Surah Ad-Duha 93:3
سُورَةُ الضُّحَىٰ · Meccan · Verse 3 of 11
مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ
Translation
your Lord has not forsaken you [Prophet], nor does He hate you,
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
When the divine revelation paused for a time, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) faced taunts from his opponents, who claimed his Lord had forsaken him and hated him. It was at this moment that Allah revealed the powerful reassurance of Surah Ad-Duha, and in its third verse, He declares: مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ (Your Lord has not forsaken you, nor has He hated you). This verse, with its precise wording, directly refutes those hurtful accusations and affirms Allah's unwavering care.
The Special Word for Forsaking
The Arabic word وَدَّعَكَ (wadda'aka) comes from the root that means to leave or forsake. However, the form used here, *tawdi’*, signifies more than just leaving. As scholars like al-Zamakhshari and al-Razi explain, it carries the weight of a farewell, a definitive parting like a traveler bidding goodbye. By using this intensified form, Allah emphatically denies that He has made a final, permanent departure from His Prophet. He has not cut ties like someone leaving for good. The addition of "رَبُّكَ" (Rabbuka), meaning "your Lord," further emphasizes the deeply personal, protective, and nurturing relationship Allah has with the Prophet, assuring him that his Guardian and Sustainer remains close.
The Absolute Denial of Hatred
Following this, the verse states وَمَا قَلَىٰ (wa ma qala), meaning "nor has He hated (you)." The word قَلَىٰ (qala) denotes intense hatred or animosity. What is linguistically noteworthy here is the omission of the pronoun "كَ" (ka - you) after "قلى," while it was present in "ودّعك." Scholars like al-Zamakhshari and Ibn Ashur note this as a form of linguistic conciseness, where the pronoun is understood from the preceding word. However, al-Razi offers an additional, beautiful insight: that by omitting "you," the denial of hatred becomes broader, extending beyond just the Prophet himself to include anyone he loved, offering a universal reassurance of divine love. This subtle shift in wording powerfully denies not only the accusation of forsaking but also the deeper, more painful insinuation of hatred, affirming Allah's profound affection and care.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Ad-Duha 93:3 is discussed in 7 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Ad-Duha 93:3 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.