أَنَّىٰ لَهُمُ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ وَقَدْ جَآءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّبِينٌ 13
Translations
How will there be for them a reminder [at that time]? And there had come to them a clear Messenger.
Transliteration
Annā lahumu adh-dhikrā wa-qad jāʾahum rasūlun mubīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah expresses astonishment at how the disbelievers can turn away from the Qur'an and the message of truth when they have been sent a clear and eloquent Messenger (Prophet Muhammad). Al-Tabari explains that 'annā' (how) is rhetorical, implying that it is impossible or unreasonable for them to accept the reminder given their rejection of such clear evidence. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that the clarity of the Messenger's message makes their rejection even more blameworthy, as they have no excuse before Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ad-Dukhan, a Meccan chapter addressing the Quraysh's persistent rejection of the Prophet Muhammad and his message. The broader context of this surah deals with the signs of Allah's power and warnings of the punishment awaiting those who reject faith, specifically referencing the story of Pharaoh and the Children of Israel as a historical precedent.
Related Hadiths
The hadith recorded in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet said: 'The most miserable of people is he to whom the Qur'an was revealed and he turned away from it,' relates to the theme of rejecting clear guidance. Additionally, in Sahih Bukhari, the Prophet emphasizes that rejecting the message after its clarity leaves no excuse on the Day of Judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that rejecting clear divine truth after having received it through a clear messenger is inexcusable and increases one's accountability before Allah. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of accepting and following guidance when it is clearly presented, and recognizing that ignorance is no longer an excuse in our age of accessible knowledge.