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
وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ أَن قَدْ وَجَدْنَا مَا وَعَدَنَا رَبُّنَا حَقًّا فَهَلْ وَجَدتُّم مَّا وَعَدَ رَبُّكُمْ حَقًّا ۖ قَالُوا۟ نَعَمْ ۚ فَأَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌۢ بَيْنَهُمْ أَن لَّعْنَةُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And the companions of Paradise will call out to the companions of the Fire, "We have already found what our Lord promised us to be true. Have you found what your Lord promised to be true?" They will say, "Yes." Then an announcer will announce among them, "The curse of Allāh shall be upon the wrongdoers
وَيَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ ٱسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ فَكُلَا مِنْ حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And "O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat from wherever you will but do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers."
وَمَا تَنقِمُ مِنَّآ إِلَّآ أَنْ ءَامَنَّا بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّنَا لَمَّا جَآءَتْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَآ أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ
And you do not resent us except because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they came to us. Our Lord, pour upon us patience and let us die as Muslims [in submission to You]."
قَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ مِن قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰكَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ
Said the eminent among his people, "Indeed, we see you in clear error."