وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلرُّوحِ ۖ قُلِ ٱلرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّى وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا 85
Translations
And they ask you, [O Muḥammad], about the soul. Say, "The soul is of the affair [i.e., concern] of my Lord. And you [i.e., mankind] have not been given of knowledge except a little."
Transliteration
Wa yas'alūnaka 'anil-rūḥ, qul ar-rūḥu min amri rabbī wa mā ūtītum minal-'ilmi illā qalīlā
Tafsir (Explanation)
The people questioned the Prophet (ﷺ) about the nature of the rūḥ (spirit/soul), and Allah commanded him to respond that the rūḥ is from the command of the Lord—a matter beyond human comprehension. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that this ayah establishes the limits of human knowledge: while we possess some understanding of worldly matters, the metaphysical reality of the rūḥ remains among the unseen (al-ghayb) that belongs exclusively to Allah's dominion. Al-Qurtubi notes this teaches intellectual humility, as the rūḥ is too transcendent for ordinary human intellect to fully grasp.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in response to the Quraysh's questions posed to the Prophet (ﷺ), as part of a series of inquiries about matters of the unseen (mentioned in 17:85-87). The broader context of Surah Al-Isra emphasizes Allah's majesty, the limits of human knowledge, and proper devotion, fitting the Meccan period's focus on monotheism and confronting disbelief.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2907), affirming the pursuit of knowledge within proper bounds. Additionally, 'Ask about the matters that are lawful and forget about matters that are forbidden' (Sahih Bukhari 2414) aligns with the principle of not obsessing over unknowable metaphysical details.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to embrace intellectual humility by recognizing that human knowledge is limited and incomplete, particularly regarding metaphysical realities, and to focus their efforts on understanding what Allah has made accessible rather than becoming preoccupied with the ineffable mysteries of existence.
Related Ayahs
قُل لَّوْ كَانَ مَعَهُۥٓ ءَالِهَةٌ كَمَا يَقُولُونَ إِذًا لَّٱبْتَغَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ ذِى ٱلْعَرْشِ سَبِيلًا
Say, [O Muḥammad], "If there had been with Him [other] gods, as they say, then they [each] would have sought to the Owner of the Throne a way."
إِنَّ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ يَهْدِى لِلَّتِى هِىَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَبِيرًا
Indeed, this Qur’ān guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward
مَّنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِى لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبْعَثَ رَسُولًا
Whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We punish until We sent a messenger.
وَلَوْلَآ أَن ثَبَّتْنَـٰكَ لَقَدْ كِدتَّ تَرْكَنُ إِلَيْهِمْ شَيْـًٔا قَلِيلًا
And if We had not strengthened you, you would have almost inclined to them a little.