قُلْ إِنِّى لَآ أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا رَشَدًا 21
Translations
Say, "Indeed, I do not possess for you [the power of] harm or right direction."
Transliteration
Qul inni la amliku lakum darra wa la rushda
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet Muhammad is commanded to declare to the people that he possesses no power to bring them harm or benefit, nor can he guide them to the right path—this authority belongs solely to Allah. This ayah emphasizes the Prophet's humanity and his dependence on Allah, refuting any notion that he holds divine powers or can independently grant guidance. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this serves to clarify the Prophet's limited role as a messenger who conveys Allah's message rather than one who controls outcomes or possesses supernatural abilities to benefit or harm.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the end of Surah Al-Jinn, which was revealed in Mecca during a period when the Quraysh questioned the Prophet's miraculous abilities and his claims. The surah addresses both jinn and humans, and this particular verse responds to the misconceptions that the Prophet possessed independent power or could guarantee guidance, establishing the monotheistic principle that all power and guidance come exclusively from Allah.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet said: 'I have no power to benefit or harm myself except as Allah wills' (Ana la amliku li nafsi nafa'an wa la darran illa ma sha'a Allah) reinforces this principle. Additionally, Surah Al-A'raf 188 contains a parallel statement expressing the same concept.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that true power and guidance emanate only from Allah, and that leaders, scholars, and even prophets are merely servants of Allah without independent authority. For believers today, it serves as a reminder to place trust in Allah alone rather than in human intermediaries, and to recognize that our role is to convey truth while outcomes rest with the Almighty.