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 يُمَسِّكُونَ بِٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُصْلِحِينَ
But those who hold fast to the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] and establish prayer - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of the reformers.
فَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ لَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُمْ رِسَالَةَ رَبِّى وَنَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تُحِبُّونَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ
And he [i.e., Ṣāliḥ] turned away from them and said, "O my people, I had certainly conveyed to you the message of my Lord and advised you, but you do not like advisors."
يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ لَا يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ كَمَآ أَخْرَجَ أَبَوَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ يَنزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوْءَٰتِهِمَآ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ يَرَىٰكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُۥ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe.
فَغُلِبُوا۟ هُنَالِكَ وَٱنقَلَبُوا۟ صَـٰغِرِينَ
And they [i.e., Pharaoh and his people] were overcome right there and became debased.