أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ ۖ فَبِهُدَىٰهُمُ ٱقْتَدِهْ ۗ قُل لَّآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا ۖ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 90
Translations
Those are the ones whom Allāh has guided, so from their guidance take an example. Say, "I ask of you for it [i.e., this message] no payment. It is not but a reminder for the worlds."
Transliteration
Ulaa'ika allatheena hadaa Allahu fabihudaahum iqtadih. Qul laa as'alukum 'alayhi ajran in huwa illa dhikraa lilal-'aalameen.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to follow the guidance of the previous prophets mentioned in the preceding verses (Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon), as they were guided by Allah. Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that the Prophet's path was established upon the same principles of monotheism and truth that guided all the messengers before him. The ayah further instructs the Prophet to clarify that he seeks no worldly reward for his message, as the Quran itself is merely a reminder for all humanity—highlighting the purely spiritual nature of his prophetic mission.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-An'am during a period when the Prophet faced intense opposition from Quraysh who accused him of seeking wealth or leadership through his message. The ayah comes after a comprehensive listing of noble prophets, emphasizing the continuity of divine guidance throughout history and refuting accusations that the Prophet's motivation was material gain.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those from whom you benefit and who benefit others' (related to the concept of guidance and its transmission). Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet emphasized: 'I have not been sent except as a mercy to the worlds,' reflecting the universal nature of the reminder mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that the path of truth transcends individual personalities and is rooted in principles established by all of Allah's messengers throughout history. True religious conviction must be driven by sincere devotion to Allah's guidance rather than personal gain, and the primary purpose of faith is to serve as a reminder and guidance for all of humanity.
Related Ayahs
لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُۥ ۖ وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ
No partner has He. And this I have been commanded, and I am the first [among you] of the Muslims."
بَدِيعُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُۥ وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُۥ صَـٰحِبَةٌ ۖ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
[He is] Originator of the heavens and the earth. How could He have a son when He does not have a companion [i.e., wife] and He created all things? And He is, of all things, Knowing.
وَلَوْ نَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ كِتَـٰبًا فِى قِرْطَاسٍ فَلَمَسُوهُ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ لَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ
And even if We had sent down to you, [O Muḥammad], a written scripture on a page and they touched it with their hands, the disbelievers would say, "This is not but obvious magic."
وَقَالُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ أَنْعَـٰمٌ وَحَرْثٌ حِجْرٌ لَّا يَطْعَمُهَآ إِلَّا مَن نَّشَآءُ بِزَعْمِهِمْ وَأَنْعَـٰمٌ حُرِّمَتْ ظُهُورُهَا وَأَنْعَـٰمٌ لَّا يَذْكُرُونَ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا ٱفْتِرَآءً عَلَيْهِ ۚ سَيَجْزِيهِم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ
And they say, "These animals and crops are forbidden; no one may eat from them except whom we will," by their claim. And there are those [camels] whose backs are forbidden [by them] and those upon which the name of Allāh is not mentioned - [all of this] an invention of untruth about Him. He will punish them for what they were inventing.