللهَ وَالذِّيْبَ عَلى غَنَمِهِ وَلَكِنَّــكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَسْتَعْجِلُون

By Allah! This matter (religion) will spread (or expand) by Allah until the traveler leaves San`a' to Hadramawt (both in Yemen, but at a great distance from each other) fearing only Allah and then the wolf for the sake of his sheep. You are just a hasty people.

And Allah said;

الم


أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا امَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ


وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ


Alif-Lam-Mim. Do people think that they will be left alone because they say;"We believe," and will not be tested And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars. (29;1-3)

The Companions experienced tremendous trials during the battle of Al-Ahzab (the Confederates).

Allah said;

إِذْ جَأءُوكُمْ مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ وَمِنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ وَإِذْ زَاغَتِ الاٌّبْصَـرُ وَبَلَغَتِ الْقُلُوبُ الْحَنَاجِرَ وَتَظُنُّونَ بِاللَّهِ الظُّنُونَاْ

هُنَالِكَ ابْتُلِىَ الْمُوْمِنُونَ وَزُلْزِلُواْ زِلْزَالاً شَدِيداً

وَإِذْ يَقُولُ الْمُنَـفِقُونَ وَالَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ مَّا وَعَدَنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ إِلاَّ غُرُوراً

When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when the eyes grew wild and the hearts reached to the throats, and you were harboring doubts about Allah. There, the believers were tried and shaken with a mighty shaking. And when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease (of doubts) said;"Allah and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusion!" (33;10-12)

When Heraclius asked Abu Sufyan, "Did you fight him (Prophet Muhammad)?" He said, "Yes."

Heraclius said, "What was the outcome of warfare between you?"

Abu Sufyan said, "Sometimes we lose and sometimes he loses."

He said, "Such is the case with Prophets, they are tested, but the final victory is theirs."

Allah's statement;

مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْاْ مِن قَبْلِكُم
without (such) (trials) as came to those who passed away before you,

meaning, their way of life.

Similarly, Allah said;

فَأَهْلَكْنَأ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُم بَطْشاً وَمَضَى مَثَلُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ

Then We destroyed men stronger (in power) than these ـ and the example of the ancients has passed away (before them)) (43;8)

and,

وَزُلْزِلُواْ حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ امَنُواْ مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللّهِ
were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When (will come) the help of Allah."

They pleaded (to Allah) for victory against their enemies and invoked Him for aid and deliverance from their hardships and trials. Allah said;

أَلا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللّهِ قَرِيبٌ



Yes! Certainly, the help of Allah is near!

Allah said;

فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً

إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً

Verily, along with every hardship is relief. Verily, along with every hardship is relief. (94;5-6)

So just as there is hardship, its equal of relief will soon arrive. This is why Allah said;
أَلا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللّهِ قَرِيبٌ
(Yes! Certainly, the help of Allah is near)