وَمَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ مِنْ حِسَابِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍ وَلَـٰكِن ذِكْرَىٰ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ 69
Translations
And those who fear Allāh are not held accountable for them [i.e., the disbelievers] at all, but [only for] a reminder - that perhaps they will fear Him.
Transliteration
Wa mā 'alā alladhīna yattaqūna min hisābihim min shay'in wa lākin dhikrā la'allahum yattaqūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah clarifies that the God-conscious (muttaqūn) bear no responsibility for the accountability of those who reject the message—their duty is only to convey the reminder (dhikr). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse reassures the Prophet and believers that their obligation is to deliver the Quranic message with sincerity; the ultimate judgment of hearts and acceptance rests with Allah alone. The purpose of the reminder is to inspire increased piety and God-consciousness in those who hear it.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period within Surah Al-An'am, which addresses the polytheists of Mecca and defends Islamic monotheism. It comes in a section (6:65-73) addressing the Prophet's role in calling to Allah and clarifying that he is merely a messenger, not responsible for forcing belief. The context reflects the challenges faced by the early Muslim community in their missionary efforts.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallā Allāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: 'Whoever guides someone to goodness will have a reward similar to that of its doer' (Sahih Muslim 1893). Also related: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), emphasizing the role of conveying the message.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should focus on sincere conveyance of the Islamic message without becoming burdened by the disbelief or acceptance of others, understanding that guidance ultimately comes from Allah. This teaches emotional resilience in da'wah work and emphasizes that success lies in fulfilling one's own duty with integrity, not in controlling others' responses.