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
وَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَدَعْ أَذَىٰهُمْ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًا
And do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites and disregard their annoyance, and rely upon Allāh. And sufficient is Allāh as Disposer of affairs.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نَكَحْتُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ثُمَّ طَلَّقْتُمُوهُنَّ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَمَسُّوهُنَّ فَمَا لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ عِدَّةٍ تَعْتَدُّونَهَا ۖ فَمَتِّعُوهُنَّ وَسَرِّحُوهُنَّ سَرَاحًا جَمِيلًا
O you who have believed, when you marry believing women and then divorce them before you have touched them [i.e., consummated the marriage], then there is not for you any waiting period to count concerning them. So provide for them and give them a gracious release.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُصَلِّى عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتُهُۥ لِيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ ۚ وَكَانَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا
It is He who confers blessing upon you, and His angels [ask Him to do so] that He may bring you out from darknesses into the light. And ever is He, to the believers, Merciful.
مَّا جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِرَجُلٍ مِّن قَلْبَيْنِ فِى جَوْفِهِۦ ۚ وَمَا جَعَلَ أَزْوَٰجَكُمُ ٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى تُظَـٰهِرُونَ مِنْهُنَّ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ ۚ وَمَا جَعَلَ أَدْعِيَآءَكُمْ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ قَوْلُكُم بِأَفْوَٰهِكُمْ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَقُولُ ٱلْحَقَّ وَهُوَ يَهْدِى ٱلسَّبِيلَ
Allāh has not made for a man two hearts in his interior. And He has not made your wives whom you declare unlawful your mothers. And He has not made your claimed [i.e., adopted] sons your [true] sons. That is [merely] your saying by your mouths, but Allāh says the truth, and He guides to the [right] way.