أَوَعَجِبْتُمْ أَن جَآءَكُمْ ذِكْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنكُمْ لِيُنذِرَكُمْ وَلِتَتَّقُوا۟ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ 63
Translations
Then do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you, that he may warn you and that you may fear Allāh so you might receive mercy?"
Transliteration
Awa'ajibtu m'an jaa'akum dhikru mir rabbikum 'ala rajulin minkum liyundhirakum wa litattaqoo wa la'allakum turhamoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah, spoken by Nuh (Noah) to his people, expresses surprise at their rejection of the divine message brought through a human messenger from among themselves. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that Nuh is addressing the arrogance of those who find it strange that Allah sends guidance through ordinary men rather than angels, emphasizing that the purpose of this message is to warn them and enable them to develop God-consciousness (taqwa) so they might receive His mercy.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-A'raf's discussion of various prophets and their nations. It specifically reflects Noah's response to his people's rejection, which serves as a foundational example of prophetic patience and the consistent pattern of divine guidance being rejected by those who refuse to accept human messengers. The surah uses this narrative to warn the Meccan society of similar rejection.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to Hadith Qudsi: 'My mercy precedes My wrath' (Sahih Bukhari 3194), emphasizing that warnings and messages are means of divine mercy. Additionally, the Hadith: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027) connects to the role of messengers in conveying divine guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should not be surprised by divine guidance coming through human messengers, as this is Allah's established way, and should embrace warnings as expressions of divine mercy meant to protect us. Developing taqwa (God-consciousness) through heeding such messages is the pathway to receiving Allah's compassion and protection.
Related Ayahs
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ عَنْهَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
But the ones who deny Our verses and are arrogant toward them - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
۞ يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُوا۟ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ
O children of Adam, take your adornment [i.e., wear your clothing] at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.
وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِى صُدُورِهِم مِّنْ غِلٍّ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ وَقَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى هَدَىٰنَا لِهَـٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِىَ لَوْلَآ أَنْ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ ۖ لَقَدْ جَآءَتْ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَنُودُوٓا۟ أَن تِلْكُمُ ٱلْجَنَّةُ أُورِثْتُمُوهَا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
And We will have removed whatever is within their breasts of resentment, [while] flowing beneath them are rivers. And they will say, "Praise to Allāh, who has guided us to this; and we would never have been guided if Allāh had not guided us. Certainly the messengers of our Lord had come with the truth." And they will be called, "This is Paradise, which you have been made to inherit for what you used to do."
وَٱذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِى نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ ٱلْجَهْرِ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ بِٱلْغُدُوِّ وَٱلْـَٔاصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْغَـٰفِلِينَ
And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in fear without being apparent in speech - in the mornings and the evenings. And do not be among the heedless.