Surah Mulk Verse 28 — Ayat 28

Arabic Text

قُلۡ أَرَءَیۡتُمۡ إِنۡ أَهۡلَكَنِیَ ٱللَّهُ وَمَن مَّعِیَ أَوۡ رَحِمَنَا فَمَن یُجِیرُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِینَ مِنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِیمࣲ

Transliteration

Qul ara'aytum in ahlaka niyal laahu wa mam ma'iya aw rahimanaa famai-yujeerul kaafireena min 'azaabin aleem

English Translation

Say, [O Muhammad], "Have you considered: whether Allah should cause my death and those with me or have mercy upon us, who can protect the disbelievers from a painful punishment?"

English: Saheeh International (Tanzil.net)

Word-by-Word

• قُلْ qul Say
• أَرَءَيْتُمْ ara-aytum Have you seen
• إِنْ in if
• أَهْلَكَنِىَ ahlakaniya destroys me
• ٱللَّهُ l-lahu Allah
• وَمَن waman and whoever
• مَّعِىَ maʿiya (is) with me
• أَوْ aw or
• رَحِمَنَا raḥimanā has mercy upon us
• فَمَن faman then who
• يُجِيرُ yujīru (can) protect
• ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ l-kāfirīna the disbelievers
• مِنْ min from
• عَذَابٍ ʿadhābin a punishment
• أَلِيمٍۢ alīmin painful

Word breakdown from Quran.com API (Uthmani text, Saheeh International gloss per word).

Context in Al-Mulk (Ayah 28)

Prophet asks: if Allah destroyed me and those with me, or rahimana, who yujir al-kafirin min 'adhab alim—who will protect disbelievers from painful punishment? Tafsir argues none can shelter rejecters if Allah's mercy toward believers is withdrawn from them.

Hypothetical ahlakani highlights dependence of all safety on Allah's will—not on human status. Disbelievers have no independent refuge.

Precedes closing affirmations of iman and tawakkul in verses 29–30.

Key Arabic Words

• رَحِمَنَا has mercy upon us This word appears in the ayah text; compare how translators render it and read the full ayah on Quran.com before extending the meaning to other passages.
• ٱللَّهُ Allah This word appears in the ayah text; compare how translators render it and read the full ayah on Quran.com before extending the meaning to other passages.
• عَذَابٍ a punishment This word appears in the ayah text; compare how translators render it and read the full ayah on Quran.com before extending the meaning to other passages.
• وَمَن and whoever This word appears in the ayah text; compare how translators render it and read the full ayah on Quran.com before extending the meaning to other passages.

Classical Tafsir (Verified Summary)

Reflection on Creation

This ayah invites quiet consideration of none protects disbelievers if Allah wills harm or mercy on believers. Creation around us—sky, earth, birds, and daily provision—does not replace revelation, but it can soften hearts toward obedience when viewed as signs of a wise, merciful origin rather than meaningless accident. Study ayah 28 with the Arabic on this page and Saheeh International English: “Say, [O Muhammad], Have you considered: whether Allah should cause my death and those with me or have mercy upon us, who can protect the disbelievers from a painful punishment?”. In chapter 67’s sequence, this line advances the theme of none protects disbelievers if Allah wills harm or mercy on believers. Read ayah 27 and ayah 29 on their verse pages so you see how the argument builds—Meccan proofs about creation, accountability, and mercy are layered, not repeated as generic slogans. Study ayah 28 with the Arabic on this page and Saheeh International English: “Say, [O Muhammad], Have you considered: whether Allah should cause my death and those with me or have mercy upon us, who can protect the disbelievers from a painful punishment?”. In chapter 67’s sequence, this line advances the theme of none protects disbelievers if Allah wills harm or mercy on believers. Read ayah 27 and ayah 29 on their verse pages so you see how the argument builds—Meccan proofs about creation, accountability, and mercy are layered, not repeated as generic slogans. Study ayah 28 with the Arabic on this page and Saheeh International English: “Say, [O Muhammad], Have you considered: whether Allah should cause my death and those with me or have mercy upon us, who can protect the disbelievers from a painful punishment?”. In chapter 67’s sequence, this line advances the theme of none protects disbelievers if Allah wills harm or mercy on believers. Read ayah 27 and ayah 29 on their verse pages so you see how the argument builds—Meccan proofs about creation, accountability, and mercy are layered, not repeated as generic slogans.

Family & Bedtime Practice

Say: we rely on Allah's mercy together, then hug or salam—emotional tawakkul for kids. Match ayah 28 to one blessing from today that fits the theme (none protects disbelievers if Allah will…). Match ayah 28 to one blessing from today that fits the theme (none protects disbelievers if Allah will…).

For virtues and timing with sources, see benefits of Surah Mulk. Read the full chapter on the homepage reader.

Short Tafsir Note

Whether Allah causes death or shows mercy, no one can protect disbelievers from painful punishment — reliance belongs to Him alone.

Read full multi-scholar tafsir →

Key Lessons

• Protection is from Allah only
• Do not trust idols or alliances
• Mercy and justice both belong to Him

Listen to This Verse

Mishary Rashid Alafasy