ٱلَّذِينَ يُبَلِّغُونَ رِسَـٰلَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَخْشَوْنَهُۥ وَلَا يَخْشَوْنَ أَحَدًا إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ حَسِيبًا 39
Translations
[Allāh praises] those who convey the messages of Allāh and fear Him and do not fear anyone but Allāh. And sufficient is Allāh as Accountant.
Transliteration
Al-ladhīna yuballighūna risālāti Allāhi wa-yakhshawnahū wa-lā yakhshawna aḥadan illā Allāh. Wa-kafā bi-Allāhi ḥasībā.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the qualities of the prophets and truthful messengers—those who convey Allah's messages completely without fear or favor, fearing only Allah and no other creation. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse emphasizes that true messengers prioritize their duty to Allah above all worldly pressures, and Allah Himself is sufficient as a witness and reckoner of their deeds. Al-Qurtubi notes this reflects the characteristic of complete sincerity (ikhlāṣ) required of those entrusted with divine revelation.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina during the Battle of the Confederates (Ghazwat al-Aḥzāb), this ayah is part of a passage discussing the qualities of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and those who follow his example. The broader context of Surah Al-Ahzab addresses trials faced by the Muslim community and reinforces the importance of unwavering faith and duty to Allah despite external pressures and threats.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best jihad is a word of truth spoken in front of a tyrant ruler' (Sunan Ibn Mājah, Sunan at-Tirmidhī). Additionally, the hadith: 'Fear Allah wherever you are; follow a bad deed with a good deed and it will wipe it out' emphasizes the centrality of fearing only Allah (Sunan at-Tirmidhī).
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith requires courage to uphold divine truth without fear of human judgment or consequences—our ultimate accountability is to Allah alone. This ayah calls believers to examine whether they prioritize divine pleasure over worldly acceptance, inspiring steadfastness in conveying truth and living according to Islamic principles despite social or political pressure.
Related Ayahs
لَّا يَحِلُّ لَكَ ٱلنِّسَآءُ مِنۢ بَعْدُ وَلَآ أَن تَبَدَّلَ بِهِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَٰجٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكَ حُسْنُهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ رَّقِيبًا
Not lawful to you, [O Muḥammad], are [any additional] women after [this], nor [is it] for you to exchange them for [other] wives, even if their beauty were to please you, except what your right hand possesses. And ever is Allāh, over all things, an Observer.
وَإِذْ قَالَت طَّآئِفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَـٰٓأَهْلَ يَثْرِبَ لَا مُقَامَ لَكُمْ فَٱرْجِعُوا۟ ۚ وَيَسْتَـْٔذِنُ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمُ ٱلنَّبِىَّ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ بُيُوتَنَا عَوْرَةٌ وَمَا هِىَ بِعَوْرَةٍ ۖ إِن يُرِيدُونَ إِلَّا فِرَارًا
And when a faction of them said, "O people of Yathrib, there is no stability for you [here], so return [home]." And a party of them asked permission of the Prophet, saying, "Indeed, our houses are exposed [i.e., unprotected]," while they were not exposed. They did not intend except to flee.
إِن تُبْدُوا۟ شَيْـًٔا أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًا
Whether you reveal a thing or conceal it, indeed Allāh is ever, of all things, Knowing.
۞ لَّئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَٱلْمُرْجِفُونَ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ لَنُغْرِيَنَّكَ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ لَا يُجَاوِرُونَكَ فِيهَآ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
If the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease and those who spread rumors in al-Madīnah do not cease, We will surely incite you against them; then they will not remain your neighbors therein except for a little,