لَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ كِتَـٰبًا فِيهِ ذِكْرُكُمْ ۖ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ 10
Translations
We have certainly sent down to you a Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] in which is your mention. Then will you not reason?
Transliteration
Laqad anzalna ilaykum kitaban fihi dhikrukum, afala ta'qilun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah affirms that He has revealed to humanity a Book (the Qur'an) that contains guidance and remembrance for them, emphasizing its comprehensiveness and relevance to human affairs. The concluding rhetorical question "Will you not then use reason?" (afala ta'qilun) challenges the listeners to reflect upon this divine gift and recognize its wisdom, as classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that the Qur'an addresses both spiritual and worldly concerns of mankind.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Anbiya, a Meccan surah that discusses the stories of various prophets and divine guidance. The immediate context involves Allah's affirmation of His oneness and the authenticity of the Qur'an as a revelation to the Arab people, countering the objections of the Meccan disbelievers who questioned the validity of the Prophet Muhammad's message.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, 'Whoever recites the Qur'an and acts upon it, his parents will be crowned with a crown of light on the Day of Resurrection' (Sunan Ibn Majah 3784).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah calls believers to recognize the Qur'an not merely as a historical text but as a living guide that addresses their personal circumstances and struggles, demanding active intellectual engagement rather than passive reception. It reminds us that possessing divine guidance is meaningless without using our God-given reason to understand and implement its teachings in our lives.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ أَنَّهُ ٱسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ فَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْءَانًا عَجَبًا
Say, [O Muḥammad], "It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened and said, 'Indeed, we have heard an amazing Qur’ān [i.e., recitation].
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ قَالَ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ وَلَمْ يُوحَ إِلَيْهِ شَىْءٌ وَمَن قَالَ سَأُنزِلُ مِثْلَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ فِى غَمَرَٰتِ ٱلْمَوْتِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ بَاسِطُوٓا۟ أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمُ ۖ ٱلْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ ٱلْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ غَيْرَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَكُنتُمْ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
And who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allāh or says, "It has been inspired to me," while nothing has been inspired to him, and one who says, "I will reveal [something] like what Allāh revealed." And if you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the overwhelming pangs of death while the angels extend their hands, [saying], "Discharge your souls! Today you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation for what you used to say against Allāh other than the truth and [that] you were, toward His verses, being arrogant."
قُلْ نَزَّلَهُۥ رُوحُ ٱلْقُدُسِ مِن رَّبِّكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِيُثَبِّتَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "The Pure Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] has brought it down from your Lord in truth to make firm those who believe and as guidance and good tidings to the Muslims."
تَنزِيلُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ مِن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
[This is] the revelation of the Book about which there is no doubt from the Lord of the worlds.