وَمَا نُرْسِلُ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ ۖ فَمَنْ ءَامَنَ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ 48
Translations
And We send not the messengers except as bringers of good tidings and warners. So whoever believes and reforms - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
Transliteration
Wa mā nursilu al-mursalīna illā mubashshirīna wa mundhirīn, fa man āmana wa aslaha fa lā khawfun ʿalayhim wa lā hum yahzanūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the dual purpose of all messengers: to bring glad tidings (bashārah) of reward to the believers and to warn (indhār) the disbelievers of punishment. The verse then presents the guarantee that those who believe and perform righteous deeds will have no fear in the afterlife, nor will they grieve, establishing the logical consequence of heeding the messengers' message. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this encapsulates the complete mission of prophethood—mercy and warning—while Al-Qurtubi notes that the conditions for salvation are two: belief (īmān) coupled with righteous action (islāh).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah Al-An'am, which focuses on the oneness of Allah and the rejection of idolatry. The verse is part of the broader thematic context establishing the role of messengers in guiding humanity, responding to the Quraysh's rejection of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by clarifying that all messengers have always carried the same dual message.
Related Hadiths
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'I have been sent as a bringer of glad tidings and a warner' (Sahih Bukhari 1:3). Additionally, 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent' (Sahih Muslim 47) relates to the positive fruits of belief and righteous conduct.
Themes
Key Lesson
The path to inner peace and salvation lies in two inseparable elements: genuine belief in Allah and His messengers, coupled with consistent righteous action in daily life. Modern believers should recognize that hearing the message is only the beginning; true benefit comes from embracing faith and translating it into moral and ethical behavior.
Related Ayahs
وَلَقَدْ جِئْتُمُونَا فُرَٰدَىٰ كَمَا خَلَقْنَـٰكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَتَرَكْتُم مَّا خَوَّلْنَـٰكُمْ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِكُمْ ۖ وَمَا نَرَىٰ مَعَكُمْ شُفَعَآءَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ أَنَّهُمْ فِيكُمْ شُرَكَـٰٓؤُا۟ ۚ لَقَد تَّقَطَّعَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَضَلَّ عَنكُم مَّا كُنتُمْ تَزْعُمُونَ
[It will be said to them], "And you have certainly come to Us alone [i.e., individually] as We created you the first time, and you have left whatever We bestowed upon you behind you. And We do not see with you your 'intercessors' which you claimed that they were among you associates [of Allāh]. It has [all] been severed between you, and lost from you is what you used to claim."
مَّن يُصْرَفْ عَنْهُ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَدْ رَحِمَهُۥ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
He from whom it is averted that Day - [Allāh] has granted him mercy. And that is the clear attainment.
إِنَّ مَا تُوعَدُونَ لَـَٔاتٍ ۖ وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ
Indeed, what you are promised is coming, and you will not cause failure [to Allāh].
وَجَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ شُرَكَآءَ ٱلْجِنَّ وَخَلَقَهُمْ ۖ وَخَرَقُوا۟ لَهُۥ بَنِينَ وَبَنَـٰتٍۭ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
But they have attributed to Allāh partners - the jinn, while He has created them - and have fabricated for Him sons and daughters without knowledge. Exalted is He and high above what they describe.