Quran Universe
15:55

قَالُواْ بَشَّرۡنَٰكَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلۡقَٰنِطِينَ

Qaloo bashsharnaka bialhaqqi fala takun mina alqaniteena

They said, "We have given you good tidings in truth, so do not be of the despairing."

Word by word
  1. قَالُواْThey said
  2. بَشَّرۡنَٰكَWe give you glad tidings
  3. بِٱلۡحَقِّin truth
  4. فَلَاso (do) not
  5. تَكُنbe
  6. مِّنَof
  7. ٱلۡقَٰنِطِينَthe despairing
Al-Hijr · 15:55Makkah

It is true, so do not lose hope.

Good news confirmed, with a gentle warning

The reply
in truththe news is real
so
do not despairdo not be among them
What age decides
my circumstanceslimit what can happen
Allah's truthdecides what happens

Ibn Kathir says the angels confirmed good news after good news: we give you this in truth. Then they added, do not be of those who despair. Even a prophet was reminded not to let age or circumstance shrink his hope.

You are forty and single. Fifty and still in debt. The test results came back hard. Everyone around you is quietly lowering your expectations. Despair can feel like being realistic. The angels called it something to avoid.

Being realistic means expecting less from now on.

What Allah promises is true regardless of my age or situation; despair is not realism.

Try this

Catch one it will never happen thought today and replace it with a dua.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 15:51)

And tell them about the guests (i. e., the angels) of Ibrahim (51)When they entered upon him, and said: "Salaman (peace!)." He said: "Indeed we are frightened of you. (52)They said: "Do not be afraid! We bring you the good news of a boy possessing much knowledge and wisdom. (53)He said: "Do you give me this good news while old age has overtaken me? Of what then is your news about? (54)They said: "We give you good news in truth. So do not be of those who despair. (55)He said: "And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except those who are astray? (56)

The Guests of Ibrahim and their Good News of a Son for Him

Allah is saying: 'Tell them, O Muhammad, about the story of

ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ

(the guests of Ibrahim.)'

دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا قَالَ إِنَّا مِنكُمْ وَجِلُونَ

(they entered upon him, and said: "Salaman (peace!)." He said: "Indeed we are frightened of you.") meaning that they were scared. The reason for their fear has been mentioned previously, which is that they noticed that these guests did not eat of the food that was offered, which was a fattened calf.

قَالُوا لَا تَوْجَلْ

(They said: "Do not be afraid!...") meaning, do not be scared.

وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَامٍ عَلِيمٍ

(We bring you the good news of a boy possessing much knowledge and wisdom.) this refers to Ishaq, as was previously mentioned in Surat Hud. Then

قَالَ

(He said) meaning he spoke with wonder and astonishment, asking for confirmation, because he was old and his wife was old:

أَبَشَّرْتُمُونِي عَلَىٰ أَن مَّسَّنِيَ الْكِبَرُ فَبِمَ تُبَشِّرُونَ

(Do you give me this good news while old age has overtaken me? Of what then is your news about?) They responded by confirming the good news they had brought, good news after good news:

قَالُوا بَشَّرْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْقَانِطِينَ

(They said: "We give you good news in truth. So do not be of those who despair.")