قُلْ مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّجِبْرِيلَ فَإِنَّهُۥ نَزَّلَهُۥ عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 97
Translations
Say, "Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel - it is [none but] he who has brought it [i.e., the Qur’ān] down upon your heart, [O Muḥammad], by permission of Allāh, confirming that which was before it and as guidance and good tidings for the believers."
Transliteration
Qul man kana AAaduwwan lijibriila fainnahu nazzalahu AAala qalbika biidhn illahi musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi wa hudan wa bushra lilmuminineen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah responds to the Jews who harbored enmity toward Jibreel (Gabriel), the angel through whom Allah revealed the Quran to Prophet Muhammad. The verse affirms that Jibreel, by Allah's permission, revealed the Quran upon the Prophet's heart as a confirmation of previous scriptures, guidance, and glad tidings for the believers. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this ayah defends the divine origin of the Quranic revelation and the trustworthiness of Jibreel as Allah's messenger angel.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in response to Jewish objections to the Quranic revelation, particularly their claim that Jibreel was an enemy rather than a divine messenger. It occurs within the broader Medinan context where the Prophet engaged with the Jewish tribes of Medina regarding the authenticity of Islamic revelation and its continuity with previous prophetic traditions.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari reports that when the Prophet received revelation, Jibreel would come to him, and the intensity of revelation was compared to the ringing of a bell. Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, there is the hadith of Jibreel's visit where he questioned the Prophet about Islam, Iman, and Ihsan, demonstrating his role as a conveyor of divine knowledge.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to have confidence in the divine origin of the Quran and to recognize that hostility toward Islam often stems from misunderstanding or rejection of its heavenly sources. It reminds us that the Quran serves as confirmation, guidance, and mercy for those who believe and open their hearts to its message.
Related Ayahs
لَآ إِكْرَاهَ فِى ٱلدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشْدُ مِنَ ٱلْغَىِّ ۚ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱسْتَمْسَكَ بِٱلْعُرْوَةِ ٱلْوُثْقَىٰ لَا ٱنفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become distinct from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in ṭāghūt and believes in Allāh has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
۞ 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.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةَ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْعَذَابَ بِٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ ۚ فَمَآ أَصْبَرَهُمْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ
Those are the ones who have exchanged guidance for error and forgiveness for punishment. How patient they are for [i.e., in pursuit of] the Fire!
فَجَعَلْنَـٰهَا نَكَـٰلًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَمَا خَلْفَهَا وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
And We made it a deterrent punishment for those who were present and those who succeeded [them] and a lesson for those who fear Allāh.