قُلْنَا ٱهْبِطُوا۟ مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّى هُدًى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ 38
Translations
We said, "Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
Transliteration
Qulna ihbitu minhā jamīʿan fa-immā yatiyannakum minnī hudān faman tabiʿa hudāya falā khawfun ʿalayhim wa-lā hum yaḥzanūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands Adam, Eve, and Satan to descend from Paradise to the earth, declaring that whoever follows His guidance will have no fear in this life or the next, and will not grieve. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain this as Allah's merciful provision of guidance through His messengers and revelation, assuring believers of divine protection and contentment despite earthly trials. This ayah establishes the fundamental principle that adherence to divine guidance is the path to spiritual security and peace of mind.
Revelation Context
This ayah concludes the narrative of Adam and Eve's creation and fall from Paradise (2:34-38), providing the divine remedy to human transgression through the promise of guidance. It is thematically connected to the broader Medinan context of establishing the Islamic way of life as the continuation of guidance granted to humanity throughout history.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever Allah guides, none can lead astray; and whoever Allah leaves astray, none can guide' (Sunan Ibn Majah 197). Additionally, the hadith 'Guidance and knowledge are two things by which Allah raises the status of people' (Sunan Ibn Majah) relates to the promise of guidance mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that despite human weakness and mistakes, Allah's guidance through His messengers and revelation remains accessible to those who sincerely seek it, offering profound peace and security that transcends worldly hardships. For believers today, it emphasizes that following divine guidance is the ultimate source of mental peace, hope, and protection from despair.