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
وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلَّا تَأْكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا ذُكِرَ ٱسْمُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَقَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُم مَّا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِلَّا مَا ٱضْطُرِرْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا لَّيُضِلُّونَ بِأَهْوَآئِهِم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُعْتَدِينَ
And why should you not eat of that upon which the name of Allāh has been mentioned while He has explained in detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled. And indeed do many lead [others] astray through their [own] inclinations without knowledge. Indeed, your Lord - He is most knowing of the transgressors.
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ فَمُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمُسْتَوْدَعٌ ۗ قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَفْقَهُونَ
And it is He who produced you from one soul and [gave you] a place of dwelling and of storage. We have detailed the signs for a people who understand.
وَإِن كَانَ كَبُرَ عَلَيْكَ إِعْرَاضُهُمْ فَإِنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتَ أَن تَبْتَغِىَ نَفَقًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَوْ سُلَّمًا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَتَأْتِيَهُم بِـَٔايَةٍ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَمَعَهُمْ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰ ۚ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ
And if their evasion is difficult for you, then if you are able to seek a tunnel into the earth or a stairway into the sky to bring them a sign, [then do so]. But if Allāh had willed, He would have united them upon guidance. So never be of the ignorant.
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلنُّجُومَ لِتَهْتَدُوا۟ بِهَا فِى ظُلُمَـٰتِ ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ ۗ قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
And it is He who placed for you the stars that you may be guided by them through the darknesses of the land and sea. We have detailed the signs for a people who know.