رَبَّنَا وَٱبْعَثْ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِكَ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ 129
Translations
Our Lord, and send among them a messenger from themselves who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them. Indeed, You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise."
Transliteration
Rabbana wab'ath fihim rasolan minhum yatlu 'alaihim ayatika wa yu'allimuhum al-kitaba wa-al-hikmata wa yuzakkihim. Innaka anta al-'Azizu al-Hakimu.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah contains the supplication of Prophet Ibrahim and Ismail to Allah, requesting that He send a messenger from among the descendants of Ismail who will recite Allah's signs to them, teach them the Book and wisdom, and purify them spiritually. Classical scholars including Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi confirm that this du'a was answered through the mission of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, making this ayah a clear prophetic indication of his coming and the comprehensiveness of his message encompassing recitation, teaching, and spiritual purification.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Baqarah's narrative about Ibrahim and Ismail's construction of the Ka'bah and their subsequent supplication to Allah. It appears in the Medinan context of the surah but references events from Makkan prophetic history, illustrating how the Qur'an revisits foundational narratives to connect them with the establishment of Islam in Medina.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3344): The Prophet ﷺ said, 'The best among you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it.' This relates to the qualities described in 2:129 - teaching the Book and wisdom. Additionally, Muslim (2347) records that the Prophet emphasized his mission of teaching, stating he was sent as a teacher.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that true leadership and guidance involve not merely conveying information but purifying hearts and developing character; we should seek teachers and leaders who embody these comprehensive qualities of knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual development.