قُل لَّآ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِى خَزَآئِنُ ٱللَّهِ وَلَآ أَعْلَمُ ٱلْغَيْبَ وَلَآ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنِّى مَلَكٌ ۖ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ ۚ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ وَٱلْبَصِيرُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَفَكَّرُونَ 50
Translations
Say, [O Muḥammad], "I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allāh or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me." Say, "Is the blind equivalent to the seeing? Then will you not give thought?"
Transliteration
Qul lā aqulu lakum 'indi khazā'inu Allāhi wa lā a'lamu al-ghayba wa lā aqulu lakum innī malakun. In attabi'u illā mā yūhā ilayya. Qul hal yastawī al-a'mā wa al-basīr. Afalā tatafakkarūn?
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to clarify to the disbelievers that he does not claim to possess the treasures of Allah, knowledge of the unseen, or to be an angel—rather, he is a human messenger who follows only what has been revealed to him. The ayah then presents an analogy comparing the blind and the sighted to illustrate the difference between those who accept guidance and those who reject it. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ayah refutes false claims attributed to the Prophet and establishes the boundaries of his knowledge and authority, while also appealing to human reason (tafakkur) to recognize the distinction between guidance and misguidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Mecca during the period when the Quraysh were making various accusations against the Prophet, including claims that he possessed hidden treasures or claimed to know the unseen. The surah Al-An'am emphasizes tawhid (monotheism) and addresses the polytheists' misconceptions about the nature of prophethood.
Related Hadiths
In Sahih Bukhari, the Prophet said: 'I am not different from you except that the revelation comes to me.' This reinforces the message of 6:50 that the Prophet's distinction lies solely in receiving revelation, not in possessing superhuman powers. Additionally, in Sunan Ibn Majah, it is recorded that 'The most truthful of the truthful is he who says: I do not know what I do not know,' reflecting the epistemological humility taught in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to be humble about the limits of human knowledge and to recognize that true guidance comes through revelation, not through personal claims or assumptions. It also invites us to use our intellect ('aql) to distinguish between truth and falsehood, encouraging a rational yet spiritually grounded approach to faith.
Related Ayahs
وَأَنذِرْ بِهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَن يُحْشَرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ ۙ لَيْسَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ وَلِىٌّ وَلَا شَفِيعٌ لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ
And warn by it [i.e., the Qur’ān] those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord - for them besides Him will be no protector and no intercessor - that they might become righteous.
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.
وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا۟ فِى حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِۦ ۚ وَإِمَّا يُنسِيَنَّكَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ مَعَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And when you see those who engage in [offensive] discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversation. And if Satan should cause you to forget, then do not remain after the reminder with the wrongdoing people.
فَالِقُ ٱلْإِصْبَاحِ وَجَعَلَ ٱلَّيْلَ سَكَنًا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ حُسْبَانًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ
[He is] the cleaver of daybreak and has made the night for rest and the sun and moon for calculation. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.