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.
Related Ayahs
أَمَّن يَهْدِيكُمْ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتِ ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَمَن يُرْسِلُ ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ بُشْرًۢا بَيْنَ يَدَىْ رَحْمَتِهِۦٓ ۗ أَءِلَـٰهٌ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ تَعَـٰلَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
Is He [not best] who guides you through the darknesses of the land and sea and who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy? Is there a deity with Allāh? High is Allāh above whatever they associate with Him.
وَأَنَّ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطِى مُسْتَقِيمًا فَٱتَّبِعُوهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ ٱلسُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ ءَايَـٰتٍۭ بَيِّنَـٰتٍ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يُرِيدُ
And thus have We sent it [i.e., the Qur’ān] down as verses of clear evidence and because Allāh guides whom He intends.
۞ لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدَىٰهُمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا ٱبْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ
Not upon you, [O Muḥammad], is [responsibility for] their guidance, but Allāh guides whom He wills. And whatever good you [believers] spend is for yourselves, and you do not spend except seeking the face [i.e., approval] of Allāh. And whatever you spend of good - it will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.