God Will Not Fail to Keep His Promise to His Messengers
The Quranic plan is annually organized in summer with the aim of promoting memorization of the Holy Book and spreading the Quranic culture and teachings in society.
This is the 1455th year since the revelation of the Holy Quran to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and hence the name ‘1455’.
In this plan, every week some verses of the Quran with special themes are selected and their interpretations are discussed in various TV and radio programs.
Then a competition is held about the lessons and discussions.
Following is an interpretation of verse 47 of Surah Ibrahim of the Holy Quran, given in the “1455 Quranic Plan”:
“Therefore do not think Allah (to be one) failing in His promise to His messengers; surely Allah is Mighty, the Lord of Retribution.” [Surah Ibrahim (14), Verse 47].
The Kafirs (disbelievers) would always resort to trickery and deception to counter messengers of God but God, who was aware of their deceptions, thwarted them.
This is a Divine Sunnah (law) and a promise given by God to His messengers. It is God’s will to thwart enemies’ plots and help the front of Tawhid (monotheism) emerge victorious. That is why, addressing the Holy Prophet (PBUH), and in a threat to the unjust and evil-doers and in good news for the good-doers, He says in this verse: “Therefore do not think Allah (to be one) failing in His promise to His messengers; surely Allah is Mighty, the Lord of Retribution.”
It is because one breaks his promise who is not omnipotent and all-powerful or one in whose vocabulary there is no word such as ‘punishment” and ‘retribution’. God is both ‘Mighty’ and the ‘Lord of Retribution’.
This verse actually complements verse 42 that says: “And do not think Allah to be heedless of what the unjust do...”
The promise God has given His messengers is that of ultimate victory of the truth against falsehood, which has been mentioned in various verses, such as:
“Most surely We help Our messengers, and those who believe, in this world's life and on the day when the witnesses shall stand.” [Ghafir (40), Verse 51]
“Allah has written down: I will most certainly prevail, I and My messengers; surely Allah is Strong, Mighty.” [Surah Al-Mujadila (58), Verse 21]
Many Muslims might wonder why the unjust are not punished despite what they do. Verse 47 of Surah Ibrahim explains to the Prophet (PBUH) and all Muslims that one of the reasons is because God only gives them respite till the Day of Judgment.
Therefore, God tells everyone that they must not even think that God will disregard His promise to His messengers. If God has promised them assistance, He will fulfil His promise and also if He has promised punishment for those disobeying Him. And how possibly one might think He will not while He is the Lord of Retribution? And it is the requirement of his absolute might to keep His promise. If some break their promise it is because they are unable to fulfil it or because their view has changed or because a situation has come up that has made them act differently.
But we know for sure that one cannot attribute inability and helplessness to God and that nothing can force Him to change His course.
In other words, if we see oppressors and the unjust have been given a respite, it is not because God is unaware of what they are doing nor is it because God has broken his promise. He surely one day (on Yawm al-Hisab) will measure their deeds and they will receive the punishment they deserve.
It should also be noted that the word “retribution” actually means punishment in accordance with justice and fairness, punishment that is the result of one’s own deeds and absence of such retribution would be contrary to Hikma (wisdom) and justice.
