Al-Furqan · Ayah 51

وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَبَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ قَرْيَةٍ نَّذِيرًا 51

Translations

And if We had willed, We could have sent into every city a warner.

Transliteration

Wa-law shi'na la-ba'athna fee kulli qaryatin nadheeran

Tafsir (Explanation)

This ayah affirms Allah's absolute power and wisdom in His choice of sending messengers. Allah states that if He had willed, He could have sent a warner to every single settlement and community, but He chose according to His divine wisdom to send messengers to specific peoples at specific times. Ibn Kathir explains that this demonstrates Allah's mercy and justice—He does not burden people with accountability without sending them guidance, yet His selection of prophets reflects His infinite knowledge of what is best for His creation.

Revelation Context

This ayah appears in the context of Al-Furqan (The Criterion), a Meccan surah that addresses objections against the Prophet Muhammad's message. The broader context discusses Allah's wisdom in the distribution of prophets and the Quran itself as a criterion between truth and falsehood. It responds to those who questioned why a prophet was not sent to every nation.

Related Hadiths

The hadith in Sahih Muslim from Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) states: 'Every prophet was sent specifically to his people, but I have been sent to all of mankind.' This complements the ayah by showing how the general principle in 25:51 applies specifically to Prophet Muhammad's universal mission.

Themes

Divine Omnipotence and WisdomDistribution of Prophets and RevelationAllah's Justice in Sending MessengersRefutation of Objections Against Prophethood

Key Lesson

This ayah teaches believers that Allah's decisions regarding guidance and revelation are based on perfect wisdom and justice, reminding us to trust in divine providence rather than question why guidance came through particular messengers at particular times. It also emphasizes our responsibility to convey the message we have received, knowing that Allah has entrusted us with His guidance.

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Related Ayahs

25:20Al-Furqan

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّآ إِنَّهُمْ لَيَأْكُلُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشُونَ فِى ٱلْأَسْوَاقِ ۗ وَجَعَلْنَا بَعْضَكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ فِتْنَةً أَتَصْبِرُونَ ۗ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ بَصِيرًا

And We did not send before you, [O Muḥammad], any of the messengers except that they ate food and walked in the markets. And We have made some of you [people] as trial for others - will you have patience? And ever is your Lord, Seeing.

25:8Al-Furqan

أَوْ يُلْقَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ كَنزٌ أَوْ تَكُونُ لَهُۥ جَنَّةٌ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهَا ۚ وَقَالَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ إِن تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا رَجُلًا مَّسْحُورًا

Or [why is not] a treasure presented to him [from heaven], or does he [not] have a garden from which he eats?" And the wrongdoers say, "You follow not but a man affected by magic."

25:65Al-Furqan

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا

And those who say, "Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell. Indeed, its punishment is ever adhering;

25:21Al-Furqan

۞ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ أَوْ نَرَىٰ رَبَّنَا ۗ لَقَدِ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَعَتَوْ عُتُوًّا كَبِيرًا

And those who do not expect the meeting with Us say, "Why were not angels sent down to us, or [why] do we [not] see our Lord?" They have certainly become arrogant within themselves and [become] insolent with great insolence.