Tafsir & Commentary
The Rocky Tract (الحجر) · Meccan
فَٱصْدَعْ بِمَا تُؤْمَرُ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ94
15:94
Translation — Sahih International
Then declare what you are commanded and turn away from the polytheists.
Transliteration
Fasdaʿ bima tuʾmaru wa-aʿrid ʿani al-mushrikīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to proclaim the message of Allah with clarity and conviction, while turning away from the idolaters who reject the truth. Ibn Kathir explains that 'fasdaʿ' (proclaim openly) emphasizes boldness and directness in conveying the divine message, and 'aʿrid' (turn away) means to ignore their mockery, opposition, and pressure to compromise. Al-Tabari notes this directive was given to strengthen the Prophet's resolve during the Meccan period when the polytheists were intensely hostile to his message.
Revelation Context (Asbab al-Nuzul)
Revealed during the Meccan period when the Prophet faced severe opposition and ridicule from the Quraysh. This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Hijr's discussion of the Prophet's patience and the rejection of previous messengers, serving to reassure Muhammad that his duty is only to deliver the message clearly, not to force acceptance upon those who refuse.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3614) where the Prophet said, 'The best jihad is a word of truth before a tyrannical ruler,' reflects the spirit of this command to speak truth boldly. Additionally, the principle mentioned in Surah An-Nur (24:54): 'Say: Obey Allah and obey the Messenger' emphasizes the Prophet's role in clear proclamation.
Themes
Key Lessons
This ayah teaches believers that fulfilling one's religious duty requires both boldness in truth-telling and emotional detachment from those who reject it—our responsibility is to convey the message clearly, not to control others' acceptance. In modern contexts, this reminds us to stand firm in our convictions while maintaining dignity and not becoming bitter toward those who disagree.